Writter By : (Adv.Bindu Ammini, Dalit Feminist)
Mannath Padmanabhan, son of Parvathy Amma and Eshwaran Namboodhiri, was the founder-leader of the Nair Service Society (NSS). While casteist people consider him as a social reformer, others criticize his views and actions that supported casteism..
Against Reservation
Mannath Padmanabhan believed that reservation was an “atrocity, injustice, and against dharma.” This view directly opposed those advocating for affirmative action for lower castes, particularly Thiyyas and Dalits were targeted by Mannath padmanabhan. The principle of affirmative action protection equal opportunity to the people who were historically been discriminated and implementation of the policy based on protective discrimination elevated the status of marginalized. That was objected by mannath padmanabhan and his organization.
Konoth Temple entry protest shows the strength of women
In 1930, lower castes, particularly Thiyyas, Dalits and other lower castes were not permitted to enter the Kontoth Temple in Kannur district. A.K Gopalan was brutally attacked in front of other women protesters. A.K.Gopalan urged the women protesters to flee for their safety. However, the women protesters returned with heavy wooden sticks that named as “Kuruvadi Samaram” thereafter and retaliated against their attackers.
Also Read : What did Amit Shah say on Ambedkar, demands for resignation and apology started rising?
Guruvayoor Temple Eentry Sathyagraha was ” a miracle of modern times” – Gandhi
The Guruvayur Satyagraha, a movement for temple entry but against casteism, garnered national attention and admiration. Gandhi called it a “miracle of modern times” and sought to portray it as a character of spiritual emancipation by Mahatma Gandhi. A.K. Gopalan was brutally attacked by his opponents. An opinion poll conducted, however, revealed that 77 percent of people in that locality favored temple entry. C. Rajagopalachari, P. Krishna Pillai, and A.K. Gopalan also made efforts to enter the temple against caste-based discrimination. Mannath Padmanabhan did not take an active role in the Guruvayur Satyagraha.
Vaikom Sathyagraha and Shifting Views
The Vaikom Satyagraha commenced on March 30, 1924. The leaders who initiated the Satyagraha were Kunjappi a Dalit belonged to Pulaya community, Bahuleyan belonged to Ezhava community, and Govindapillai belonged Nair community. They spearheaded the Satyagraha in its initial stages. However the historical initiative recorded as headed by upper castes . T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesavamenon, Barrister George Joseph, Abdul Rahman, E.V. Ramasamy, and Sree Narayana Guru also supported and participated in this great historical revolt. The Akalidal from Punjab also extended their support to the protest for significant social change to uplift untouchables to mainstream. Periyar was arrested in July 1924 in connection with the Vaikom Satyagraha and sentenced to four months of rigorous imprisonment. He was arrested again to be kept away from Vaikom while he was in Erode, Tamil Nadu.
Following the victory of the protest, the rulers decided to open three roads for all on November 2nd, except for one road that remained reserved for Brahmins. This was officially declared on November 30, 1924. On November 1st, 1924, the Savarna Padayatra commenced by the recommendation of Ghandhi. Mannath Padmanabhan participated and he is one of the leader of this Savarna Jatha. This marked Mannath Padmanabhan’s first participation in the Vaikom Satyagraha. However, despite the significant contributions of many others to the struggle against casteism. The great initiative by marginalized thereafter marked Mannath Padmanabhan’s name deliberately by so called historians, and he received all the credit, even after he later shifted his stand in favour of casteism. Gandhi was visited Vaikom only on 1925 however he was also marked in the history as the leader of that protest along with Mannath Padmanabhan.
Also Read : Towards an Equal Society: Social Justice in the Past and Present
Unfortunately, the decision to open the roads to Vaikom Temple was implemented only a decade later, in November 1936. Gandhi called it as a Hindu reformist movement, while Periyar viewed it as a fight against caste-based atrocities.
Controversial and casteist statements attributed to Mannath Padmanabhan reveal the real attitudes towards marginalized sections during his time.
- “I WILL CALM ONLY AFTER THE ANIHILATION OF EZHAVA” in his Karunagappally Speech.
- “EZHAVAS ARE CHILDREN OF PIG AND IDIOTS” in his Sasthamangalam Speech in 1963.
A response attributed to R. Shankar, the chief Minister at that time , questioning that the paternity of Nairs there after the Sasthamangalm Speech by Mannath Padmanabhan.
Mannath Padmanabhan’s Muthukulam Speech ,Alappuzha, (1947) expressing opposition to a Pulayan holding a ministerial position that was “ I Cant live here a Pulayan hold power of Minister” ( Muthukulam speech- page 87, Vasavappanikkar, 1947). He was irritated and express his hate towards all dalits in his above mentioned words he publicly pronounced.
N. Kumaran introduced a resolution in the Travancore Legislative Assembly against caste-based discrimination at that time.
During the Anti-Communist struggle of 1958-59, organized by the Syro-Malabar Church, the NSS, the Muslim League, and the Congress in Ankamali, the intensity of fury erupted into open violence. The Minister, Joseph Mundesserry, who had been expelled from St. Thomas College, Thrissur, proclaimed his intention to protect the rights of teachers and restrict the power of the management, which provoked communal groups. The President gave assent only after receiving the opinion of the Supreme Court. Land reforms Bill and Education Bill were provoke the casteist and privileged communities but the enactment of those bill enhance the standard of life ans social condition of Marginalized including Dalits to an Extent.
Pulayas belonging to Dalit community and Ezhavas belonged to back ward communitywere attacked. The slogans used by followers of Mannath Padmanabhan and others were deeply dehumanizing. The protesters burned the huts of Dalits and destroyed their crops. They also subjected Dalit women to rape. These attacks targeted individuals with dark skin and lower hierarchy of caste, primarily those belonging to Dalit and OBC communities.”
Also Read : Are Bollywood Movies Massacring Democracy?
In 2022 , Sasi Tharoor the leader of congress Party standing with the NSS, expressed that he was “deeply conscious that he stood on ground hallowed by the likes of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and consecrated by the efforts of Shri Mannath Padmanabhan.” Sasi Tharoor, again honored to address the vast gathering, took it as an opportunity to pay his own humble tribute to this towering colossus of Kerala society—a remarkable visionary, institution-builder, educationist, and social reformer who, through sheer determination and remarkable organizational powers, dedicated his entire life to the empowerment of the Nair community. Jadunath Sinha accused S.Radhakrishnan the Former President of India stole his theisis “ Indian Pyschology of Perception” that was published in 1925, into the book of S.radhakrishnan that was published in 1927. And he filed a case against Former President and the case was settled outside the court with Rs.10000/- Sasi Tharoor appreciating S. Radhakrishnan along with Mannath Padmanabhan in his speach
The 2023 Chief Minister of Kerala extended his wishes and stated that Mannath Padmanabhan was a leader who fought against the prevailing customs in Kerala, and may his memory give strength to efforts to build a new Kerala. He stood against practices like” pula, kettukalayanam, thirandukuli”, etc. The communist government in Kerala forget the history and trying to recreate the history in the present scenario for political support. However Mannath Padmanabhan tried to stop anti social practiced within the Nair community and so he should be marked as a Nair reformer and casteist.
The 148th anniversary celebrations of Mannath Padmanabhan in 2025 were also conducted at the All Kerala Nair Delegate Meet. The meeting adopted a resolution for the establishment of a National Commission to support Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). It demanded that the Union Government constitute a commission for forward castes. They trying to recreate the history and throwing the real history historical backwardness experienced to marginalized by Upper castes.
Mannath Padmanabhan invited Savarkar to Changanassery as the Chief Guest for the NSS Silver Jubilee in 1940. It clearly shows his political stand . NSS also following the policy of their great founder Mannath Padmanabhan and trying to destroy all the protections given to the marginalized .Even the constitutional protections that for the protection of dalits and other marginalized also diluted now a days and introduced unconstitutional protections with the support of political parties. State of Kerala was the first state introduced economic reservation to safe guard forward caste and reserve the benefits only to the forward castes against the object of the Law.
*दलित टाइम्स उन करोड़ो लोगो की आवाज़ है जिन्हें हाशिए पर रखा गया है। *
महिला, दलित और आदिवासियों के मुद्दों पर केंद्रित पत्रकारिता करने और मुख्यधारा की मीडिया में इनका प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए हमें आर्थिक सहयोग करें।
