Various social, cultural and political organisations on Tuesday urged the authorities to place the wood press, the manual oil extractor, dragged by freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram, kept in the Central prison here, to open for the public so that they come to know about his life and contribution to the India’s freedom.

After paying tributes by garlanding the press and photograph of VOC as known popularly, leaders of VOC Peravai and Art and Literature Association – on his 146th birth anniversary – wanted the authorities to keep as a monument, where public can pay tribute and know his history.

VOC, also known as Kappalotiya Tamizhan, during his two year rigorous jail term here in the British period was asked to operate the press to extract oil, as part of punishment for raising his voice against them.

The press kept as a souvenir on the jail premises, should be open for public to keep VOC’s memory afloat for the coming generation, they said.