MK Sanoo, who led the class to “Kavyasankalpam” for former and current students Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, in January 2025. Photo Credit: File Photos
MK Sanoo dealt with various public causes in Kochi without letting political ideologies influence his attitude.
Among the many initiatives he supported included the establishment of a cancer center in Kochi and the protection of the public spaces of the city. His home “Sandhya”, located on Karikkamuri Cross Road, has always been open to anyone looking for their support for the real thing.
Although Sanoo was a scholar and academic, he enjoyed immense popularity among the general public, to a large extent because of his unwavering commitment to public issues. This affection and respect brought him a cute title MASH (Malayalam for “Master”) – used not only by his former students, but by people from all areas of life.
Although he had never sought recognition, Sanoo played a key role – deployed late lawyer Vr Krishna Iyer – thanks to the research of Cochin Cancer Center. His bond with Iyer, which lasted more than five decades, saw them standing side by side in the center of the center.
The duo was adamant that the proposed cancer center must meet international standards. To this end, they organized press conferences and protests and advocated the appointment of a special officer and establishment of the Advisory Committee. They suggested that the Committee includes the Sree Chitra Tiroal Institute by the founder of the director MS Viliathan, RCC Thiruvananthapuram founder M. Krishhnan Nair and important doctors CK Ramacandran and PV Gangadharan. In 2014, Sanoo joined Iyer at the protest in front of the Kanayannur Taluk office against the lack of budget allocation for the Cancer Center.
Sanoo was also in the forefront of the city’s open premises. He worked as chairman of the committee created for this purpose and Iyer as his main patron. The campaign opposed the plan of the Cochin Development Office to reduce public access to Rajendra Maidan for the laser show project.
Published – August 2 2025 20:40 is
