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J. Hareendran Nair | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupations |
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| Spouse | Asha |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
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| Awards | Padma Shri |
| Website | Official web site of Pankajakasturi |
J. Hareendran Nair is an IndianAyurveda practitioner and entrepreneur fromKerala. He is the founder ofPankajakasthuri Herbals,[1] This is a business group that contributed to the promotion and popularising of Ayurveda and ayurvedic products across the country. In 2012, theGovernment of India, honored him withPadma Shri for his services to the cause of Ayurveda.[2]
Hareendran Nair was born inKattakkada,Thiruvananthapuram, inKerala to Janardhanan Nair, who was a document writer and Pankajam. He was the youngest of their three children. After an early education at the Government Upper Primary School, Kandala and the Christian College,Kattakada, he joined the Government Ayurveda College,Thiruvananthapuram. He graduated in ayurvedic medicine with aBAMS in 1983.[3][4]
His medical career started as a research fellow atPoojappura Regional Research Institute. He submitted his resignation from the service when he was transferred to the central Kerala town ofShornur in 1986. Nair spent the next two years in the formation ofSree Dhanwanthari Ayurvedics, the forerunner ofPankajakasthuri Herbals India Ltd [PHIL], which came into stream in 1988 at Poovachal.[3] The early days were difficult, however this changed in 1996 when Nair launched ayurvedicover-the-counter products under the brand namePankajakasthuri, a name coined combining his mother's name, Pankajam, and his eldest daughter's name, Kasturi.[4]
Hareendran Nair is married to Asha who is involved in the business at administrative levels.[5] The couple has two daughters, both studying ayurvedic medicine. The family lives in Thiruvananthapuram.[4]
Hareendran Nair foundPankajakasthuri in 1988, under the nameSree Dhanwanthari Ayurvedics at Poovachal, inThiruvananthapuram. In 1996, the brandPankajakasthuri was launched and the company's name was changed toPankajakasthuri Herbals Pvt Ltd. Over the years, the establishment has grown to cover the parent company dealing inover-the-counter ayurvedic products,Pankajakasthuri Panchakarama spas,Pankajakasthuri Jeevanam clinics and Pankajakasthuri Ayurveda Hospital, Herbal garden and Pankajakasthuri Ayurveda Medical College, in Killi nearKattakkada, which opened on 28 August 2002, which is stated to be the first self-financed ayurveda medical college in Kerala.[6]
Hareendran Nair is also active in social service. He has arranged for 1000 free lunches everyday through his Ayurveda medical college. He also sponsors the educational expenses of 125 students, and provides free in-patient medical treatment to 50 patients, including medicines. His group also conducts free medical camps every month in Thiruvananthapuram.[3] "My only agenda," said Nair, "is the popularization of Ayurveda as an effective and economic mode of treatment among people."[3]
Nair holds various positions at regional and national levels.
