Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair has called upon members of the community to strengthen their fight against the denial of legitimate rights of the majority community and the policy of minority appeasement followed by successive governments.
Addressing a mammoth rally of the community, taken out here on Monday in connection with the 101st edition of the Vijayadashami Nair Maha Sammelan organised by the Changanassery taluk union of the NSS, Mr. Nair said the alliance the organisation had forged with the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam was on the basis of the common perception of the issue. ‘‘Even if we are alone, the NSS will not hesitate to walk alone, along the same path,’’ he said.
The NSS does not dabble in politics, but it has policies and will respond to developments and will take issue-based stance as part of its fight against social injustice, Mr. Nair said adding that it is wrong to see communalism and self-interests in such issues. Later developments have only proved the NSS right, he said.
In order to empower the younger generation in their struggle against injustice and enlighten them on their heritage, the NSS has decided to open spirituality education centres at the karayogam level. Such centres will come up at the 5,600 karayogams of the NSS before December 31, 2013. Educationist Vattaparambil Gopinathan Nair has been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the curriculum for the classes.
The Vijayadashami celebrations have a special place in the annals of the NSS as it was one such celebration in 1913 that had led to the founding of the organisation, Mr Nair said. Retelling the incidents that had led to the convening of the first Vijayadashami celebrations by the Nair community in 1913, he said that the public celebrations on the birthday of the then Maharaja of Travancore Sree Moolam Tirunal Rama Varma used to have two meetings, one chaired by a public figure belonging to the Hindu community and the other by one belonging to the Christian community. However, that year, there were three public meetings and all the three were chaired by Christian personalities, though the community wanted Kainikkara Kumara Pillai in the chair in one of the meetings. This led to consternation in the minds of leaders of the community and they decided to convene another meeting the next day, which happened to be Vijayadashami Day. It was in that meeting that the Taluk Nair Samajam was formed. This later developed into Nair Bhrithyajana Sanghom, which grew into Nair Service Society on October 31, 1914.
‘‘Even after 100 years, we are still continuing the fight for the members of the community to be accepted in key positions,’’ Mr. Nair said and called upon the members of the community to intensify their vigil, since the neglect towards the majority community has only intensified during the period.
Harikumar Koickel, NSS Changanassery taluk union president, welcomed the gathering. NSS president P.N. Narendranathan Nair, treasurer M. Sasikumar, registrar K.N. Viswanathan Nair and others spoke. Earlier, a mammoth rally was taken out by the taluk union from Mathumoola to Perunna.