Kozhikode: 'Smrithipadham', the newly renovated crematorium here will witness legendary Malayalam writer MT Vasudevan's final journey on Thursday at 5 pm. MT's funeral is the first to be conducted in the renovated crematorium. The writer breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the Baby Memorial Hospital on Wednesday. 

The literary doyen always wanted to embrace death in its natural way.
“ I would like to die like a candle extinguished by the wind,” said MT while expressing his wish to have a natural death. No one described death in such a simple way.

As per his wish, his family decided not to take his mortal remains for public viewing. But many people, including actors, politicians, writers and others, flocked to the writer's house 'Sitara' here to pay him tribute. The mourning procession with MT's mortal remains will head to the crematorium by 3.30 pm.

Kozhikode Corporation reopened the electric crematorium after its renovation only a few days ago. During the renovation, three gas-fired furnaces and two traditional furnaces were installed in the crematorium. Special arrangements were also made for performing last rites and bathing.

The crematorium's walls feature mural paintings depicting a human's journey from birth to death. The renovation works were carried out under the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society.