Padma Bhushan Sri. Mannathu Padmanabhan was a great phelanthropist who dedicated his life to the upliftment of the society and Nair community. He was born in Perunna, on 02 January 1878 AD, which is a small town in Kerala, India. Sri. Eswaran Namboodiri of Nilavana Illam was his father and his mother was, Chiramuttathu Parvathy Amma.
Sri. Mannath Padmanabhan was a legendary personality who dedicated his life to the upliftment of the people in Kerala in general and the Nairs in particular.He started his career as a teacher in 1893 in a Government Primary School [Kanjirapally Govt. School],
At the age of 16. In 1905, he started practising law in the Magistrates Courts and soon became a leading member of the Bar.
In 1914 “Nair Bhruthya Janasangham” was formed to organise and bring social upliftment of Nair community. In 1915 he gave up a lucrative practice and became its full-time secretary. In 1924 he took part in the Vaikkom [30-03-1924] and Guruvayoor temple-entry campaigns and lead the famous “Savarna Jadha” , an anti-untouchability agitation in 01-10-1924. On 1st of November 1929, he participated in the famous “Guruvayoor Sathyagraham”. On 30-07-1925, Nair Service Society was registered under the Indian Companies act.
On 11-02-1950 Sri Mannam gave up his surname, stating that name should not be an indicator of caste. On 09-08-1959, the people of Kerala honoured him with the title “Bharatha Kesari” [Lion of India] for his outstanding and selfless social activities.
He dedicated his life in 1915, for the development of the Nair Community. He established, expanded and enriched the Nair Service Society and served the society as its Secretary for 31 years and as President for three years. Mannam Passed away on 25th February 1970.
Besides looking after NSS, Mannam wrote many books, an autobiography, and a travelogue, ‘Our Trip to the Federal Malay States’ [FMS]. His style was virile, forthright and very effective. He also set up many colleges, schools, hospitals and industrial units. His untiring efforts and well calculated moves have made the Nair Service Society an undisputed force to reckon with in the socio-political firmament of Kerala.