Vellappally Natesan, the general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), clarified on Sunday that the Padma Bhushan conferred on him is not a personal honour but belongs to the entire Ezhava community. Addressing a convention of the SNDP in Kochi, he said the award recognised the collective efforts made to organise and uplift socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society.
Community Recognition
According to Natesan, the Padma Bhushan is a testament to the contributions of the Ezhava community, which has historically faced social and economic marginalisation. He emphasised that his role was merely that of a representative, and the credit goes to the community and the SNDP, which has worked for decades under the principles of Sree Narayana Guru.
Background of the Award
The government announced the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, for Natesan earlier this year. The award honours distinguished service in various fields. Natesan has been a prominent leader of the SNDP, an organisation founded by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru to promote education, social equality, and spiritual development among the Ezhava community in Kerala.
Reactions and Significance
Natesan's statement is seen as a reflection of the community's pride and collective ownership of the award. The SNDP convention saw participation from numerous community leaders and members, who echoed Natesan's sentiments. Many noted that the award was a recognition of the community's progress and its ongoing struggles for equality.
"The award recognised the collective efforts made to organise and uplift socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society," Natesan said at the convention, reiterating that the honour belongs to the Ezhava community, not him personally.
