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MANNAM
– A REVOLUTIONIST
Mannam
was one of the famous revolutionaries that Kerala has seen.
He was one of the greatest organizers we have ever seen. He
was also a teacher, an advocate, an orator and a stage artist.
He was the life, soul, spirit and moving force behind the
Nair Service Society. Undoubtedly,
the secret behind the success of NSS was the selfless service
and relentless efforts of Mannathu Padmanabhan. He utilized
his abilities, cultural heritage, organizing expertise and
artistic talents for the welfare of the country and his communityThrough
his life he proved that educational status and degrees are
not the criteria for fame. His strong and unchanging belief
in the ideology left the rules in dismay. He made the public
service as an unending duty of his life. The orations of Mannam
in removing untouchability, in the struggle for temple entry,
in the up lift of Harijans, in protecting the rights of the
community, in rallying the soldiers in independence struggle,
and in the struggle to dismiss the first Communist Government
in Kerala were historical events.Seventy
years ago, Mannam gave food a Harijan with him in his house.
This was indeed a revolutionary act at that time when Harijans
were not permitted to enter into a household of an upper caste.
Sri.C.Achutha Menon, former Communist Chief Minister of Kerala
had remarked that even his party men would hesitate to do
such a thing as Mannam did at that period.
Mannam
was in the forefront of the struggle to have the right of
worship to all sections of Hindu community including lower
caste. He actively took part in the Vaikom Sathyagraha of
1924-25 and the Guruvayoor Sathyagraha of 1931. It was the
‘Savarna Jatha’ (a march of upper caste people) led by Mannam,
which brought overwhelming public support to Vaikom Sathyagraha.
It was taken out to convince the Government that upper castes
were not against the temple entry by lower castes.
Mannam
gave strong leadership to the independence struggle. His
entry in the field of independence struggle was like a whirlwind,
which soon spread in all its vicinity. With his entry his
followers and co-workers flowed to the fold of Congress party.
Congress declared a non-compromise struggle against Sir.C.P.Ramaswamy
Iyer, the then Dewan of Travancore, only because of strong
and adamant attitude of Mannam. He vowed to “do or die” in
the struggle against Sir.C.P.Mannam’s
special interest was in the field of creative social work
rather than political. When Nair Regulation Act was enacted
in legislature during 1100 (ME), it was subjected to wide
spread opposition. Mannam was in forefront to gain public
support to the bill. People belonging to ‘Illom’, ‘Swaroopam’,
‘Idassery’, ‘Chakkala’ are all sub-castes of Nairs, but there
were so many disparities among these sub-castes. Mannam worked
hard to bridge these disparities and to unite them under one
banner.The
educational institutions established by Mannam will tell stories
of a number of sacrifices. They are the results of determined
and incessant efforts made by Mannam. The relentless efforts
made by Mannam to form and maintain the NSS establishments,
which are now standing in prestigious heights throughout the
State, are indeed indescribable. Sardar K.M.Panicker has
righteously remarked that Mannam is the Madanamohana Malavya
of Kerala. The only difference is that Malavya’s Kasi Vidyapeeth
was made a reality by the Rajah of Kashi, Rajaputhra Rajahs
and Birla, whereas Kerala Malavya was helped by the poverty
stricken Nairs of Kerala. The
life of Mannam was very simple and without splendour. He
maintained simplicity even in dressing. We can see a selfless
sacrificing Gandhian in him. His life is a synonym of service.
Never did he withdraw from any efforts or work intended for
the welfare or progress of the society.Mannam,
though never stepped into any college, became the founder
of many colleges. Though he had no means for his own livelihood,
he became the owner of many institutions where lakhs were
spent on salaries and allowances. Though he could not acquire
even an inch of land of his own, he became the owner of estates
extending over thousands of acres. Though he was not a politician,
he became the leader of struggles of political activism in
Kerala. In short, the history of Nair Service Society is
the history of Mannam for the last 50 years, as remarked by
Sri.K.Kelappan.
Important milestones in Mannath Padmanabhan's life
| Sri
Mannathu Padmanabhan Born |
02-01-1878 |
| First
Job [Govt School, Kanjirapally |
1893 |
| Karayogam
building foundation laying |
1907 |
| Changanachery
Thaluk Nair Samajam formation |
09-10-1913 |
| Nair
Bhruthyajana Sangham formation |
31-10-1914 |
| Nair
Bhruthyajana Sangham becomes NSS |
11-07-1915 |
| Mannam
dedicates his life to NSS |
25-08-1915 |
| Marrage
with Thottakkattu Madhavi Amma |
15-05-1932 |
| Shashtipoorthy
|
02-01-1937 |
| NSS
Silver Jubilee Celeberations |
02-05-1940 |
| First
Samastha Nair Maha Sammelanam |
1916 |
| First
NSS School [Karukachal] laid foundation |
27-01-1916 |
| Mannam
becomes Sreemulam Prajasabha member |
1921 |
| Vaikam
Sathyagraham |
30-03-1924 |
| Mannam
Leads "Savarna Jatha" |
01-10-1924 |
| NSS
Registration according to Indian Company Act |
30-07-1925 |
| Registration
of Karayogam Number 1 |
1929 |
| Karuvatta
Nair Maha Sammelanam |
05-1929 |
| Guruvayoor
Sathyagraham |
01-11-1929 |
| NSS
Head Office starts functioning in Perunna |
07-05-1940 |
| First
Director board meeting |
16-08-1942 |
| Mannam
Becomes NSS President |
17-08-1945 |
| Famous
"Muthukulam Speech" |
25-05-1947 |
| Mannam
arrested for "Indian Freedom movement” |
14-06-1947 |
| Mannam's
Mother "Parvathy Amma" Passes away |
14-11-1947 |
| MG
College Trivandrum foundation laying |
22-08-1948 |
| NSS
College, Pandalam foundation laying |
25-02-1949 |
| NSS
Hindu Collage, Perunna foundation laying |
14-09-1949 |
| Mannam
Becomes the Devasvam Board President |
01-08-49 |
| Mannam
rejects Cast name and renames as Padmanabhan |
11-02-1950 |
| Start
of Vimochana Samaram |
12-06-1959 |
| Dismissal
of Communist Ministry |
31-07-1959 |
| President
of India awards "BHARATHA KESARI" to Mannam |
09-08-1959 |
| Sathabhishekam |
19-12-1960 |
| Mannam
forms Kerala Congress |
09-10-1964 |
| NSS
Golden Jubilee Celebration |
27-12-1964 |
| Perunna
Medical Mission Hospital Inauguration |
25-05-1964 |
| Government
Of India awards "Padmabhushan" to Mannam |
26-01-1966 |
| Thottakkattu
Madhavi Amma (Wife) Passes away |
18-10-1968 |
| Mannam's
last public function |
30-05-1969 |
|
Mannam
Passes away |
25-02-1970 |
| Funeral |
27-02-1970 |
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