Sri. Mannathu Padmanabhan 1989 India

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

Harekrushna Mahatab India 1989

Harekrushna Mahatab was born in a small ‘vaishya’ family in Agarpada of Balasore District on November 21, 1899.

He was the son of Krushna Chandra Das and Tohapha Bibi. After completing his matriculate from Bhadrakh High School he joined for BA in Ravenshaw College.

He left graduation course in 1921 and participated in the struggle for freedom. After independence he took active part in politics and served the country. He took part in ‘Pada Yatra’ of Orissa in 1921, which was started by Mahatma Gandhi.

He has written the literary pieces like “Ajaba Duniya, Gaan Majlis, Sworajya Sadhan, Dasabarsa Ra Orissa, Nutana Dharma etc in Oriya language.

He has also written “Free thinking” in English language. Mr. Mahatab has also written “The History of Orissa”. On October 2, 1923, he founded the prominent Oriya daily “Prajatantra”. He became the Secretary of Balasore District congress committee in 1921.

Later he became the President of Balasore District Board in 1924. He became the Chief Minister of Orissa from 23.04.1946 to 12.05.1950 and again 1956 to 1960. Dr. Mahatab was the Governor of Maharashtra from 1955 to 1956. During his active participation in politics All India Radio was established at Cuttack. Dr. Mahatab also led the foundation stone of Hirakud Dam and
New Capital of Bhubaneswar.

Establishment of Orissa High Court is also the credit of Dr. Mahatab.

This efficient son of Orissa,
breathed his last on January 2, 1987.

Issue Date, : 02.01.1989
Dinomination : 60 Paisa

Shri Martyr Laxman Naik India 1989

Shri Martyr Laxman Naik, the tribal hero of Orissa was born in Tentuliguma village of Malkangiri of the then Koraput District on November 22, 1899 to Padlam Nayak.

He was basically a Bhuyan tribe and his father was a tribal chief and working as 'Mustadaar' under Jeypore Samasthanam of Madras Presidency. 

The local administration was for the sake of name only, but actually administration was on the hands of British Govt.

The tribals were effected too much by the tortures of Revenue officials and other servants under British as well as local administration. Tribals are having their own culture, beliefs, religious identity etc. , and anybody's attempt to bring some changes to it is always resisted by them. The same thing happened, when the administration tried to bring reformatory and correctional changes into their society.

That led to Tribal resistance Movement , which was an essential part of Indian Freedom Movement. There are a number of distinguished tribal leaders have played their heroic role in this movement, but the role played by Laxman Naik is incomparable , more inspiring and edifying . The brave fighter fought single handedly with consummate skill and extraordinary passion against the cruel British administration.

He was a man of immense courage, rock solid and inspiration for countless followers. He could have lead a comfortable life inherited from his ancestors. But he has sacrificed it for the freedom of his mother land. He always stood like a mountain in the way of British administration and neither gave up nor bend before the cruelty of foreign rule.

He has joined Congress movement for the freedom of the country and enrolled himself as Charanna member of the Indian National Congress. He has received all kinds of physical training and education in Naupuri Training centre for Congress Workers. During this training, he had come across several congress leaders which helped him to broaden the horizon of his knowledge and arouse of Nationalism inside him.

He has adopted the Gandhian principle of truth and non-violence as his weapon for agitation against British rule. He has pioneered the way for the popularization of Congress programme in Koraput and motivated tribal people for the noble cause of freedom movement.

Nayak is responsible in bringing reforms in traditional tribal thinking and culture like spreading of adult education, construction of roads, bridges,schools, abstinence  of alcohol etc. He led the tribal people to fight against inhuman practice of bonded labor.

Laxman Naik Was appointed as President of the Congress Primary Committee at Matili in Koraput in 1942. And in the same year he has represented Matili in Quit India Movement. He was popular in tribal people as "Gandhi of Malkangiri". 

The Quit India Movement spread in Koraput under the leadership of Nayak. No of liquor shops have been destroyed. On August 21, 1942, the tribals under the leadership of Nayak went on a long procession chanting Ram dhun and patriotic songs and demonstrated in front of mitaili police station. They have tried to hoist the congress flag in the station. Lathi charge and firing has been done by police on demonstrators. In the process Nayak has been injured and arrested by the police and sent to Koraput Jail. He was accused of killing the forest guard Ji G.Rammaya.

After the trial, the Additional session court of Koraput sentenced Naik to Death. After that he was transferred to Berhampur Central jail and on March 29, 1943 he was executed.

The great martyr could not able to see the rising sun of independence India, for which he has sacrificed his life. Though Nayak is no more, but his sacrifice, patriotism and ideals always be remembered in the hearts of countless people.

He is truly a worthy son of mother Orissa and India as a whole.

Issued Date 29.03.1989
Denomination : 60 Paisa