A new dimension of freedom Bombay Acchan passes away at the age of 80 16 May 2007 — Amritapuri This morning saw the passing away of one of Amritapuri's most well-known residents, Manikooth Chandroth Kuññikrishnan Nambiar—known to everyone as "Bombay Acchan."

His was a life of service. Even before meeting Amma in Mumbai at the age of 59, Bombay Acchan was fully dedicated to the upliftment of his fellow man. He was active in the Communist Party for 17 years, working with Party leaders A.K. Gopalan and E.K. Nayanar. In fact, it was at the request of the Party that he moved from his birthplace of Kannur to the city for which he gained his moniker.

Bombay Acchan's entire life had been in search of revolution. Little did he know that his uprising would come in the form of Amma. In an article written for Amma's 50th birthday in 2003, Bombay Acchan recalled his experience first meeting Amma in 1987 in Mumbai. "Amma's patience with me during that first meeting was part of Her infinite compassion. It allowed a metamorphosis to take root inside me—an uprising that would transform me deeper than any French or October Revolution could contemporary society. It saved me."

One of the key elements in Bombay Acchan's bond with Amma was her vision of societal transformation through selfless service—her ethos of changing the world by living for and working for it. Amma led him by the hand from Revolution to Karma Yoga. As he wrote in the article mentioned previously, "Amma does not change anyone, but Her universal love and august presence are affecting a tremendous revolution in groping humanity." << Amma giving the last kiss to the body of Bombay Acchan at the funeral rites in Amritapuri.

Bombay Acchan joined Amma's Ashram as a brahmachari in 1987, and served all of his 20 years there managing the Visitors' Accommodation Office. After joining, he did not leave, except at the occasional request of Amma for him to accompany her on one of her Indian tours. As he wrote in 2003, "From the day I joined the Ashram, I have kept my will in my pocket, allowing myself to be led by Amma's divine hand—and in this, I've found a new dimension of freedom."

Bombay Acchan passed around 8:20 a.m., wednesday morning. He had been diagnosed with cancer in February. He had turned 80 only the day before.

Funeral rites were performed in Amma's presence around 10 p.m., including the chanting of Amma's 108 names and the Eighth Chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita. During the ceremony, Amma gave one last kiss on her son's forehead. Then the body was taken in procession to the beach for cremation, chanting of ‘Om Namah sivaya" by the Swamis and the ashram residents. The final rites were performed by the ashram brahmacharis.

-Sakshi