Noted cartoonist and writer O V Vijayan died in Hyderabad on Wednesday following prolonged illness.

He was 75.

He is survived by his wife Theresa and son Madhu who lives in the US.

The last rites will be performed in his native Palakkad, Kerala [Images].

Guru of an entire generation

A family friend C G Chandramohan, told rediff.com that Vijayan's family members -- wife, son and sister Usha -- have left for Kerala with the mortal remains of Vijayan.

Chandramohan said Vijayan died of cardiac and respiratory failure at 5.30 am at Care Hospital in the city, where he was on ventilator since March 2. Ailing with Parkinson's disease and sepsis, Vijayan was admitted to the hospital in August 2004.

Born on July 2, 1930 at Vilayanchaathanoor village in Palakkad district in Kerala, Oottupulackal Velukkutty Vijayan, who became famous as O V Vijayan, had his school education at Kottackal and Palakkad and graduated in arts from Government Victoria College, Palakkad.

He did his master's degree in English literature from Presidency College, Chennai.

He taught for some time at Malabar Christian College, Kozhikode, and Government Victoria College, Palakkad, before opting for journalism.

He left his home state in 1958 to pursue his career as a cartoonist in Delhi. Joining the famous Shanker's Weekly, Delhi, as a cartoonist and writer of political satire, he moved to Patriot as a staff cartoonist in 1963.

He worked for leading English dailies -- The Hindu and The Statesman -- and later turned freelancer.

A man of many talents, Vijayan excelled himself equally as a novelist, columnist and short story writer.

He made his foray into the literary field with 'Khasakkinte Ithihasam', a novel about the imaginary land of Khasak, in 1969.

He wrote five more novels. He also made his name as a short-story writer.