Vasanthakumar laid to rest near parents’ grave

Vasanthakumar, the founder and chairman of Vasanth & Co, the largest retail home appliance chain in the state, and also the founder and managing director of the Tamil satellite channel Vasanth TV, was the first Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu to succumb to COVID-19 after 18 days of treatment. He breathed his last on Friday evening at a private hospital in Chennai.

After people in Chennai paid their homage, his body was taken to Agastheeswaram by road on Saturday night. Scores of people, including his relatives and traders from various nearby districts and cadres irrespective of political affiliation, paid their tributes and bid tearful adieu to Vasanthakumar.

Former BJP MP from Kanniyakumari Pon Radhakrishnan, Tamil Nadu government’s Special Representative in New Delhi, N Thalavai Sundaram, Kanniyakumari Collector Prashant M Wadnere and MLAs from Congress and DMK paid their homage at Agastheeswaram.

Draped in the Congress party flag, the body was taken in a procession from the house to the farm owned by his family, where his son Vijay Vasanth performed the last rites. The mortal remains were laid to rest at around 11.30 am near the place where his parents were buried.

“Though Vasanthakumar’s soul departed, he would live in our hearts forever. Many, especially the entrepreneurs, were touched by his words and deeds. He was a genuine role model for the youth to follow,” said Gunasingh Chelladurai, president, Tirunelveli Chamber of Commerce. He also recalled Vasanthakumar’s dedication to his constituency while being a two-time MLA from Nanguneri and a MP for the first time from Kanniyakumari.