Critic K.P. Appan Passed Away

Malayalam literary critic K.P. Appan passed away on Monday. He was 72. He is survived by wife, Omana, and sons, Rajith and Sreejith. A family member said the end came at a private hospital in Kayamkulam at 8.30 a.m. He had been battling with cancer for almost three years. He was discharged from the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, two weeks ago. The family is awaiting the arrival of a close relative from London and the funeral will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday with State honours at the Polayathodu public crematorium here. The news of his demise was received with shock by people from all walks of life. A huge crowd of his admirers and students arrived at his house at Mundakkal in the city on hearing the news. By the time the body arrived from Kayamkulam, there was a big rush of people waiting to pay their last respects. The body is being kept at the house for the people to pay their last respects. Among those who paid their last respects were Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Education Minister M.A. Baby, Law Minister M. Vijayakumar, novelist Kakanadan, poet O.N.V. Kurup, Chief Minister’s political secretary K.N. Balagopal and actor Murali. Prof. Kurup said Prof. Appan was an embodiment of intellectual