M.K. Sanoo espoused various public causes in Kochi without letting political ideologies influence his stance.

Among the many initiatives he supported were the establishment of a cancer centre in Kochi and the protection of the city’s public spaces. His home, “Sandhya,” located on Karikkamuri Cross Road, was always open to anyone seeking his support for a genuine cause.

Despite being a scholar and academic, Sanoo enjoyed immense popularity among the general public, largely due to his unwavering commitment to public issues. This affection and respect earned him the endearing title of ‘mash’ (Malayalam for ‘master’)—used not just by his former students, but by people from all walks of life.

Though he never sought recognition, Sanoo played a key role—alongside the late jurist V.R. Krishna Iyer—in making the Cochin Cancer Research Centre a reality. His bond with Iyer, which lasted over five decades, saw them standing side by side in the movement for the centre.

The duo was adamant that the proposed cancer centre must meet international standards. They held press conferences and protests to that end, advocating for the appointment of a special officer and the formation of an advisory committee. They proposed that the committee include Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute founder-director M.S. Valiathan, RCC Thiruvananthapuram founder-director M. Krishnan Nair, and eminent doctors C.K. Ramachandran and P.V. Gangadharan. In 2014, Sanoo joined Iyer in a sit-in protest in front of the Kanayannur Taluk Office against the lack of budgetary allocation for the cancer centre.

Sanoo was also at the forefront of efforts to protect the city’s open spaces. He served as chairman of a committee formed for the purpose, with Iyer as its main patron. The campaign opposed the Greater Cochin Development Authority’s plan to restrict public access to Rajendra Maidan for a laser show project.