KE Mammen, Scorpio *** [inspirational books txt] 📗

commitment to his ideals. Disenchanted with the Congress he is now not active as a congressman. He, in his own peerless style carries on with his mission of spreading Gandhian ideologies and fighting against corruption in public places. Even at this age, he finds time to write in his own handwriting on that simple letter pad of his, with that embossed picture of Mahatma saying ‘my life is my message’, to the highest offices in India expressing his concern on issues that he feels affect the common man. Wherever he sees justice is denied to the public, decisions are against the interests of the common man, vested parties are bent upon breaking the social and secular equilibrium of this State, wherever he hears the hapless snivels of wounded womanhood he raises his voice as loud and clear as possible in all walks of human activity, in public platforms, in print and in visual media.   He does not wait for invitations from anyone, his reactions come spontaneously and, if possible, he presents himself in person wherever, he thinks, it is required. And it goes to the credit of this man that neither the public nor the establishment, nor the political bigwigs, nor the media can turn a deaf ear to his words of wisdom. L Some time back he sent a cheque for Rs 1000 to the then Chief Minister of Kerala and requested him to start a “ Save Kerala Development Fund’. One has to salute that innovative mind still active in that 94 year-old frame!

 

He leads a simple life following in the footsteps of Gandhiji. In Trivandrum he resides at Kunnukuzhy with one of his nephews. He doesn’t hire a taxi or an auto rickshaw if he has to go anywhere within walkable distance. If you walk into his house, he greets you with that openhearted smile, sits with you for hours talking to you with utmost sincerity and concern on the deterioration of our social, cultural political and moral values. He shows you with a lot of glow on those radiant eyes the ‘Tamra Pathra’ that he has received and would tell you ‘this is my most valuable possession and I have nothing more to show you than my own life!’

 

When asked what the need of the hour for this State to be worthy of its name was, came his prompt and quick answer. ‘ We need a Naxalite Gandhian Movement with non-violence as its corner stone. Doesn’t it portray all that this old man stands for and his vision and mission? Then, for most of us, the less knowledgeable, he explains why the word Naxalite has been used. Naxalite denotes developing a "revolutionary opposition" in order to establish a "revolutionary rule,” with courage, aggression and spirit of sacrifice as hallmarks as envisaged by the original Naxalite Movement led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal way back in 1967. That would definitely identify and cure the present ailments of our society. But he stresses in the same breath that the cornerstone of non-viloence should never be weakened at any cost. Will our political pundits and strategists spend some time to research on this new political philosphy coined by this man who has already seen one thousand full moons.

 

This is definitely not a biographical write up on KE Mammen, but a tribute to a man whom you and I might call the ‘Naxalite with a Diffeence’ And this will not be complete without a small brief how we the people of Kerala have revered him  over the years.

 

 

 

Honours & Awards

 

In 1994, he was awarded the Father Parakkal award by the Kerala Samyuktha Madyavarjana Samithi for his contributions to the freedom struggle and his unrelenting fights against use and sale of liquor.

 

Bahratheeya Sadbhavana Kendram bestowed on him the prestigious award of ‘Desaratna’ in 2003. for his contrbutions to the sosiety,

 

Mahatma Gandhi University recognised his services to the society and nominated him as a member of the advisory committee on National Service Scheme of the University.

 

In April 2005 he was one among the persons honoured by the Asan Academy for his vaulable contributions to the welfare of the society.

 

In 2009 KE Mammen was chosen as the first awardee of the first Seva Ratnam Award instituted by the Asraya Charitable Society, Kottarakkara.

 

In 2010   KE Mammen was conferred the first Oommen Varghese Memorial Award instituted by the Gemson Trust in memory of Tamra Patra winner & freedom fighter Oommen Varghese.

 

People of Kerala have the finesse to recognise who is a genuis and who is a fraud! That is  really our strength !

 

Present Battle

 

Mammen Sir , we the Keralites reverently call him, is on a different battlefield now fighting bravely against medical problems one could expect in a person in his mid nineties in Nurl Islam Institute of Medical Sciences, Neyyatinkara . As per the hospital authorities his condition reamains stable. You may wal into Room no 514 of NIIMS, you will be received with the same old smile and those radiant eyes.

 

Lets pray in one voice to almighty God to bless him with enough will and sufficient strength so that he comes out soon wth more energy and vigor to be amidst  the people of Kerala who would continue to benefit from his words of wisdom for years to come

.  

 

 

 

KE Mammen in Pics

 

 

 KE Mammen at 91 

 

 

KE Mammen at 19 

 

                                                  Tamra Patra  presented to him by Mrs Indira Gandhi 

  

 

 

 

 

Two thimgs Mammen keeps close to his heart are the Tamra Patra

& the old BW photo of the group of Six in his college days 

 

 

 

 with formerCM VS Achuthanandan  

 

 

 

 

At a Gand hi Jayanti funcion  

 

 

 

 The Singleman Army agitating against Hartal in Trivandrum 

 

 

 

 

With Shashi Tharoor MP

 

  

 

 

with students of Holy Angels Convent, Trivadrum   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

 

 Scorpio is the pen name of Col GPV Nair,  a veteran of Indian Army. An Electrical Engineer from College of Engineering, Trivandrum,  joined Corps of Signals in 1968 & served the Corps till 1992 when  he took voluntary retirement from Army due to personal reasons. A graduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, also holds Masters Degree in Defence Studies from the Madras University.

 

While in the Army held important appointments like Joint Director, Project Management Cell, Army Headquarters, Colonel (Adm) of an active Infantry Division & Colonel (Electronic Warfare) with Army Training Command apart from the basic job of a communicator in the Corps of Signals .

 

After retirement, served as General Manager (HRD & Admn) for about five years with a leading manufacturing firm in Trivandrum. Since 2000 working as freelance consultant on Corporate Planning & Administration, Project Management & Higher Education. Settled in Trivandrum, spends spare time in reading, writing, blogging, playing bridge and making new friends.

 

 

 

 Address 

 

Col GPV Nair (Retd)

B5, Alsa Parkdale Apartments

Vanchiyoor PO

Trivandrum- 6950 35

Tele 0471 2450988, Mob : 9847452450

Email: gpvnair@gmail.com

Blog : gpvnair.blogspot.com

 

 

Author Requests

 Author requests readers :

 

1. Kindly point out if any factual errors in the text

 

2. Kindly send me anecdotes, and more photos of Mammen  Sir for addition so that the book becomes more comprehensive 

 

Thanks 

 

 

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