Sri. Mannathu Padmanabhan was born on January 2nd 1878 to Sri. Eswaran Namboodiri of Nilavana Illam and Chiramuttathu Parvathy Amma He was born with a humble family background and started his career as a teacher in Government Primary School [Kanjirapally Govt. School-1893],
At the age of 16. In 1905, he started practicing law in the Magistrates Courts and soon became a leading member there.
Mannam was the forefront fighter against the social injustices that was in force at that time in Kerala and led the famous "Vimochana Samaram". Mannam took leadership in the Vaikkom Sathyagraham and Guruvayoor temple-entry and led the famous "Savarna Jadha" in 1924, an anti-untouchability agitation. He became a member of the Indian National Congress in 1947 and took part in the Travancore State Congress agitation against Sir C.P Ramaswamy Iyer’s administration in Travancore for which he was arrested and sent to jail. In 1949, Sri. Mannam became a member of the Travancore Legislative Assembly.
Mannam dedicated his life for the upliftment of the Nair Community. He established, expanded and enriched the Nair Service Society and served as its Secretary for 31 years and as President for three years.
NAIR BHRITHYA JANA SANGHAM [which later became Nair Service Society], was founded by Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai and thirteen others of his Nair community associates, at Mannath House, Perunna, Changanacherry on 31 October, 1914. Sri. K.Kelappan Nair was the first President and Sri. Mannath Padmanabha Pillai was its secretary. Mannam gave up his career to become full-time secretary of Nair Bhruthya Janasangham.
Founder members of NSS
Later in his life Mannam renamed himself as "Padmanabhan" removing the sir name, stating that cast should not be a dividing factor amongst the human beings. In 1925, Nair Service Society was registered under the Indian Company act. Mannam’s personal life was inextricably intertwined with the history of the N.S.S.
He travelled extensively through the state, met the people, organized hem and won their love and regard with the help of his disarming simplicity, single-minded devotion, will and determination. Impregnable fortress of superstition and formidable citadel of resistance crumbled before his all-conquering and awe-inspiring personality. Gradually he built an empire out of nothing .The prestigious institutions founded by him would perpetuate his memory.
Mannam passed away at the ripe age of 93.The story of his life is the stuff, fairy tales are made of. The touch of his magic wand revived and resurrected the entire community. He taught them the philosophy of action, the value of unity and above all the need to change .His legacy is no undiminished by passage of time. He lives through generations.
Department of Post Issued commemorative postage stamp on his 110 birth Anniversary
Issued Date: 02.02.1989
Denomination: 60 Paise
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