Padmanabha Pillai Gopinathan Nair (Aged 100) known as P. Gopinathan Nair was born on 7 July 1922 in Neyyattinkara, Kerala, India. He was a social worker, Gandhian, and independence activist, and the chairman of Mahatma Gandhi National Memorial Trust, popularly known as Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, a trust managed by the Government of India. In 1942, he participated in the Quit India movement and worked alongside Vinoba Bhave to promote Bhoodan and Gramdan movements.
Nair is credited with initiating the camp movement, a student program, as part of the Construction Movement of Mahatma Gandhi. He received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award and several other honors for his contributions to society. In 2016, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honor, for his services to the nation.
After completing his school education at Government High School, Neyyattinkara, Nair pursued his graduate studies in science at the University College, Thiruvananthapuram. During this period, he participated in the Quit India movement. Later, he joined Shantiniketan for further studies in Chinese culture and Gandhian philosophy. After completing his studies, he returned to his hometown and organized several camps for training people and carried out constructive work, such as building roads and sanitation facilities, and organized people for Bhoodan and Gramdan activities.
Nair wrote several articles on Gandhian thought, held various positions in Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, and served as the secretary of Kerala. He received the Social Service Award of the Stallions International in 2003 and was selected for the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2005 for his constructive social service. Although the original recommendation of the state government was for the higher award of the Padma Bhushan, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2016. His biography, titled “Gandhian Karmapadhangalil” (Along the Gandhian Paths), has also been published. Nair passed away on 5 July 2022 in Neyyattinkara, Kerala, India.
Padmanabha Pillai Gopinathan Nair
(1922 – 2022) – (Kerala)
Padmanabha Pillai Gopinathan Nair (Aged 100) known as P. Gopinathan Nair was born on 7 July 1922 in Neyyattinkara, Kerala, India. He was a social worker, Gandhian, and independence activist, and the chairman of Mahatma Gandhi National Memorial Trust, popularly known as Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, a trust managed by the Government of India. In 1942, he participated in the Quit India movement and worked alongside Vinoba Bhave to promote Bhoodan and Gramdan movements.
Nair is credited with initiating the camp movement, a student program, as part of the Construction Movement of Mahatma Gandhi. He received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award and several other honors for his contributions to society. In 2016, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honor, for his services to the nation.
After completing his school education at Government High School, Neyyattinkara, Nair pursued his graduate studies in science at the University College, Thiruvananthapuram. During this period, he participated in the Quit India movement. Later, he joined Shantiniketan for further studies in Chinese culture and Gandhian philosophy. After completing his studies, he returned to his hometown and organized several camps for training people and carried out constructive work, such as building roads and sanitation facilities, and organized people for Bhoodan and Gramdan activities.
Nair wrote several articles on Gandhian thought, held various positions in Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, and served as the secretary of Kerala. He received the Social Service Award of the Stallions International in 2003 and was selected for the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2005 for his constructive social service. Although the original recommendation of the state government was for the higher award of the Padma Bhushan, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2016. His biography, titled “Gandhian Karmapadhangalil” (Along the Gandhian Paths), has also been published. Nair passed away on 5 July 2022 in Neyyattinkara, Kerala, India.
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