KOTTAYAM: Former Ettumanoor MLA P B Raman Pillai, 85, better known as P B R Pillai, who passed away on Monday night, was cremated with full state honours at the precincts of his residence at Kummanam here on Tuesday.
He was undergoing treatment after being hit by a vehicle in Thiruvananthapuram two weeks ago. A bachelor, Pillai belongs to Maryathuruth Puthuvayil family. His siblings are the late P K Krishna Pillai and Saraswathy Amma.
Pillai had represented Ettumanoor constituency twice in 1970 and 1977 in the Assembly as Praja Socialist Party member. Although he got into fray from the constituency in 1980 also, he could not repeat his win. He entered politics during his school days itself. At a very young age, Pillai was attracted to Socialist ideology. Soon he became a prominent face of the strikes of socialists and labourers. He was even imprisoned several times for his rebellious activities.
The firebrand leader made news by waving black flag against then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 when she visited Kottayam, and was beaten up and jailed for the same. In his capacity as legislator, Pillai disrupted the customary policy declaration address by then Governor N N Wanchoo demanding the same in Malayalam, and once again was jailed.