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{{short description|Indian social worker}}
{{Short description|Indian social worker (1922–2022)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name                    = P. Gopinathan Nair
| name                    = P. Gopinathan Nair
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| birth_date              = {{Birth date|1922|7|7|df=y}}
| birth_place            = [[Neyyattinkara]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India
| birth_place            = [[Neyyattinkara]], [[Travancore]], [[British Raj]]
| death_date              =  
| death_date              = {{Death date and age|2022|7|5|1922|7|7|df=y}}
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| death_place            = Neyyattinkara, [[Kerala]], India
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'''Padmanabha Pillai Gopinathan Nair''' (born 7 July 1922) is an Indian social worker, Gandhian, [[Indian independence activist|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.<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman">{{cite web | url=http://www.keralagandhismaraknidhi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=475 | title=Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman | publisher=Kerala Gandi Smarak Nidhi | date=2016 | access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> He participated in the [[Quit India movement]] of 1942 and worked alongside [[Vinoba Bhave]] to promote [[Bhoodan movement|Bhoodan]] and [[Gramdan]] movements.<ref name="Padma Shri for Gopinathan Nair">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/padma-shri-for-gopinathan-nair/article8153766.ece | title=Padma Shri for Gopinathan Nair | publisher=The Hindu | date=26 January 2016 | access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> He is the initiator of the ''camp movement'', a student program, as a part of the ''Construction Movement'' of [[Mahatma Gandhi]].<ref name="A Gandhian turns 90 on Thursday">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article415989.ece?service=print | title=A Gandhian turns 90 on Thursday | publisher=Indian Express | date=7 July 2011 | access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> He is a recipient of the [[Jamnalal Bajaj Award]], among other honors.<ref name="Japanese Gandhian wins Jamnalal Bajaj award">{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/gandhi/20051004.htm | title=Japanese Gandhian wins Jamnalal Bajaj award | publisher=ReDiff News | date=4 October 2005 | access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the [[Padma Shri]], in 2016, for his contributions to society.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards_25012016.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2016 | access-date=3 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085913/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards_25012016.pdf | archive-date=3 August 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
'''Padmanabha Pillai Gopinathan Nair''' (7 July 1922 – 5 July 2022) was an Indian social worker, [[Gandhism|Gandhian]], [[Indian independence activist|independence activist]], and the chairman of [[Mahatma Gandhi National Memorial Trust]] (popularly known as Gandhi Smarak Nidhi).<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman">{{cite web |date=2016 |title=Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman |url=http://www.keralagandhismaraknidhi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=475 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401113537/http://keralagandhismaraknidhi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=475 |archive-date=1 April 2016 |access-date=31 July 2016 |publisher=Kerala Gandhi Smarak Nidhi}}</ref>  
 
He participated in the [[Quit India movement]] of 1942 and worked alongside [[Vinoba Bhave]] to promote the [[Bhoodan movement|Bhoodan]] and [[Gramdan]] movements.<ref name="Padma Shri for Gopinathan Nair">{{cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/Padma-Shri-for-Gandhian/article14020153.ece | title=Padma Shri for Gandhian | work=The Hindu | date=26 January 2016 }} Updated 23 September 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2022.</ref> He was the initiator of the ''camp movement'', a student program that was part of the ''Construction Movement'' of [[Mahatma Gandhi]].<ref name="A Gandhian turns 90 on Thursday">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article415989.ece?service=print | title=A Gandhian turns 90 on Thursday | publisher=Indian Express | date=7 July 2011 | access-date=31 July 2016 | archive-date=16 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816202419/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article415989.ece?service=print | url-status=dead }}</ref> He was a recipient of the [[Jamnalal Bajaj Award]], among other honors.<ref name="Japanese Gandhian wins Jamnalal Bajaj award">{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/gandhi/20051004.htm | title=Japanese Gandhian wins Jamnalal Bajaj award | publisher=ReDiff News | date=4 October 2005 | access-date=31 July 2016 | archive-date=10 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910194412/http://www.rediff.com/news/report/gandhi/20051004.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Government of India]] awarded him the fourth-highest civilian honour of the [[Padma Shri]], in 2016, for his contributions to society.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards_25012016.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2016 | access-date=3 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085913/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards_25012016.pdf | archive-date=3 August 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Gopinathan Nair was born on 7 July 1922 to M. Padmanabha Pillai and K. P. Janaki Amma in [[Neyyattinkara]], a town in the southern part of [[Thiruvananthapuram district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]].<ref name="A Gandhian turns 90 on Thursday" /> After completing his school education at the Government High School, Neyyattinkara, he did his graduate studies in science at the [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]] and it was during this period, he participated in the [[Quit India movement]].<ref name="2005 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work">{{cite web | url=http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/awards/archives/2005/constructive-work/gopinathan-nair | title=2005 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work | publisher=Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation | date=2016 | access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> In 1944, he founded ''Trivandrum Students Settlement'' gathering 35 students, inspired by the ''Construction movement'' of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1946, he became the Chief Tattwa Pracharak of the Kerala [[Gandhi Smarak Nidhi]] and conducted several courses for his colleagues as well as other students.<ref name="2005 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work" /> The same year, he joined [[Shantiniketan]] for further studies in Chinese culture and [[Gandhian philosophy]] and returned to his home town after the completion of the course.<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman" /> For the next decade and a half, he organized several camps for training people and carried out constructive work such as roads and sanitation facilities and organized people for Bhoodan and Gramdan activities.<ref name="Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work-2005">{{cite web | url=http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/Media/pdf/JBA_2005_Bio_P_Gopinathan_Nair.pdf | title=Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work-2005 | publisher=Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation | date=2016 | access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> When [[Vinoba Bhave]] visited Kerala as a part of his ''Padayatra'', Nair organized a meeting in [[Kalady]]. He also became associated with [[Shanti Sena]] and was involved in many of its activities. He was reported to have been active during the naxalite insurgency in [[Kilimanoor]] in 1970, the Hindu-Muslim communal riots in [[Thalassery]], the [[East Bengali refugees|East Bengali refugee]] crisis of 1971 and [[Kuttanad]] Peace Project of 1971–76. He also served as the chair of the ''Sarva Seva Sangh'' in 1989 and was the convenor of the Cow Protection Committee in Kerala when Bhave campaigned against slaughter of cows.<ref name="2005 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work" /> In the aftermath of the [[Marad massacre]] of 2002, [[A. K. Antony]], the then chief minister of Kerala requested Nair's assistance in mediating between the warring factions and he was reported to have been successful in his efforts.<ref name="Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work-2005" />
Gopinathan Nair was born on 7 July 1922 to M. Padmanabha Pillai and K. P. Janaki Amma in [[Neyyattinkara]], a town in the southern part of [[Thiruvananthapuram district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]].<ref name="A Gandhian turns 90 on Thursday" /> After completing his school education at the Government High School, Neyyattinkara, he did his university studies in science at the [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman"/>
 
During university, Nair participated in the [[Quit India movement]].<ref name="2005 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work">{{cite web | url=http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/awards/archives/2005/constructive-work/gopinathan-nair | title=2005 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work | publisher=Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation | date=2016 | access-date=31 July 2016 | archive-date=9 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809112137/http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/awards/archives/2005/constructive-work/gopinathan-nair | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1944, he founded the ''Trivandrum Students Settlement'' movement with 35 students, inspired by the ''Construction movement'' of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1946, he became the Chief ''Tattwa Pracharak'' of the Kerala [[Gandhi Smarak Nidhi]] and conducted several courses for his colleagues as well as other students.<ref name="2005 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work" /> During that same year, he completed further studies in Chinese culture and [[Gandhian philosophy]] at [[Shantiniketan]].<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman" />
 
For the next decade and a half, he set up camps for training people and carried out construction projects such as roads and sanitation facilities.  He organized people for [[Bhoodan]] and Gramdan activities.<ref name="Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work-2005">{{cite web | url=http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/Media/pdf/JBA_2005_Bio_P_Gopinathan_Nair.pdf | title=Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work-2005 | publisher=Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation | date=2016 | access-date=31 July 2016 | archive-date=25 April 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425161019/http://jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/Media/pdf/JBA_2005_Bio_P_Gopinathan_Nair.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> When [[Vinoba Bhave]] visited [[Kerala]] as a part of his ''Padayatra'', Nair organized a meeting in [[Kalady]]. Nair also became associated with [[Shanti Sena]] and was involved in many of its activities. He was reported to have been a mediator during the [[Naxalite]] insurgency in [[Kilimanoor]] in 1970, the Hindu-Muslim communal riots in [[Thalassery]], the [[East Bengali refugees|East Bengali refugee]] crisis of 1971, and the [[Kuttanad]] Peace Project of 1971 to 1976. He also served as the chair of the ''Sarva Seva Sangh'' in 1989<ref name="2005 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work" /> and was the convenor of the Cow Protection Committee in Kerala when Bhave campaigned against the slaughter of cows. In the aftermath of the [[Marad massacre]] of 2002, [[List of chief ministers of Kerala|Chief Minister]] [[A. K. Antony]] requested Nair's assistance in mediating between the warring factions; Nair was reportedly successful in his efforts.<ref name="Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work-2005" />


Nair, who has written several articles on Gandhian thought,<ref name="Narayanasamy2003">{{cite book|author=S. Narayanasamy|title=The Sarvodaya Movement: Gandhian Approach to Peace and Non-violence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pI0Hdv0Cy34C&pg=PA105|year=2003|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-7099-877-8|pages=105–}}</ref> has been associated with [[Gandhi Smarak Nidhi]] in various positions, held the post of the secretary of the Kerala chapter during 1980–82 and is the incumbent national president of [[Gandhi Smarak Nidhi]], besides heading the Kerala chapter since 1999.<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman" /> He is a life member and a member of the governing board of the ''[[Gandhi Peace Foundation]]''<ref name="Governing Board">{{cite web | url=http://www.gandhipeacefoundation.org/governing_board.php | title=Governing Board | publisher=Gandhi Peace Foundation | date=2016 | access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> and a former president of the All India Sarva Seva Sangham, Varanasi (6 years) and [[Sevagram]], Wardha (11 years).<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman" /> He is the chairman and patron of the Noorul Islam Civil Service Academy<ref name="Chairman and patron">{{cite web | url=http://noorulislamcivilserviceacademy.com/ | title=Chairman and patron | publisher=Noorul Islam Civil Service Academy | date=2016 | access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> and a member of ''Sree Uthradam Thirunal Institute Of Culture'', Thiruvananthapuram<ref name="Members Honoured in SUTIC Meetings with Memento and Shawl">{{cite web | url=http://sutic.org/membersHonoured.php | title=Members Honoured in SUTIC Meetings with Memento and Shawl | publisher=Sree Uthradam Thirunal Institute Of Culture | date=2016 | access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> He is married to L. Saraswathi Amma, a retired State Women’s Welfare officer,<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman" /> and the couple lives in Neyyattinkara.<ref name="Kummanam visits P Gopinathan Nair">{{cite web | url=http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kummanam-visits-p-gopinathan-nair-english-news-1.856223 | title=Kummanam visits P Gopinathan Nair | publisher=Mathrubhumi | date=10 February 2016 | access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref>
Nair, who wrote several articles on Gandhian thought,<ref name="Narayanasamy2003">{{cite book|author=S. Narayanasamy|title=The Sarvodaya Movement: Gandhian Approach to Peace and Non-violence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pI0Hdv0Cy34C&pg=PA105|year=2003|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-7099-877-8|pages=105–}}</ref> was associated with Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in various positions.  He held the post of the secretary of the Kerala chapter from 1980 to 1982, then became head of the chapter in 1999.<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman" /> He was elected as the national president of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in 2012.<ref name="Gandhian P Gopinathan Nair Honoured" /> In addition, Nair was a life member and a member of the governing board of the ''[[Gandhi Peace Foundation]]''<ref name="Governing Board">{{cite web |date=2016 |title=Governing Board |url=http://www.gandhipeacefoundation.org/governing_board.php |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819060850/http://www.gandhipeacefoundation.org/governing_board.php |archive-date=19 August 2016 |access-date=1 August 2016 |publisher=Gandhi Peace Foundation}}</ref> and a president of the All India Sarva Seva Sangham, Varanasi (6 years) and [[Sevagram]], Wardha (11 years).<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman" /> He was the chairman and patron of the Noorul Islam Civil Service Academy<ref name="Chairman and patron">{{cite web |date=2016 |title=Chairman and patron |url=http://noorulislamcivilserviceacademy.com/ |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045713/http://noorulislamcivilserviceacademy.com/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=1 August 2016 |publisher=Noorul Islam Civil Service Academy}}</ref> and a member of the ''Sree Uthradam Thirunal Institute Of Culture'', Thiruvananthapuram.<ref name="Members Honoured in SUTIC Meetings with Memento and Shawl">{{cite web | url=http://sutic.org/membersHonoured.php | title=Members Honoured in SUTIC Meetings with Memento and Shawl | publisher=Sree Uthradam Thirunal Institute Of Culture | date=2016 | access-date=1 August 2016 | archive-date=7 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807023113/http://sutic.org/membersHonoured.php | url-status=live }}</ref>


== Awards and honors ==
Nair was married to L. Saraswathi Amma, a retired State Women's Welfare officer,<ref name="Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman" /> and the couple lived in Neyyattinkara.<ref name="Kummanam visits P Gopinathan Nair">{{cite web | url=http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kummanam-visits-p-gopinathan-nair-english-news-1.856223 | title=Kummanam visits P Gopinathan Nair | publisher=Mathrubhumi | date=10 February 2016 | access-date=1 August 2016 | archive-date=20 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920042209/http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kummanam-visits-p-gopinathan-nair-english-news-1.856223 | url-status=live }}</ref>  Nair died from a heart attack at a private hospital in [[Neyyattinkara]] on 5 July 2022, two days before his 100th birthday.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 July 2022 |title=ഗാന്ധിയൻ പി. ഗോപിനാഥൻ നായർക്ക് വിട |pages=1|quote=രാത്രി 8.45ഓടെ ഹൃദയാഘാതത്തെതുടർന്നായിരുന്നു മരണം.|language=ml|newspaper=[[Madhyamam]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Gandhian P Gopinathan Nair dies at 100 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/13504555_Gandhian-P-Gopinathan-Nair-dies-at-100.html |access-date=5 July 2022 |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705211347/http://www.ptinews.com/news/13504555_Gandhian-P-Gopinathan-Nair-dies-at-100.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He suffered from post-[[COVID-19]] health complications and age-related ailments prior to his death.<ref>{{Cite news  |date=5 July 2022 |title=Gandhian passes away |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/gandhian-passes-away/article65604123.ece |access-date=5 July 2022 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705173806/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/gandhian-passes-away/article65604123.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" />
Nair received the Social Service Award of the Stallions International in 2003<ref name="Gopinathan Nair receives Social Service award 2003">{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Gopinathan-Nair-receives-Social-Service-award-2003/articleshow/447646.cms | title=Gopinathan Nair receives Social Service award 2003 | publisher=Times of India | date=27 January 2004 | access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> and he was selected for the [[Jamnalal Bajaj Award]] in 2005, for his constructive social service.<ref name="Japanese Gandhian wins Jamnalal Bajaj award" /> The [[University of Calicut]] honored him for his services to Gandhian studies in 2005<ref name="Honouring Octogenarian Gandhian Sri P Gopinathan Nair">{{cite web | url=http://www.gandhichair.org/sub_pages/images/Honouring%20Octogenarian%20Gandhian%20Sri%20P%20Gopinathan%20Nair%20Thiruvananthapuram.html | title=Honouring Octogenarian Gandhian Sri P Gopinathan Nair | publisher=Gandhi Chair, University of Calicut | date=2005 | access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> and the [[University of Kerala]] felicitated him on 24 April 2012, when he was elected as the national president of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi.<ref name="Gandhian P Gopinathan Nair Honoured">{{cite web | url=http://www.yentha.com/news/view/1/gandhian-p-gopinathan-nair-honoured | title=Gandhian P Gopinathan Nair Honoured | publisher=Yentha | date=24 April 2012 | access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> The Government of India awarded him the civilian honor of the [[Padma Shri]] in 2016, though the original recommendation of the state government was for the higher award of the [[Padma Bhushan]].<ref name="Padma Shri for Gopinathan Nair" /> The [[Department of Information and Public Relations (Kerala)|Department of Information and Public Relations]] of the Government of Kerala and the state chapter of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi jointly organized a photo exhibition at Gandhi Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, featuring various photographs from Nair's life, in connection with his 95th birthday celebrations. The exhibition, besides the photographs, also had several write-ups on him as exhibits.<ref name="Gopinathan Nair turns 95">{{cite web | url=http://m.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/gandhian-gopinathan-nair-turns-95/article8864214.ece | title=Gopinathan Nair turns 95 | publisher=The Hindu | date=18 July 2016 | access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> Noorul Islam Civil Service Academy of the NIMS Charity Trust, where he is the patron, was renamed as ''P. Gopinathan Nair Civil Service Training Academy'' in his honor in 2011, in connection with his 90th birthday celebrations.<ref name="P. Gopinathan Nair Civil Service Training Academy">{{cite web | url=http://www.nimscharity.com/civil_service_training.html | title=P. Gopinathan Nair Civil Service Training Academy | publisher=NIMS Charity | date=2016 | access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> His life has been documented in a 30-minute documentary film, directed Rajan V, Pozhiyoor, the secretary of Thikkurissi Foundation and produced by the Media Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.<ref name="Documentary on P Gopinathan Nair">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article1283236.ece?service=print | title=Documentary on P Gopinathan Nair | publisher=Indian Express | date=3 October 2012 | access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> His biography has also been published under the title, ''Gandhian Karmapadhangalil'' (Along the Gandhian Paths).<ref name="Gopinathan Nair turns 95" />
 
== Awards and honours ==
Nair received the Social Service Award of the Stallions International in 2003.<ref name="Gopinathan Nair receives Social Service award 2003">{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Gopinathan-Nair-receives-Social-Service-award-2003/articleshow/447646.cms | title=Gopinathan Nair receives Social Service award 2003 | publisher=Times of India | date=27 January 2004 | access-date=1 August 2016 | archive-date=9 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709042240/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Gopinathan-Nair-receives-Social-Service-award-2003/articleshow/447646.cms | url-status=live }}</ref> He was selected for the [[Jamnalal Bajaj Award]] in 2005 in recognition of his constructive social service.<ref name="Japanese Gandhian wins Jamnalal Bajaj award" /> The [[University of Calicut]] honored him for his services to Gandhian studies in 2005;<ref name="Honouring Octogenarian Gandhian Sri P Gopinathan Nair">{{cite web |date=2005 |title=Honouring Octogenarian Gandhian Sri P Gopinathan Nair |url=http://www.gandhichair.org/sub_pages/images/Honouring%20Octogenarian%20Gandhian%20Sri%20P%20Gopinathan%20Nair%20Thiruvananthapuram.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807044222/http://www.gandhichair.org/sub_pages/images/Honouring%20Octogenarian%20Gandhian%20Sri%20P%20Gopinathan%20Nair%20Thiruvananthapuram.html |archive-date=7 August 2016 |access-date=1 August 2016 |publisher=Gandhi Chair, University of Calicut}}</ref> the [[University of Kerala]] felicitated him on 24 April 2012, when he was elected as the national president of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi.<ref name="Gandhian P Gopinathan Nair Honoured">{{cite web |date=24 April 2012 |title=Gandhian P Gopinathan Nair Honoured |url=http://www.yentha.com/news/view/1/gandhian-p-gopinathan-nair-honoured |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816005758/http://www.yentha.com/news/view/1/gandhian-p-gopinathan-nair-honoured |archive-date=16 August 2016 |access-date=1 August 2016 |publisher=Yentha}}</ref>
 
The Government of India awarded him the civilian honor of the [[Padma Shri]] in 2016, though the original recommendation of the state government was for the higher award of the [[Padma Bhushan]].<ref name="Padma Shri for Gopinathan Nair" /> The [[Department of Information and Public Relations (Kerala)|Department of Information and Public Relations]] of the Government of Kerala and the state chapter of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi jointly organized a photo exhibition at Gandhi Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, featuring various photographs from Nair's life, in connection with his 95th birthday celebrations. Besides photographs, the exhibition had several informative write-ups about him.<ref name="Gopinathan Nair turns 95">{{cite web | url=http://m.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/gandhian-gopinathan-nair-turns-95/article8864214.ece | title=Gopinathan Nair turns 95 | work=The Hindu | date=18 July 2016 | access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref>
 
Noorul Islam Civil Service Academy of the NIMS Charity Trust, where he was the patron, was renamed as ''P. Gopinathan Nair Civil Service Training Academy'' in his honor in 2011, in connection with his 90th birthday celebrations.<ref name="P. Gopinathan Nair Civil Service Training Academy">{{cite web |date=2016 |title=P. Gopinathan Nair Civil Service Training Academy |url=http://www.nimscharity.com/civil_service_training.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313230033/http://www.nimscharity.com/civil_service_training.html |archive-date=13 March 2016 |access-date=1 August 2016 |publisher=NIMS Charity}}</ref> His life has been documented in a 30-minute documentary film, directed by Rajan V. Pozhiyoor, the secretary of Thikkurissi Foundation and produced by the Media Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.<ref name="Documentary on P Gopinathan Nair">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article1283236.ece?service=print | title=Documentary on P Gopinathan Nair | publisher=Indian Express | date=3 October 2012 | access-date=31 July 2016 | archive-date=16 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816232634/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article1283236.ece?service=print | url-status=dead }}</ref> His biography has also been published under the title, ''Gandhian Karmapadhangalil'' (Along the Gandhian Paths).<ref name="Gopinathan Nair turns 95" />


== See also ==
== See also ==
{{portal|India}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Bhoodan]]
* [[Gramdan]]
* [[Mahatma Gandhi]]
* [[Mahatma Gandhi National Memorial Trust]]
* [[Mahatma Gandhi National Memorial Trust]]
* [[Quit India movement]]
* [[Quit India movement]]
* [[Vinoba Bhave]]
* [[Vinoba Bhave]]
* [[Bhoodan]]
* [[Gramdan]]
* [[Mahatma Gandhi]]
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
{{portal|India}}


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{cite episode | title=P. Gopinathan Nair - A true Gandhian | series=Ee Vazhitharayil (Along this pathway) - Episode 78 | network=Mathrubhumi TV | location=Kochi | url=http://mathrubhuminews.in/ee/Programs/Episode/8558/p-gopinathan-nair-a-true-gandhian-ee-vazhitharayil-episode-78/E}}
* {{cite episode | title=P. Gopinathan Nair – A true Gandhian | series=Ee Vazhitharayil [Along this pathway] | number=78 | network=Mathrubhumi TV | location=Kochi | url=http://mathrubhuminews.in/ee/Programs/Episode/8558/p-gopinathan-nair-a-true-gandhian-ee-vazhitharayil-episode-78/E | access-date=1 August 2016 | archive-date=4 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504174921/http://mathrubhuminews.in/ee/Programs/Episode/8558/p-gopinathan-nair-a-true-gandhian-ee-vazhitharayil-episode-78/E | url-status=dead }}
* {{cite episode | title=Interview with Gandhian P. Gopinathan Nair | series=Ithalukal | network=[[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]] News | location=Kochi | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDPVSUoqcG4}}
* {{cite episode | title=Interview with Gandhian P. Gopinathan Nair | series=Ithalukal | network=[[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]] News | location=Kochi | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDPVSUoqcG4}}
* {{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSEB3I0gBY0 | title=Inaugural Speech | publisher=Indian National Kamaraj Congress | date=15 March 2016 | people=P. Gopinathan Nair | medium=TV News}}
* {{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSEB3I0gBY0 | title=Inaugural Speech | publisher=Indian National Kamaraj Congress | date=15 March 2016 | people=P. Gopinathan Nair | medium=TV News}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, P. Gopinathan}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:People from Thiruvananthapuram district]]
[[Category:People from Thiruvananthapuram district]]
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[[Category:Indian civil rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian civil rights activists]]
[[Category:Social workers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Social workers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India]]

Latest revision as of 02:55, 10 February 2026


P. Gopinathan Nair
Born(1922-07-07)7 July 1922
Neyyattinkara, Travancore, British Raj
Died5 July 2022(2022-07-05) (aged 99)
Neyyattinkara, Kerala, India
OccupationSocial worker
Gandhian
Indian independence activist
Years activeSince 1942
Known forMahatma Gandhi National Memorial Trust
Shanti Sena
Bhoodan Movement
Spouse(s)L. Saraswathi Amma
Parent(s)M. Padmanabha Pillai
K. P. Janaki Amma
AwardsPadma Shri
Jamnalal Bajaj Award
Stallions Social Service Award
SUTIC Honor

Padmanabha Pillai Gopinathan Nair (7 July 1922 – 5 July 2022) was an Indian social worker, Gandhian, independence activist, and the chairman of Mahatma Gandhi National Memorial Trust (popularly known as Gandhi Smarak Nidhi).[1]

He participated in the Quit India movement of 1942 and worked alongside Vinoba Bhave to promote the Bhoodan and Gramdan movements.[2] He was the initiator of the camp movement, a student program that was part of the Construction Movement of Mahatma Gandhi.[3] He was a recipient of the Jamnalal Bajaj Award, among other honors.[4] The Government of India awarded him the fourth-highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2016, for his contributions to society.[5]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Gopinathan Nair was born on 7 July 1922 to M. Padmanabha Pillai and K. P. Janaki Amma in Neyyattinkara, a town in the southern part of Thiruvananthapuram district of the south Indian state of Kerala.[3] After completing his school education at the Government High School, Neyyattinkara, he did his university studies in science at the University College, Thiruvananthapuram.[1]

During university, Nair participated in the Quit India movement.[6] In 1944, he founded the Trivandrum Students Settlement movement with 35 students, inspired by the Construction movement of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1946, he became the Chief Tattwa Pracharak of the Kerala Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and conducted several courses for his colleagues as well as other students.[6] During that same year, he completed further studies in Chinese culture and Gandhian philosophy at Shantiniketan.[1]

For the next decade and a half, he set up camps for training people and carried out construction projects such as roads and sanitation facilities. He organized people for Bhoodan and Gramdan activities.[7] When Vinoba Bhave visited Kerala as a part of his Padayatra, Nair organized a meeting in Kalady. Nair also became associated with Shanti Sena and was involved in many of its activities. He was reported to have been a mediator during the Naxalite insurgency in Kilimanoor in 1970, the Hindu-Muslim communal riots in Thalassery, the East Bengali refugee crisis of 1971, and the Kuttanad Peace Project of 1971 to 1976. He also served as the chair of the Sarva Seva Sangh in 1989[6] and was the convenor of the Cow Protection Committee in Kerala when Bhave campaigned against the slaughter of cows. In the aftermath of the Marad massacre of 2002, Chief Minister A. K. Antony requested Nair's assistance in mediating between the warring factions; Nair was reportedly successful in his efforts.[7]

Nair, who wrote several articles on Gandhian thought,[8] was associated with Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in various positions. He held the post of the secretary of the Kerala chapter from 1980 to 1982, then became head of the chapter in 1999.[1] He was elected as the national president of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in 2012.[9] In addition, Nair was a life member and a member of the governing board of the Gandhi Peace Foundation[10] and a president of the All India Sarva Seva Sangham, Varanasi (6 years) and Sevagram, Wardha (11 years).[1] He was the chairman and patron of the Noorul Islam Civil Service Academy[11] and a member of the Sree Uthradam Thirunal Institute Of Culture, Thiruvananthapuram.[12]

Nair was married to L. Saraswathi Amma, a retired State Women's Welfare officer,[1] and the couple lived in Neyyattinkara.[13] Nair died from a heart attack at a private hospital in Neyyattinkara on 5 July 2022, two days before his 100th birthday.[14][15] He suffered from post-COVID-19 health complications and age-related ailments prior to his death.[16][15]

Awards and honours[edit | edit source]

Nair received the Social Service Award of the Stallions International in 2003.[17] He was selected for the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2005 in recognition of his constructive social service.[4] The University of Calicut honored him for his services to Gandhian studies in 2005;[18] the University of Kerala felicitated him on 24 April 2012, when he was elected as the national president of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi.[9]

The Government of India awarded him the civilian honor of the Padma Shri in 2016, though the original recommendation of the state government was for the higher award of the Padma Bhushan.[2] The Department of Information and Public Relations of the Government of Kerala and the state chapter of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi jointly organized a photo exhibition at Gandhi Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, featuring various photographs from Nair's life, in connection with his 95th birthday celebrations. Besides photographs, the exhibition had several informative write-ups about him.[19]

Noorul Islam Civil Service Academy of the NIMS Charity Trust, where he was the patron, was renamed as P. Gopinathan Nair Civil Service Training Academy in his honor in 2011, in connection with his 90th birthday celebrations.[20] His life has been documented in a 30-minute documentary film, directed by Rajan V. Pozhiyoor, the secretary of Thikkurissi Foundation and produced by the Media Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.[21] His biography has also been published under the title, Gandhian Karmapadhangalil (Along the Gandhian Paths).[19]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Sri. P.Gopinathan Nair, Chairman". Kerala Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. 2016. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Padma Shri for Gandhian". The Hindu. 26 January 2016. Updated 23 September 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "A Gandhian turns 90 on Thursday". Indian Express. 7 July 2011. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Japanese Gandhian wins Jamnalal Bajaj award". ReDiff News. 4 October 2005. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "2005 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work". Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work-2005" (PDF). Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  8. ↑ S. Narayanasamy (2003). The Sarvodaya Movement: Gandhian Approach to Peace and Non-violence. Mittal Publications. pp. 105–. ISBN 978-81-7099-877-8.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Gandhian P Gopinathan Nair Honoured". Yentha. 24 April 2012. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "Governing Board". Gandhi Peace Foundation. 2016. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Chairman and patron". Noorul Islam Civil Service Academy. 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Members Honoured in SUTIC Meetings with Memento and Shawl". Sree Uthradam Thirunal Institute Of Culture. 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "Kummanam visits P Gopinathan Nair". Mathrubhumi. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "ഗാന്ധിയൻ പി. ഗോപിനാഥൻ നായർക്ക് വിട". Madhyamam (in മലയാളം). 6 July 2022. p. 1. രാത്രി 8.45ഓടെ ഹൃദയാഘാതത്തെതുടർന്നായിരുന്നു മരണം.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Gandhian P Gopinathan Nair dies at 100". Press Trust of India. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Gandhian passes away". The Hindu. 5 July 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Gopinathan Nair receives Social Service award 2003". Times of India. 27 January 2004. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  18. ↑ "Honouring Octogenarian Gandhian Sri P Gopinathan Nair". Gandhi Chair, University of Calicut. 2005. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Gopinathan Nair turns 95". The Hindu. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  20. ↑ "P. Gopinathan Nair Civil Service Training Academy". NIMS Charity. 2016. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "Documentary on P Gopinathan Nair". Indian Express. 3 October 2012. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.

External links[edit | edit source]

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