Nairs page in Wikipedia altered

The Nairs page in Wikipedia has been altered with many questionable information finding a place in it. The information as available on June 29, 2011 is found to be significantly different from what was there till May 15, 2011.

The information on Nairs now on Wikipedia is totally one sided and is based on views of some western writers mainly. This along with new links to the page at the bottom are definitely not positive views on Nair community. It gives rise to the doubt that some powers have altered the page to defame nairs. Many groups opposed to Nairs are angry at the popularity of the page and envious of the eminence of Nair community. Nairs need to protest against this.

Links like those linking nairs to Bunts have been removed from the Nairs page. Some of the information like Nairs fought along with Portuguese are factually wrong. Nairs as a community fought against Portuguese aggression on Western Coast of India

Nair Service Society gets new general secretary

Finally NSS assistant secretary G. Sukumaran Nair has become general secretary. He had been in charge for the last few months reportedly following health problems experienced by the then NSS general secretary P.K. Narayana Panicker who has been made the president of NSS recently.

Well it is good that Mr. Nair who had considerable clout inside the organisation has become the general secretary. But it is also worthwhile to remember that his opponents inside NSS and outside had often criticised him for his acts. Many times defamatory statements had been spread against Mr. Nair. Mr. Nair had often taken stands which are far different from Mr. Panicker.

Mr. Panicker had always been soft on issues affecting Nairs in general. But Mr. Nair has been outspoken. His verbal duals with SNDP Yogam President Vellappally Natesan and MES leader Abdul Gafoor and his opinions on NSS opposing former chief minister V.S. Achuthananadan have created enough enemies for him.
While Mr. Panicker had always resorted to legal fights (probably becasue he was an advocate) instead of popular struggles Mr. Nair had at times resorted to mass agitations as the President of Changanassery NSS taluk union.

If separate individual leaders' abilities or drawbacks and analyse progress of NSS in the last quarter of a century none would disagree that the period has seen NSS losing its clout and development activities at a standstill.

The period saw Government of India implementing reservations in union government services following recommendations of Mandal commission. Though NSS may say it has succeeded in bringing in economic criteria in reservations like Creamy Layer it should be remembered that creamy layer concept would help only poor among backward and not poor among forward. So how do it validate NSS' plea for brining in economic criteria in job reservations. Recently thanks to strong leadership of Vellappally Natesan OBCs were given reservation in Travancore Devaswom Board. It was NSS' miscalculated support to the Brahmin high priest which eventually resulted in that.

Similarly Minority comminities have received umpteen benefits during the last quarter of a century. In Kerala they are now far ahead of other in money power, educaiton status and social status. NSS has not started many education institutions during the last decade. But minorities started many. Though it had ample resources to start a medical college it backed out.

Well will the new general secretary do something to help Nairs. Let us see (will be continued)

Magnanimous Nair leaders

Nairs formed the back bone of orthodoxy in Kerala. It is true that at a time (say roughly from 15th century to early 20 th century) they imbibed the value system of Brahmins and a section of them oppressed sections of working class who were from lower castes.

But enlightened sections of Nairs took the lead to reform social ills like caste based discrimination including untouchability. Nair reformers gave all support to backward community leaders when they demanded end of discrimination.

Ayyankali, the leader of Pulaya scheduled caste community was helped in his efforts by Nairs. It is also true that certain Nair feudal lords attacked him
Govinda Pillai the feudal lord of Venganoor in whose farms Ayyankali's parents worked helped him.
"Ayyan had a benevolent landlord in Govinda Pillai. The landlord cleared jungles to make fields with the help of Ayyan. Later he gifted a small plot to Ayyan. Land owned by a Pulayan created unease among the landed," notes ambedkar.org pages (link http://www.ambedkar.org/books/AYYAN-KALI.htm#_Toc503779931)

Another notable Nair who helped him was Sadananda Swamikal, who was a spiritual leader who worked ardently for giving the scheduled castes their rights.

Sree Narayana Guru was taught in his childhood days by Kummampaillil Raman Pillai Asan, a nair Guru. At the time when backward castes were kept at a distance by orthodox nairs, another Nair came forward boldly to teach them. Young Nanu (who later became Narayana Guru) learnt Sanskrit and traditional knowledge from there. Chattampi Swamikal, who was born in Nair Community had been his spiritual mentor. Interestingly among Narayana Guru's direct disciples Nairs were many. Guru liked Swamy Sathyavrathan the most among his disciples.

Once Guru said Sathyavrathan (who was formerly Ayyappan Pillai) had the least pride in caste among those whom I met.

Mannathu Padmanabhan, founder of Nair Service Society had always supported movements against caste oppression. He lead the Savarna Jatha to support the right of lower castes to enter the road beside Vaikom temple. He actively participated in Vaikom and Guruvayoor Satyagraha organised for asserting rights of lowers castes. K. Kelappan a true patriot and first president of Nair Service Society lead the Guruvayoor Satyagraha for the rights of backward castes.

While all caste organisations demand rights for themselves Nairs demanded economic reservation which will benefit economically lower class from all castes and religions.

Perhaps magnanimity of Nairs went to become suicidal. Irrespective of their contribution against religious and caste oppression Nairs were often portrayed as villans. While every other community in Keala received some sops from different governments, Nairs got none.

Nair politicians who won on community votes also did not ever support even legitimate demands of the community. Perhaps it is time nairs did a soul search. let them continue to work for others but remember the saying "Charity Begins at Home."

Nairs and Keralam

Nairs are inseparably connected to the history and politics of Kerala and its progress but it is doubtful whether the community has got its due from different governments that ruled the state.

Though considered upper caste, the community does not have any upper hand in any sector in Kerala. Majority of Nairs have cooperated with the progressive movements in Kerala though in fact Nairs themselves have to bear the brunt of progressive movements, many a times.

Chattambi Swami, who spearheaded a spiritual revolution in the community criticised Brahmin supremacy existed among Hindus and established that all Hindus have the right to learn sacred Vedas. He encouraged all progressive steps taken by Sree Narayana Guru towards ending caste based discrimination among Hindus including untouchability.

Mannath Padmanabhan founder of Nair Service Society, the major social organisation for the upliftment of Nairs, always sided with efforts and agitations to end cast discrimination. It is to be remembered that he stopped using his own title in his efforts to establish a united Hindu community in Kerala.

If one looks at the leaders of all progressive movements in Kerala, it could be found that a major percentage of them are Nairs. The founder of communist movement P Krishna Pillai, the founding leaders of Indian National Congress and State Congress including Sir C Sankaran Nair, K Madhavan Nair, K P Keasava Menon, Pattom Thanu Pillai were all nairs.

NSS stood against the attempt of Dewan Sir C P Ramaswamy Iyer to create an independent Travancore. It was always for nationalism and always puts greater good of society in the forefront even while arguing for rights of Nairs. That the NSS has failed as an organisation currently is another issue. Its leaders have taken the greater common good to the extreme to the extent of forefeiting the rights of Nairs.

But despite all their progressive approach Nair community in Kerala failed get anything in return from Government is a fact. A large number of community members lost their land when the government implemented Kerala Land Reforms Act in 1970s. While similar upper castes among minorities protected their land under the benefit of exemption offered to cash crop estates while implementing land reforms act, Nairs who mostly cultivated food grains lost their land.

The reservations to OBCs and SC and STs made it tough for Nair youth to fight for government jobs also. The better organised minority communities grabbed government land and got it legalised by political pressure. Fertility rates among Nairs also feel leading to decrease in Nair population. While minority population increased Hindu population generally and Nair population in Kerala in particular decreased leading to lesser say in elections.

The opportunities offered by migrating to GCC and Europe and USA to Muslim and Christian communities is limited to Nairs. While migration strengthened the economic conditions of minorities in Kerala, Nairs went further down.

Being a law abiding community, Nairs are most adversely impacted by social changes in Kerala. Unfortunately NSS has failed to realise the current reality and formulate a strategy to uplift Nairs. Despite individual brilliance shown by Nairs in different fields the community is continuing to disintegrate and losing its bargaining power. Those Nairs who rise in their fields often fail to come to the help of community.