Exposing the malicious and slanderous left campaign that Nairs are Lazy people

Since 1970’s sections of leftists in Kerala have been unleashing a motivated, malicious and fake campaign that Nairs are genetically lazy and because of that the community has gone bankrupt. They mocked Nairs as lazy bums who sold their land for a luxurious life, and were unwilling to do hard work.

The factually spurious and slanderous campaign portrays Nairs as obscurantists full of conceit, and observes that because of false prestige Nairs are unwilling to do certain category of jobs and businesses which are lucrative, but lack dignity. Is the allegation of the leftists true? What is the reality?

First of all, the allegations are big lies spread with mala fide intentions. The leftists want to mislead Nairs, destroy their morale, and divert their attention from the duplicity of governments that ruled Kerala. They also want to cover-up their dishonest work. Since Nair population is significant in a large number of constituencies in Kerala the left knows the danger of Nairs realizing the injustice done to them and voting against the left en masse. So the left misled Nairs that the economic crisis they faced was their own making and not because of the government policies. Then, what is the truth?

That the Nairs faced a financial crisis by 1970's is true; But the reason for the financial crisis that engulfed Nair households was not what the left propagated. it was the making of government policy; the Kerala Land Reforms Act brought by the left by the end of 1960's. The act took away the food crop cultivating land (paddy, coconut and other crops) of Namboothiris and Nairs to distribute among the landless. The same government however didn’t dare to bring cash crop (rubber, spices etc) cultivating land called plantations owned mainly by Christians under the act and so they were not affected. There is no denying the fact that land reforms were essential and the landless poor had to be given land; however it should also be added that Kerala land reform was implemented unilaterally with ulterior motives. The plantations were not included in the act because rich minority groups influenced the government policy. The reason they argued was plantations brought foreign exchange to India. But they forgot that food crops fed the poor of Kerala. When land was fragmented agriculture in Kerala suffered. Till then Kerala produced enough rice for the people in the state. Afterwards, the production of food crops suffered and at present Kerala depends on import of food grins and other crops to feed the population.

Nair community was mainly into agriculture and military service in the past during the rule of Kings till 1947. When India became free and a democratic government came to power, martial communities like Nairs lost their monopoly in military service. When agriculture in Kerala suffered Nairs also suffered. So the economic crisis faced by Nairs was the result of the crisis in agricultural sector in Kerala; not because Nairs were lazy. The leftist propaganda of Nair laziness was a pretext to prevent Nairs from protesting. Actually it was the responsibility of the government to help farmers who grew food crops. The government didn't help those famer families who lost land to venture into new jobs or businesses. Farmers are the backbone of any country or stat as they feed millions of people. To destroy Nairs Kerala's leftists destroyed the state's agricultural sector completely. The Nairs didn't realize the true nature of the motivated acts of the leftists which they publicised as progressive. 

Nair farmers didn't commit suicide 

It goes to the credit of Nair farmers that they didn't commit suicide despite leftists destroying agriculture sector completely by unscientific land reforms and destroying the peaceful relations between farmers and agricultural labourers. The left concocted stories of excess of landlords which were a travesty of truth. But, many believed it. Though it took some time, the hardworking Nairs to come out of the crisis, and venture into other jobs. Now Nairs are back with a bang.

The government should have implement land reforms in food crop cultivating lands judiciously. Plantation land and industrial land should also have been brought under its ambit, causing minimal damage to food crop cultivating lands. In fact, food crop cultivating land should have been preserved as it provided cheap rice and coconut for the poor. But since the  Government was bent on destroying social order, they confined reforms to land of Nairs and Namboothiris.

Representation of Nairs among migrants from Kerala

It is a wrong notion that Nairs never ventured out of their villages unlike Muslims who migrated to the Middle East and Christians of Travancore who migrated to Malabar and cleared forests for rubber cultivation. A study by CDS has found that among the different communities in Kerala Nairs lead in internal migration ie migration to other Indian states. The majority of people who migrated to other Indian states in search of job from Kerala are Nairs. Look at the list of political leaders/businessmen from Nair community who made a mark in their fields in other states/countries:

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister M G Ramachandran, former Singapore President Devan Nair, Former African National Congress leader Billy Nair, former Fiji president Mahendra Chaudhari also had partial Nair origins, first mayor of Mumbai K Madhavan, former MP from outer Delhi C. Krishanan Nair were all proof of the enterprising Nairs. No other community from Kerala has such an illustrious lineup of leaders who made it big elsewhere. Only Kerala Muslims match Nairs in this aspect. It means the left mockery of Nairs is a farce believed only by their blind followers.

Kerala’s policy making was always controlled by powerful minority groups who fabricated stories to portray Nairs as villainous feudal lords who faded after India got independence. It is the fault of Nair community that sections among us swallowed such myths hook, line and sinker without questioning. Communists and Congress which ruled Kerala denied us our due and to justify their neglect they unleashed the propaganda that Nairs fell into crisis because they were lazy.

Return of Nairs

By the end of 1990s the rise of knowledge based economy saw Nairs slowly returning to prosperity. Despite lack of reservations in government jobs hard working Nair youth have managed to find a place in the civil services beating others in competition. You still find lots of Nairs among IAS, IPS and IFS officers and in Army. India’s present Naval chief is from Nair community. A new breed of Nair businessmen have emerged who include: B. Ravi Pillai, PNC Menon, CK Menon, Rajiv Chandrasekhar etc. Nair technocrats are making it big in the US and Europe. The current CEO of the French corporate Chanel, the biggest luxury fashion house in the world, Leena Nair is an example of hardworking modern Nair women.  Our rise is not anybody’s magnanimity or due to the largesse of any political party. We won it through our hard work. We can be proud of ourselves.

Sabarimaa Copper scrolls found faux by ASI

 

Copper scrolls touted by Kerala’s left-liberal and activist groups to prove that the Sabarimala temple in Kerala had actually non-hindu Dravidian traditions and backward communities in Kerala had major rights in the temple was proved fabricated by an expert team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Kerala media reported on January 17, 2022 that after detailed scrutiny, an expert team which looked into it subsequent to a Kerala court’s directive categorically stated that the copper scroll was faux. The copper scroll was widely publicised by the left liberal groups to prove that present traditions of Sabarimala temple were the result of a conspiracy of Hindu orthodox groups and the Pandalam royal family in a copper scroll given to a family of backward community had actually granted rights to them over the temple.

The copper scroll story was broadcast by a Malayalam television channel 24 news, during the Sabarimala agitation in 2018. The agitation was in protest against a move of Kerala’’s leftist government to violate certain traditions of the temple. The 24 news supported the government move through a story most probably fabricated with a malicious intent to create fissures among Hindus in Kerala in the name of caste. Later, when it was found that there was prima facie evidence about fabrication of the copper scroll, Sahin Antony, a reporter of the 24 news was ousted from the channel.

Sahin Antony got the copper scroll on Sabarimala from a Kochi-based conman Monson who used to trade in fake antiques and dupe the pubic. Monson was reported to be close to top officials of the Kerala Police and political leaders. Monson reportedly got it from a Thrissur based trader who used to supply fake antiques to movie makers for shooting films.

Famous Kerala historian M G Sasibhooshan had revealed to the media that the copper scroll was fabricated in 1960s by a group to produce as evidence in a court case. Those who filed the case had claimed before a Kerala court that Cheerappanchira family (an Ezhava family at Muhamma in Alappuzha district) to which CPM leader late Susheela Gopalan belonged) had rights in Sabarimala temple, which were granted by Pandalam Kings who are believed to be the paternal family of Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala. 

However, the court had found the copper scroll was

fabricated and had dismissed the case. The same scroll was again used by leftists for their latest misinformation campaign against Sabarimala. Now Archaeological Survey has reiterated that the scroll is fabricated. Once again the conspiracy against Sabarimala temple has been exposed and stands defeated.

 S. Somantah, becomes ISRO chief 

Renowned space scientist S. Somanth has been appointed the chief of ISRO. He is an expert in the design and fabrication of launch vehicles and played a stellar role in the making of India's heavy lift vehicle GSLV MK III.

Mr. Somanath is the fifth Keralite to become the ISRO chief; the predecessors being Prof. MGK Menon, Dr Kasturirangan, G Madhavan Nair and K Radhakrishnan. Mr Somanath comes from a middle class family at Thuravoor in Alappuzha district in Kerala. His father Sreedhara Panicker has been a school teacher. Sri Panicker had been secretary of Thuravoor, Valamangalam North NSS Karayogam. Let us wish Somnath success in his new endeavour. Hope he would be able to discharge duties without fear or favour and bring more hnour to India. Let him be an inspiration. 

Mannam as an egalitarian and universal citizen

 

Mannath Padmanabhan, the founder of Nair Service Society was not just a caste leader as his name itself indicates. At an age when Nairs used surnames, Mannath Padmanabhan Pillai removed the surname from his name and became a total Hindu, thereby underscoring the idea of casteless Hindu society and the ultimate goal of universal brotherhood. As charity begins from home, Mannam began his work among his own community members; Nairs. But, he was never parochial or casteist. It would be appropriate to remember two incidents which testify his stature as a Sanatan Hindu on the occasion of birth anniversary of Mannath Padmanabhan which falls on Janurary 2.

Once while Mannam was staying at Pandalam, a youth came to see him. The youth was led to Mannath Appoppn (Grandpa Mannam) as he was fondly addressed. After exchanging pleasantries, Mannam asked the youth about his family. The youth said he belonged to Ezhava community and came from a poor background. Mannam then asked about the purpose of his visit. The youth, who was a Congress leader, said he wanted an admission to pre-university at Pandalam NSS College, but didn’t have enough marks to get admission on merit. He requested Mannam to give an admission in his personal quota. Mannam, though for a while, called an attendant and asked him to ensure that the youth got admission .

Some local NSS leaders were annoyed at the act of Mannam giving admission to a youth of another caste in Nair community quota. Mannam told them his logic. He said, that the youth was honest brave and has leadership qualities. He told me the truth and made a request. What is wrong in that? asked Mannam. He continued, “I am sure, he will go places in his political life. If we deny him a seat, he will approach some Christian management and they will readily grant him his wish. So isn't it better that we help him. He will be indebted to us, and in future he would remember us.”

Later, things turned out to be in the way Mannam predicted. The youth went on to become the finance minister off Kerala and was a powerful leader during his times. Whenever, he won he used to visit Mannam Samadhi and pay floral tributes.

One of my teachers, who is also from Ezhava community once told me about a gesture of Mannam which touched him greatly. My teacher was from a rich aristocratic Ezhava family from central Travancore. While he was studying for BSc in S.B College, Changanassery he went to see Mannam.

“It was out of sheer curiosity that I went to see him. I was a communist and never had any love lost for Mannam, who was against Communists then. There were many who were waiting to see Mannam, when I reached the house in Changanassery where he was staying. When my turn came, I was led to Mannam. He looked at me probingly and asked about my family. When I told him my family details, his face lighted up and there was a special warmth. He embraced me and told me that my maternal uncle was his great friend. Then, he enquired about my studies.

“I told him that I was studying at S.B College. Suddenly, he was angry. Why did you join SB college when our college (NSS Hindu College, Changanassery) was here? Why didn’t you approach me? Then he calmed down, and asked me to complete the degree and join NSS college for the post graduation. I was overwhelmed at his love. Then I realised why Mannam was called Grandpa by everyone, said my teacher.