C. M. Padmanabhan Nair

C. M. Padmanabhan Nair Biography

C. M. Padmanabhan Nair, also called CMP was a socialist party leader (who later moved to Janata Party), social worker and politician from Trikaripur, Kasargod associated with Indian Independence movement in Kerala. He was one among those courageous leaders from Kerala who opposed Emergency implemented during Indira Gandhi’s reign. He has been instrumental in initiating several cooperative institutions in Kerala including societies, banks, housing etc and has held positions in those institutions.

He was born into a famous Chandera Madiyan family of Trikarpur village, Kasargod. His family was rich. Yet he spent his wealth for the welfare of the society. He had three brothers. CMP had a close friendship with great poet, Vallathol Narayana Menon and both wanted to become relatives, through a marriage between CMP and a family member of Vallathol. But the marriage didn’t happen and CMP married Puravangara Indira Amma, a close relative of great poet, P. Kunhiraman Nair.

Though he worked in various cities of North India, he returned back to join Independence movement. He joined the Socialist Party, got inspired by the ideologies of Jaya Prakash Narayan and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and even contested in the first election in Madras assembly from Hosdurg in 1951. But he couldn’t win. Thus he continued to build the Socialist Party in Kerala and merged with Janata Party in 1977. He spent his whole wealth for social causes and politics and later disillusioned with politics, started a stationery store in Trikaripur. But that too resulted in a loss.

Though attempted various businesses such as hotel, newspaper, and finance, he couldn’t sacrifice his humanitarian values for business and later went on a pilgrimage. He later returned to politics. He opposed Emergency implemented during 1975 and was arrested in 1977. He was released only after Emergency was lifted. He initiated many cooperative institutions in Kerala and as president of the Kottacherry Cooperative Society, made several developments which worth mentioning.

Published: N/A

Updated: November 29, 2015