People paying their last respects to Cheruvayal Raman in Wayanad on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Cheruvayal Raman, the Padma Shri awardee renowned for preserving traditional paddy varieties and promoting indigenous farming practices, was cremated with full State honours in Wayanad district on Thursday.
The funeral was held at the Kurichya cremation ground in Cheruvayal, with hundreds of people gathering to pay their last respects to the celebrated farmer and conservationist.
Several prominent figures, including Minister for Agriculture T. Siddique, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary M.V. Govindan and former Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran, paid their last respects. Mr. Siddique represented the State government at the funeral.
The 74-year-old farmer, fondly known as ‘Nellachan’, passed away on Wednesday around 3.30 p.m. while undergoing treatment for a heart-related ailment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
His body was brought to his residence before being kept for public viewing at Kamana Navodaya Lower Primary School on Thursday. Hundreds of people, including members of the public and prominent personalities, arrived to pay their respects.
Cheruvayal Raman was widely recognised for his efforts to conserve traditional paddy varieties and preserve Kerala’s agricultural heritage. His work in safeguarding indigenous rice varieties and championing traditional farming earned him the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours.
Published - October 15, 2026 09:13 pm IST