As I write this, the cortege carrying the mortal remains of two-time Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is yet to reach his hometown- Puthuppally. It’s been over a day since his cortege started from Thiruvananthapuram slowly wading through the masses of onlookers lining the roads for a last glimpse of this greatly beloved man. Oommen Chandy.

He will always be remembered and loved. No other CM has had such an impact on lives of people of Kerala. Every petition he accepted and saw through his mass outreach programme- Janasamparka Paripadi is a testimony on how governance ought to be and a lesson for bureaucracy and politics.

His cortege inches forward through the packed streets as he often did as Chief Minister, wading through crowds to meet endless people at his Janasamparka Paripadi, holding nivedhanams, pleas to the govt, village officers, tahisaldars; pleas, appeals which should have been dealt with by officials in government offices, collectorates, village offices. Where governance failed in compassion, Chandy sir stepped in.

No other Chief Minister has created such an impact on governance through one single programme which effectively brought about a staggering 47 government orders that simplified the job of the administration. Where administration failed in efficiency, Oommen Chandy stepped in to make decisive changes.

Oommen Chandy will be dearly missed, his legacy will live on, reminding us all of the transformative potential of a leader who truly listens, empathizes, and acts. A lesson for leaders powered by PR and social media. As we pay homage to this beloved man, let us strive to uphold the values he championed and work towards building a society where governance is synonymous with compassion and responsiveness. Let his memory continue to inspire future leaders and bureaucrats to prioritize compassion in their public service.