Bharata Kesari Mannathu Padmanabhan | |
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 Mannam's stamp released on 2 January 1989, by theGovernment of India | |
| General Secretary of theNair Service Society | |
| In office 31 October 1914 – 17 August 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | V. Gangadharan Nair |
| President of theNair Service Society | |
| In office 18 August 1945 – 17 August 1947 | |
| Preceded by | K. G. Parameswaran Pillai |
| Succeeded by | Panampilly Govinda Menon |
| President ofTravancore Devaswom Board | |
| In office 01 August 1949 – 22 May 1950 | |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | P. G. N. Unnithan |
| Member of theUnited State of Travancore and Cochin Legislative Council | |
| In office 1 July 1949 – 28 February 1951 | |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | T. Kesavan Sastry |
| Constituency | Pathanamthitta |
| Member of theSree Moolam Popular Assembly | |
| In office 1921–1932 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai (1878-01-02)2 January 1878 |
| Died | 25 February 1970(1970-02-25) (aged 92) |
| Resting place | Mannam Memorial, Changanassery |
| Party | Kerala Congress (from 1964) |
| Other political affiliations | Indian National Congress (until 1964) |
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Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai (2 January 1878 – 25 February 1970), better known asMannathu Padmanabhan was an Indian social reformer and freedom fighter from the south-western state ofKerala. He is recognised as the founder of theNair Service Society (NSS), which represents theNair community.[1] His birthday (2 January) is observed as Mannam Jayanti every year. Padmanabhan is considered a visionary reformer who organised the Nair community under the NSS.[2]
Mannathu Padmanabhan was born inPerunna village inChanganacherry,Kottayam District,Travancore on 2 January 1878 to Easwaran Namboothiri of Nilavana Illam and Mannathu Parvathy Amma.[3] Padmanabhan got his family name,Mannathu, throughmatrilineal succession (Marumakkathayam).
He began his career as a teacher in 1893 in a Government primary school.He was the former Headmaster of govt up school north mazhuvannoor.After a few years, from 1905 he changed his profession and started practicing law, in the Magistrates Courts.[2][4]
On 31 October 1914, with the help of a few others, he established theNair Service Society. His main ambition was to uplift the status of the Nair community. Nairs were the most economically and socially dominant community in Kerala. From 1915 onwards, he gave up law practice and became the secretary of the Nair Service Society.[4] Mannam revived and reshaped the old concept of village societies, the Karayogams, which practically set the tenor of family and village life. In 1924-25 the NSS persuaded the Travancore Government to enact the Nair Regulation which broke up the matriarchal joint family providing for paternal and maternal property to be divided among all the children.[2] Padmanabhan was involved with theNair Service Society as its secretary for 31 years and as its president for three years. He was honoured with the titleBharata Kesari by thePresident of India.[4] He also receivedPadma Bhushan in 1966.[2][5]
On 2 January 2022,Nair Service Society celebrated the 145th Mannam Jayanthi at NSS headquarters, Perunna in Changanassery.[6]
He fought for social equality, the first phase being theVaikom Satyagraha, demanding the public roads near the temple at Vaikom be opened to low-caste Hindus. He took part in theVaikom (1924) andGuruvayoor (1931) temple-entry Satyagrahas; the anti-untouchability agitations. He opened his family temple for everyone, irrespective of caste distinction.[7] He became a member of theIndian National Congress in 1946 and took part in the agitation against Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer's administration in Travancore.[4] As the first president ofTravancore Devaswom Board he revitalised many temples which had almost ceased to function.[2] On 25 May 1947 Padmanabhan delivered his famous Muthukulam Speech atMuthukulam,Alappuzha. He was arrested forIndian Freedom Movement on 14 June 1947.
In 1949, Padmanabhan became a member of the Travancore Legislative Assembly. In 1959, he along with Christian Churches led a united opposition against the StateCommunist Ministry, which became known as theVimochana Samaram (liberation struggle). The cause of theVimochana Samaram was the introduction of Land reforms Bill by the Minister KR Gowri, and this movement caused the dismissal of the Communist government underE. M. S. Namboodiripad on 31 July 1959.[2] After the success of the movement he famously tethered a white horse at the Kerala Secretariat building as he had challenged to do if the dismissal was successful. The consequence of the dismissal was the beginning of President's rule in the state under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution.[4][8] In 1964 he was instrumental in the formation of Kerala Congress, the first regional party in India.
Padmanabhan died on 25 February 1970[4] at the age of 92, after age related complications. Mannam memorial (orSamādhi) is located atNSS HeadquartersChanganacherry. He is regarded as the reformer and moral guide of the members ofNair community.
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