Menon Subcaste of Nair’s

Main Caste	Nair’s
Sub-Caste	Menon’s
Where Found	Kerala mostly in Malabar or Cochin
Languages Spoken	Malayalam
Indicative Job Done	Various administrative duties-Scribes & accountants, in service of the kings of Kerala.

Main Caste	Nair’s
Sub-Caste	Pattola Nair (Menon’s)
Where Found	Kerala mostly in Malabar or Cochin
Languages Spoken	Malayalam
Indicative Job Done	An Accountant-One who writes kingly orders & keeps accounts.

Menon is an honorific hereditary title that was used as an affix to the name of some members belonging to Kiryathi & Akattu Charna classes. In Nair community, the types of Menons were Paricha-Menon, Menon Panikkar, Pattola-Menon, the relative rank of each often varying from Taluk to Taluk.

Title Menavan or Menon, means a superior person and is derived from Mel, above & Avan i.e. he. The recipient of the title held it for a lifetime, or it was bestowed in perpetuity on his family, according to the amount of money paid down as Atiyara. As soon as an individual was made Menon, he was presented with an Ola (Palmyra leaf for writing on) & an iron style as symbols of office accountant, which he was expected to fill.

Bestowed by the various kings of Kerala (including the Zamorin) to the members of certain classes of Nair’s. The recipient of the title held it lifelong & the male members of his family held it in perpetuity along the matrilineal line.

It is considered to be a Kshatriya subdivision of the Nair caste that originated from the south Indian state of Kerala. The Menon’s were engaged in various administrative duties, such as being scribes & accountants, in service of the kings of Kerala.

I was astonished when i found that currently there are five types of Menons. Nair Menon, Cutchi Menon, Exhava Menon, Vattakadan/Chakkala Menon, Gounder Menon & Christian Menon. Surname of Menon is used in other Nair sub-castes also. To be noted that Kiriyathil Nair Menon's have no relation to other Menons.

Menon Name Meaning (Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press) Indian (Kerala): Hindu (Nayar) name, from Malayalam Menon, usually used to mean ‘Accountant’, but literally ‘exalted one’ (earlier menavan, melavan, from mel ‘high’ + the third person singular masculine pronoun, avan ‘he’). Originally, this was a hereditary title conferred by the rulers of various kingdoms in Kerala.

Are Menons Brahmins?

No they are Nair in caste, they are just one of the several titles within the Nair community (Nair, Menon, Pillai, Nambiar, Kurup, Panicker, Kartha, Kaimal, Unnithan, Valiyathan etc.)

Menon’s have nothing to do with brahmins, although brahmin men used to marry Menon women like they used to marry other Nair women. It is not true that Menon’s are the title given only to the children born to Nambudiri men & Nair women sambandham (loose marriage). Net result is genetically & visually, Nair’s/Menon’s look like South Indian Brahmins & don’t look like Dravidians, thanks to this genetic engineering by Nambudiri brahmins

(Now to speak of Menon’s as half Brahmins purely on the basis of sambandham or morganatic marriage with Nambudiri Brahmins, the marriage itself runs short of proper wedding as the wife was not accorded the status of Dharmapatni (Wife). She is at best what we may call a concubine who was admitted into family circle as a result of pudamuri form of Koottu Irikkal. And it was how children born out of sambandham never inherited their father’s property through intestate succession or whatever. In order to rectify this social anomaly Indian Judge at His Majesty's High Court of Judicature at Madras the Rt. Hon'ble Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair brought about a social legislation called the Madras Marumakkathayam Act of 1938, guaranteeing property rights and inheritance to children born out of sambandham marriage)

Menon’s, are predominantly found in the domains of erstwhile South Malabar & Cochin kingdoms, where the local kings used to give the Menon title to the Nair’s who were mainly entrusted with the duty of looking after state affairs, accountants, temple administrators etc. The Pillai (Nair) title in Travancore region is equivalent to the Menon title, due to the similar functional roles performed earlier by both in their respective domains. They are not to be confused with Vellala Pillai of Tamil origin in the region who also used to perform similar duties in Travancore.

Paricha Menon’s are highest among the Menons. Pattola Menon’s were the secretaries of the Nilambur Thirumulpads. First Pattola Menon was one Shri Kelu Menon who was reputed for his knowledge of toxicology & cures for snake-bites. Thazhakodenadu of Themmalapuram Taluk which was under Sekhari Varma Raja of Palghat was governed by the first Naduvazhi, Kanhumalpada Nair & the second governor Tharupada Nair & the Raja's accountant (Pattola Menon) was Anavangot Menon & the governors were Nannat Menon & Kulaviyil Menon respectively.

(Data were collected from The Indian Forester - Volume 51 - Page 118. Pattola Menon.  

Recorded, in the Cochin Census Report, 1 90 1, as a sub-caste of Nayars, who are accountants in aristocratic families,  Castes & Tribes of Southern India-Volume 1 By Edgar Thurston & Kandur Rangachari, Tales Once Told: Legends of Kerala.)

Traditionally, many Menon families used to be vegetarians (probably to maintain better contact with Nambudiris), but now there are few vegetarians in the community.

Swaroopathil Nair of Kerala

Swaroopathil Nair's or Charna Nair's were one of the sub-castes belonging to the Nair community in Kerala. They were warriors of Samanta Kshatriya Royal Households known as Swaroopams. This sub-caste is found only in Travancore. In Malabar, two related subcastes, Akathu Charna Nair's & Purathu Charna Nair's are treated as equivalent to Swaroopathil Nair's in caste hierarchy.

Demographic & Sub Division :

According to the 1891 Census, Swaroopathil Nair's composed around 9.2% of the total Nair population, while Akathu Cherna & Purathu Cherna Nairs accounted for 3.3% and 11.1% respectively.

The highest of Swaroopathil Nair's were those included in the Paroor Swaroopam, who being originally Illathu Nair's have their purificatory rites performed by Maarans. It is believed that the Paroor Swaroopakkar once belonged to the Illam subdivision & were attached to the Karāttetattu Nampoothiri. After the fall of the Namboothiri, these Nāyars attached themselves to the Paroor Swaroopam, which succeeded the Namboothiri. The Ponnara Nair's, a smaller subsection among the Nairs of Chirayinkeezh (associated with the Sharkara temple) is usually grouped together with Swaroopakkar. Ponnara Nair's some times officiate as temple priests and therefore holds a higher position in caste system compared to the other subdivisions.

Paricha Menon's, a sub-division of Purattu Charna Nayar constituted the bulk of Zamorin's elite armed units. They form one of the top most divisions of Menon after the Menon Panicker subdivision of Kiryathil Nair.

Other notable subdivisions of Swaroopakkār in Travancore includes the Kaippizha, Pattāzhi and the Vempanāt clans.

Looking for IT Guys who can make site for Nair family tree

Looking out for Nair IT Guys who can come forward to make & run site to help Nairs to upload their family tree to generations they can recollect with their house names, village name, taravadu temple etc. 

It would be very helpful to trace back family history & backgrounds etc during marriage background checking of their children's. 

Well to run the site we can charge a small token fee to check details one wants over the site. Anyone willing to come forward to help can get touch base with me @ rajeshnair72@gmail.com.

Nairs Another Interesting History Lookup

Nair's are a strong group of people having deep-rooted influence over Kerala. No other society had possessed their status or standard. They were deeply immersed with the history & culture of Kerala. Truly speaking, the history of Nair's is indeed the history of Kerala.

It may not be easy to trace out the exact date of the origin of Nair's. It is certain that they belonged to the Dravidian group, not the Aryan. It is believed that in the Aryan society the rulers were Kshatriyas. Chera rulers who ruled over Kerala from AD 130 to AD 1100 were not Kshatriyas.  But they belonged this place. So it can reasonably be presumed that they were Nair's & Nair's were the rulers of the country in the past.  Greek ambassador in the court of Chandra Gupta, Megasthenes refers in around 300 BC about the Nair's & the kingdom of Cheras, where there were female sovereigns, in his account of ancient India. There is no ample evidence to prove the advent of Aryans to Kerala or their establishment of kingdoms here. But there are clear evidences for the involvement of Nair's in the rule of the country. Wikipedia says that all the Cheras were Nair's & Kerala history is more or less connected to Nair caste.

The word ‘Nair’ was authoritatively recorded in the 9th century Thirukodithana (Trikodisthanam) command of Vijayaragadeven. Mention to Nair was also seen in the Thirunelli Pattayam of Bhaskararavi Varma. There are inferences about to ‘Padanairs’ (warriors) in two stone carvings of Nedumpuram Thali. It was recorded in the stonewall of Suchindram Dwaraka Temple which belongs to AD 400 that ‘Pallikkkan Nair’ was the temple uralan. During the beginning of the 19th century Nair became a caste name in Venad.  Before that, the word was used to mean “warrior”. One finds mention of the Nair's during the reign of the King Rama Varma Kulashekhara (1020-1102) of second Chera dynasty, when the Cholas attacked the Chera Kingdom. The Nair's fought by forming suicide squads (Chavers) against the invading force.

There are differences of opinion about the origin of Nair community.  

• One argument is that Nair's are descendents of Nagas, once a mighty group of India.  Nagas were the oldest & strongest group lived in India before the Aryan insurgency.  Before the advent of Namboodiris, an organized war-like group of people exercised supremacy over Kerala.  Their origin was unknown.  Owing to the worship of Naga (snake), this set of people came to be known as Nagas. They exercised control over Adivasis, put them to hard fieldwork & made them slaves, says K.M. Panicker (Keralathile Swathanthrasamaram). Kodungallur Kunhikuttan Thampuran in his book ‘Keralathil’ firmly ascertains that Nairs are same as Nagas. P. Damodaran Pillai says that Nagas were the group of people who moved to southwards from North India during pre-historic times. They became the Nairs of today.  Some are of opinion that the Nair's are the descendents of snake worshipping Scythians, who came to India through northwest border and settled down in different parts of the country. According to K.P. Padmanabha Menon, Keralan or Cheralan who ruled Kerala centuries ago, brought Nagas and permitted to settle here & these Nagas were later were known as Nair's & Ambalavasis.

• There is another version that Nair's belonged to Dravidian group of people, which stretched from Europe to eastern end of Asia. Some believe that Nair's were transitioned Naeri people who inhabited on the banks of Euphrates & Tigris rivers during very ancient times. By about BC 3000 Urathier Naeri of Hurien tribe attacked their country.  The war lasted for a very long period. In the end Sarhan-I conquered the Naeri land completely by BC 2018. Naeris fled to different parts in different groups.  Those who reached India settled in various places like Lothal area, between Goa & Kannur, Thakshsila, Katmandu, North Bihar, Bengal & in some places near Madras (now Chennai). Those who reached Karnataka settled in Tulunadu and Kadathanadu. Another group crossed the Sahya Mountains & reached Kerala. These Naeri settlers later become Nair's.

It is believed that there were 64 classifications in Nair society. Nair's were grouped as Sudras were turned into three main groups called Illam, Swaroopam & Padamangalam. 

      1.  The first group were servants of Brahmin houses.

      2.  The second were servants in Kshatriya homes &

      3.  The third were servants of temples. 

Besides, there were a number of sub castes among Nair's like Idachery Nair's, Maranmar, Athikurichikal, Chembukottikal, Odat Nair's, Chalia Nair's, Kalamkotti Nair's, Pallichal Nair's, Veluthedathu Nair's & Vilakkithala Nair's etc.

According to Keralolpathy, Nair's were classified into 18 sub castes based on profession. They are:

Kiriyath Nair	Family man-Those who attends the affairs of his Kiriyam (House)
Illathu Nair	Dependent of a Brahmin Illam (House)
Swaroopathil Nair	Dependent of a swaroopam (Kshathriya Home). Also known as Chartha Nair
Menokki	Those who supervises
Pattola Nair	An accountant-One who writes kingly orders & keep accounts
Marar	Marayan-One who beats drums in temple
Padamangalam Nair	Servants of temples
Pallichan Nair	Those who carries Pallichumadu or Manchal
Chembotti Nair	Copper worker
Edachery Nair	Idassery Nair
Odathu Nair	Bronze worker
Vattakkathu Nair	One who extracts oil
Anthur Nair	Maker of bells
Asthikurrissi (Athikurichi)	One who performs rituals in the funeral of Nairs. Also known as Seethikan
Vyapari Nair	Merchant
Vilakkithala Nair	Barber
Veluthedathu Nair	Dhobi
Pulikkal Nair	Dhobi

There are certain classifications in the community on the basis of awards, positions & honorofic titles, which are as given below:

•      Pillai is the award or title given by the Maharajah to the Nairs who hold Thirumukom.
•      Chembakaraman Pillai is an award introduced by His Highness Anizham Thirunal Marthandavarma.
•      Thampi is the title given to the children born to Travancore Maharajahs in Nair wives. The Thampis had the right to stand erect before the kings & to travel in Pallakks (Planquins).
•      Kartha is one of the positions given to the Nairs of Travancore. It is also believed that Thekkumkur-Vadukkumkur rajahs gave the title to some landlords.
•      Kurup is one who gave Kalari training to the members of royal family.
•      Panicker is also one those who gave training in weapons to the royal family members. Panicker's were also known as Asans. They enriched history as saviors of the land.
•      Kaimals were experts in warfare and financial management. Unnithan, Valyathan, Menon, Menokki were also titles conferred on those who performed remarkable deeds. 
•      Moopil Nair, Nayanar, Adiyodi, Kurup of Malabar, Menon, Marar of Cochin were also honours conferred by the rulers. Those who were in high positions in Nair community in Cochin won the titles of Karthavu, Kaimal, Thamban etc. due to their intimacy to the royal family and appeasement to Brahmins.  Among the various groups like Akath Charnnavar, Purathu Charnnavar, Nambiar, Kurup etc. of the Nairs of Malabar, Nairs & Kurups were soldiers. Purathu Charnnavar and Akathu Charnnavar were servants of the royal family.  Out of this, supremacy is for Purathu Charnnavar.  Nair priests who performed rituals in Kalaries were known as Kuruppans, Unnikal, Kurukkal, Adikaletc.

The Nair community has attracted the attention of historians, sociologists & anthropologists because of the unique matri-lineal joint family system, rituals like thalikettykalyanam & sambandham type of marriage.  In the matri-lineal system, Nair women enjoyed equal rights with men. They had the right of inheritance and possess decision-making powers and control over family. The protection & independence enjoyed by the Nair women in the matri-lineal joint family system was lacking in other systems.  Thalikettukalyanam & sambandham were the two types of marriages rituals performed by Nair's in the past. Thalikettukalyanam was obligatory to all girls before they attain puberty while sambandham is held after girls became adult. 

Nairs are Hindus. Traditionally they were a military class. Agricultural was also their traditional occupation in the past. Now they are engaged in trade, business, government service and other professions apart from agriculture.

Pregnancy & Birth Rituals :

Nair's observe pulikudy during the seventh month of pregnancy.  Birth pollution is for 16 days. They celebrate irupathyettukettu on the 28th day after birth. Choroonu is performed after six months. Therandukalyanam or Therandukuly was observed with detailed rituals in the past but not observed now a day. 

Marriage Rituals :
Nair marriage is known as Kalyanam, Vivaham, Mangalyam, Pudvakoda or Pudamuri. Marriage is taken place either at the bride’s residence, temples or at Kalyana Mandapams (special halls or auditoriums). Tying thali around the neck of bride, presentation of a set of cloth, exchange of garlands & finger rings are the main rituals. Similarly, sambandham type of marriage which does not exist now.

Death or Cremation Rituals :
Nair cremate the dead. The death pollution (pula) lasts for 16 days. In certain areas, it is observed for 11 days. Pulakuli is held to end the death pollution on the 11th or 16th day.

Nambidis :

The Nambidis are descendants of the Brahmins. They wear poonool (sacred thread). They belong to Hindu religion & follow Brahmin customs. They consider themselves below Namboothiri Brahmins but above Kshathriyas.  They are inhabited in Palakkad & Thrissur Districts. Nambidi were landlords & agriculturists in the past. Consequent on the introduction of land reforms, now they possess small landholdings. Now they engage other occupations for their livelihood.   

In the past, the Nambidi women had sambandham alliances with Namboothiri Brahmins & Nambidi men with Nayar women. Similarly, they celebrated thalikettukalyanam in the olden days. They follow all the life cycle rituals as per shodasacharangal of Brahmins. 

They observe birth pollution for ten days. They observe Namakaranam, Choroonu, Upanayanam, therendukuly rituals. 

The veli (marriage) is conducted at the bride’s residence. Tying thali is an important ritual of the marriage.

The Nambidi cremate the dead. Death pollution (Pula) lasts for 11 days.

Namboothiri :

The Namboothiri are the Malayala Brahmins. Brahmins are the highest ranking of the four varnas (social classes). The elevated position of the Brahmans goes back to the late Vedic period, when settlers in northern India were divided into Brahmans (priests), Kshatriya (warriors), Vaisya (traders) & Sudra (labourers). Since then there has been no fundamental change in their relative position & the Brahmans still enjoy great prestige & many privileges. The basis of the age-old veneration of Brahmans is the belief that they are inherently of greater ritual purity than members of other castes & that they alone are capable of performing certain vital religious tasks. The study and recitation of the sacred scriptures was traditionally reserved for this spiritual elite. Because of their high prestige & tradition of education, they acted as advisers and ministers of ruling class. 

According to legend, Parasurama created Kerala. After creation he brought from all parts of India & allowed to settle in Kerala, which was divided into sixty-four gramas (villages). They were declared as the lords of the land and allowed special privileges by Parasurama. He also prescribed the customs and manners to be followed by the new settlers.

There are seven sub divisions among Namboothiri's viz.

•      Thamprakkal (Pontiffs in spiritual law)  
•      Vishishta (Performers of vedic rituals)
•      Adhyars (Interpreters of Vedas),
•      Samanyas (Temple priests),
•      Jatimatas (Warriors),
•      Sapgrasthas (Group of people who were cursed by Parasurama)
•      Payyannur Gramakkar (16 families following Marumakkathayam)

These subdivisions are having social & religious significance. Once they were the landowners. They used to lease the land to Nair's for cultivation. Traditionally they were priests & settled agriculturists. Now they are engaged in different occupations & professions in almost all walks of life.

    

     The Namboothiri are handsome with different complexions. They are having medium height. The Namboothiri ladies are generally fair & beautiful. In the past the eldest son of the Namboothiri was permitted to marry from the community. The younger had sambandhams with ladies of Nair's, Nambiar's, Ambalavasis's, Varier's communities etc. Similarly child marriages were common. But both the practices have been discontinued since several years. 

     

     The Namboothiri follow shodashacharangal for life cycle rituals.

     They cremate the dead. Death pollution (Pula) lasts for 11 days.

Nassuvan :

The Nassuvan are inhabited in Palakkad, Kozhikode & Kannur districts. They were the migrants from Kongu Nadu (Coimbatore). Their mother tongue is Tamil. Traditionally they are barbers & they are experts in hair cutting and dressing.

They observe seemantham. 

Birth pollution lasts for 15 days. Mundan ceremony is performed when the child attain three months. 

They celebrate puberty rite known as savanja kalyanam. 

Marriage takes place in bride’s residence. Tying thali is the important function of marriage. 

They cremate their dead. Death pollution (Pula) continues for ten days.

Nayadi :

The word Nayadi means a hunter & as indicated the name they are hunters. They are one of the Scheduled Castes inhabited in Malappuram district. They were nomadic food gathers. 

A document of 1924 accounted that they cover their nakedness by tying around the waist strings of leaves and plants. In past they consumed the meat of the animals that they hunted. The Census of Cochin 1931 described them as nomadic unclean group of people who eat vermin and reptiles. Now, they use clothes like mundu (Dhothi), shirt, jacket (blouse) & even saris. Their food habits have also been changed to that of other communities. They were considered as the most untouchable community & they had to keep a distance of 300 feet from a Brahmin. 

 

They observe pulikudy at the seventh month of pregnancy. Birth pollution lasts for 15 days. Naming ceremony is held on the 28th day. 

They perform puberty rite when their girls attain maturity. 

Marriage takes place in bride’s residence. A type of beads known as pasikal is used as thali i.e. the symbol of marriage. 

They bury their dead & death pollution (Pula). Pula terminates after 15 days by observing pulakuli.

Nair Gotra : Lineage an Interesting Write Up

An interesting write up found from another Nair promoted site http://rajeshkvp.blogspot.in/. 
Since was related to Nairs am posting it here so any origin or history related to Nairs can be sourced from one place.

Source :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagavanshi

Vansh/Dynasty  : Nagavanshi
Gotra               : Kashyapa
Caste               : Kshatriya

The Nair Clans of Kerala & Bunts of tulu nadu are the indigenous descendants of Anantha also these regions include the Nagavanshi clans who migrated from North India associated with the events as Sarpasatram. The Nairs were organized into various martial clans like Nambiar and Kiryathil Nair. Currently, warrior Sections of the Nair (Malayala Kshatriya) caste and Bunts of Tulu nadu claim descent from the Nagvanshi dynasty. The Nagavanshi are the known as the Serpent Dynasty.

Nāgas originated from Kashyapa, father of Surya from whom clan of Suryawanshi kshatriyas evolved. The Nether World known as Pathala was the inhabitation of Nagas and Anantha as the Emperor of Naga, Sarpa, Uraga, and Pannaga. The Vedas do not mention Kshatriyas of either Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi, Nagavanshi, Agnivanshi or any such lineage. The Puranas constructed such genealogies. The Nāgvanshis acquired the status of Devas due to their excellent qualities, behavior and actions. Purānas mention Nāgas along with devas. Purānas mention of many Nāga Kingdoms. In ancient times Nāgas were the rulers of entire India. Mathura, Padmavati and Kantipur were capitals of Naga dynasty.

The worshipers of Nāga were supposedly known as Nāgā or Nāgil. Nair, Bunt and some Rajput and Jat clans claim to be of Nagvanshi origin.

Other Sources :

http://www.surfindia.com/matrimonials/nair.html

Other Spellings : Nayar

Other Surnames / Gotras : 
The Nair class name includes Menon, Panicker, Kurup, Pillai, Unni, Unnithan, Kartha, Thampan, Kaimal, Nayanar, Thampi, Nambiar, and Mannadiar

Religion    : Hindu

Varna       : Kshatriya

Language  : Malayalam

Chief Deity : 'Naga God' (Snake God).

Regional Spread : Southern Indian state of Kerala.

Traditional Occupation : Warrior

Food Habits : Most Nairs are vegetarians. Nairs who eat non-vegetarian most take fish & avoid beef as they consider cows to be sacred.
Marriage Preference : Within the community or within related communities.

Happy Reading
Rajesh Nair

Nair Service Society (History & Founders)

Logo of Nair Service Society

The Special meeting of Nair Bhrithya Jana Sangham held at Mannathu Bhavan, Perunna, Chaganacherry on Midhunam 27, 1090 (M.E.)  decided to change the name as “Nair Service Society”.  

On Midhunam 17, 1100 the Nair Service Society was registered under the Travancore Company Act. The proclaimed aim of the Nair Service Society is the unification of all Hindus along with the active coordination of Nair community so as to ensure harmony of all communities & thereby progress in all walks of life.  This aim is in consonance with the famous gospel of the Hindu culture “Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu” (Let the whole world be happy for ever).

In the beginning there was provision for two types of membership viz., permanent members & life members. The annual membership fee was Rs.12/-. At time of registration, society had 5 permanent members & 21 life members making the total to 26. In 1101 a separate organizational branch was formed & Sri. M.N. Nair was appointed as the first Secretary. By 1104 the society became more active & passed the statute relating to various Unions & Karayogams. The post of Karayogam Registrar was also created for this purpose.

First Karayogam -The 1st Karayogam was registered at Thatta in Pandalam East Village of old Mavelikkara Taluk. The 2nd Karayogamwas also registered at Thatta.

Karayogams are foundation stones of the NSS. Each Karayogam is an autonomous self-sufficient unit. Mannathu Padmanabhan has rightly remarked that if Nair Service Society can be compared to a giant tree, Karayogams are its roots.

The first effort of the NSS was to do away with the evils & superstitions prevailed in the society. NSS has also undertaken the task of uniting all the sub-castes under the Nair community & for bringing them under one umbrella.  It also aims at the establishment of educational institutions to cater the cultural progress of people belong to all walks of life. 

Nair Service Society (NSS) had a three-tier organizational set up viz 

1. Karoyogam (At base level)
2. Taluk Karayogam (At intermediate level)  
3. Central Headquaters operation from Perunna @ Changanaserry. 

Altogether 4,958 Karayogam's were registered so far. 57 Taluk Unions are functioning. 3,057 Nos. of Women Samajams & 1,547 Mannam Bala Samajams were also functioning under the above units. Various activities of NSS were handled by separate units like General Administration, Survey & Land Records Wing, Planning & Development Unit, College Unit, School Unit, Agricultural Unit, Health Service, Organization Wing, Public Works Wing, Accounts & Audit Department, Dewaswam-Ashramam Unit & Department of Law.

Founding Leaders of NSS (Nair Service Society)

Mannathu Padmanabhan (January 2, 1878 - February 25, 1970)

    Born          : 2nd January 1878, Perunna, Channganaserry, Kerala, India
    Death        : 25th February 1970, Perunna, Channganaserry, Kerala, India
    Birth Place : Perunna, Channganaserry, Kerala, India
    Spouse       : Mechettu Kalyani Amma
    Father       : Sri Easwaran Namboothiri of Nilamana Illam
    Mother      : Smt Chiramuttathu Parvathy Amma

He was a social reformer & a freedom fighter from the State of Kerala, India. He is recognized as the founder of Nair Service Society, which claims to represent the Nair community that constitutes almost 14.50% of the population of the state. Sri Padmanabhan is considered as a visionary reformer who organised the Nair community under the NSS.

Sri Mannathu Padmanathan Nair was born in Perunna village in Changanacherry, Travancore, British India on 2nd January 1878 to Eswaran Namboothiri of Nilavana Illam & Mannathu Parvathy Amma. He began his career as a teacher in 1893 in a Kanjirapally Government Primary School at the age of 16. After a few years, from 1905 he changed his profession & started practicing law in the Magistrates Courts & soon became an established member of the bar.

In 1914, he with the help of few others established the Nair Service Society, his main ambition was to uplift the Nair's & to regain the lost power of this former ruling sect. From 1915, he gave up the lucrative practice & became full time secretary of the NSS.

In 1924, he took part in the Vaikom temple & Guruvayoor temple entry & anti-untouchability agitation. He even opened his family temple to everyone irrespective of any caste distinction. He became member of the Indian National Congress in 1947 & took part in the Travancore State Congress agitation against Sir Chetpet Pattabhiraman  Ramaswamy Iyer's administration in Travancore.

In 1949, he became a member of the Travancore Legislative Assembly. In 1959, he led a united opposition against the state communist ministry. This struggle is called Vimochana Samaram, which means liberation struggle. He was travelling all over Kerala in a chariot pulled by Bishop's, priests of different Christian factions & other prominent members of different communities. The immediate cause of the outbreak of the Vimochana Samaram was the introduction of an education bill by the Minister of Education Sri Joseph Mundasarry. Vimochana Samaram resulted in the dismissal of the Communist Government with Chief Minister Sri Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad (EMS)  on 31st July 1959 & the beginning of President's rule in the state under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution. One notable feature of the movement was its massive student participation led by students leaders like Sri Arackaparambil Kurien Antony & Sri Ommen Chandy etc.

He was involved with Nair Service Society as its Secretary for 31 long years & as its President 3 years. He was honored with the title "Bharata Kesari" by then President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1959. He was also honored with Padma Bhushan in 1966.

On his birthday of 2nd January each year in the state of Kerala, Mannam Jayanthi is a regional Indian holiday. This holiday commemorates an important Indian social reformer on the anniversary of his birth in 1878.

Koyapalli Kelappan Nair (August 24, 1889 - October 7, 1971)

    Born           : 24th August 1889, Muchukunnu, Calicut, Kerala, India
    Death         : 7th October 1971, Calicut, Kerala, India
    Birth Place : Muchukunnu, Calicut, Kerala, India
    Spouse       : T P Lakshmi Amma
    Children    : T P K Kidav
    Father       : Sri Kanaran Nair
    Mother      : Smt Kunjamma Amma

He was a founding member and president of Nair Service Society, a reformer, an Indian freedom fighter, educationist & journalist. He is also known as Kerala Gandhi. Post-independence he held various seats in Gandhian organizations.

Koyapalli Kelappan Nair was born in the small village of Muchukunnu in Calicut in Kerala. He studied in Calicut, Madras & graduated from the University of Madras. He began his career as a teacher at in St. Berchmans High School, Changanassery & was the founding President of the Nair Service Society. Later he became the Principal of a school run by the society.

He joined studies in Law at Bombay which he gave up to join the Non-Cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi & joined the Freedom movement. During Malabar rebellion, he faced a group of rebels who came to loot the Ponnani Treasury & persuaded them to retreat by appealing to their good sense. He gave the lead to Payyannur & Calicut salt Satyagraha & was chosen as the first Satyagrahi from Kerala in the individual satyagraha movement launched by Gandhiji. He played a dominant role in the famous Vaikom Satyagraha & was the leader of the Guruvayur Satyagraha in 1932. It was at Gandhiji's request that he ended his fast at Guruvayur.

He was jailed by several times during the Indian freedom movement including the Quit India Movement. He was in the forefront of Swadeshi Movement & did his best to build up a base of Khadi & village industries. After independence he left the Congress Party & joined the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party & was elected to Parliament from Ponnani Lok Sabha seat in 1952. At the end of his term, he left active politics & became a Sarvodaya worker & was actively associated with Bhoodan Movement in Kerala. He was the President of almost all major Gandhian organisations like Kerala Sarvodaya Sangh, Kerala Gandhi Samarak Nidhi, Kerala Sarvodaya Mandal & Gandhi Peace Foundation, Calicut.

He was an educationist as well as an accomplished & forceful journalist. He helped in starting 'Mathrubhoomi' & was its editor for a number of years. He worked for unification of Kerala into a new linguistic state. He never aspired for power or position. His whole life was a saga of selfless service to the nation. Since the people of Kerala came to understand Gandhiji & his programmes essentially through Kelappan, he was popularly known as Kerala Gandhi.

Kontoor Krishna Pillai 

Birth Place       : Thrikodithanam, Kottayam, Kerala, India

He was a top personality who tiled hard for the progress & upliftment of Nair Service Society. He was one of the founding leaders of NSS who performed his duties in a remarkable way as the General Secretary of NSS. He was an advocate, writer & orator.

Poduvadathu Padmanabha Pillai

Birth Place       : Vazhapally, Changanassery Muncipality, Kottayam, Kerala, India

He had a decisive role in the development of the society. He was the Municipal Chairman of Changanassery Municipal town and an ardent social worker. He also served as the Manager of ‘Service’ magazine.

Valparambil Velayudhan Pillai (Born 1878)

Birth Place       : Vazhapally, Changanassery Muncipality, Kottayam, Kerala, India

Through the tireless efforts & courage Valparambil Velayudhan Pillai rose to the heights in different fields. The hostel attached to the Perunna NSS School was his donation. He was an early worker of Nair Service Society.

Thaliyil Madhavan Pillai (Born 1876)

Birth Place       : Vazhapally, Changanassery Muncipality, Kottayam, Kerala, India

He was an advocate, a learned cultural & spiritual leader. He was also served as a member of Sreemulam Praja Sabha, Judge of Panchayat Court. He was a veteran freedom fighter. 

Kottanattil Padmanabha Pillai (Born 1879 to 1939)  

Birth Place       : Puzhavathu, Changanassery Muncipality, Kottayam, Kerala, India

He was a teacher by profession. He suffered a lot for the cause of the society & thereby won the love and affection of all. He was also a writer. He was the General Secretary of NSS for a short period. He died in 1939.

Padinjare Nenmeli Krishna Pillai (Born 1881 to 1964)  
Birth Place       : Perunna, Changanassery Muncipality, Kottayam, Kerala, India

He was a selfless public worker who worked for the welfare of the Nair community till his last breath. He was one of the persons who worked hard for the establishment of NSS School at Perunna. He died in 1964.

Elikuzha Kesava Pillai 

He was a significant personality who played vital role for the development of Nair community along with Mannam.  He was a Tahsildar. He worked for the upliftment of Nair Service Society despite of his official duties.

Panakkat Parameswara Kurup 

Birth Place       : Vezhapra, Alapuzha, Kerala, India

He was a soldier in the independence struggle & a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. He played a vital role in propagating khadi. Being a progressive farmer of Kuttanad, he formed & implemented many action plans for the progress of the locality. He spent his whole life for the development of society, particularly for Nair community.

Nagavallil Kochukunju Kurup (Born 1879) 

Birth Place       : Ramankary, Kuttanad Area, Alapuzha, Kerala, India

He was a member of Sri Mulam Praja Sabha. He was also an active worker in the national movement. He was one of the leaders in the early stages of Nair Service Society who worked hard for collecting funds for the Society.

Panagotu Kesava Panicker (Born 1889)
Birth Place       : Mutar, Near Thiruvalla, Alapuzha, Kerala, India

He was the treasurer of the NSS for quite a long period. He was one of the leaders who fight against the evil rituals such as ‘Kettukalyanan’, which were prevailing in the society. He was also a promoter of cultural activities.

Kakkanatu Narayana Panicker 

Birth Place       : Veliyanadu, Mutar, Kanayannoor Taluk, Eranakulam, Kerala, India

He was a model social worker and organiser who devoted his life for the development of the community in particular and society as a whole. He was a veteran freedom fighter & treasurer of NSS. 

Nynadathu Thrivikrama Kaimal 

Birth Place       : Ninadathu, Eranakulam, Kerala, India

He was a life member of the Board of Directors of the NSS till his last days. He was also the bank manager of the NSS. He was the Senior Judge of Changanassery Munsiff Court, Municipal Chairman & a Member of Sri Mulam Praja Sabha.