He was elected to the state assembly from Ernakulam as a Left independent in 1987 but was not interested in politics. “I am a supporter of the leftist ideology, but I always wanted to stay away from politics. It was my friends who convinced me to contest the election in 1987 but later I realised that politics is not my cup of tea. Leaders of all political parties visit me,” he had told TNIE in an interaction two years ago.

M K Sanu, who retired from government service in 1983, was elected the president of the Progressive Literary Writers Forum in 1984. He also served as the president of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and the director of the Kerala University Sree Narayana Study Centre.

He was honoured with several awards, including the National Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Ezhuthachan Award, Vayalar Award, Padma Prabha Award and the Children’s Literature Institute Award.

His important works include Changampuzha Krishna Pillai Nakshatrangalude Snehabhajanam, Basheer, Ekantha Veedhiyile Avadhoothan, Asthamikkatha Velicham, Urangatha Maneeshi, Mrithyunjayam, Kavya Jeevitham, Irulum Velichavum, among others. His autobiography Karma Gathi was published in 2010.

M K Sanu’s wife, N Ratnamma, passed away in 2023. He is survived by his sons M S Ranjith (Retired, Cochin Port), M S Harris (Manager, Energy Management Services, Dubai); daughters M S Rekha, M S Geetha (Retired Head of Hindi Department, St Paul’s College Kalamassery), M S Seetha (Retired, Social Justice Department); sons-in-law C K Krishnan and Dr Prasanth Kumar; and daughters-in-law C V Maya, P V Jyothi and Mini Harris.