Gandhian P. Gopinathan Nair has been selected for Padma Shri award this year, the only one among the 13 persons nominated by the State government for the Padma awards.
Mr. Nair has been selected for the award in the social work category.
His name had been proposed by the Kerala government for the Padma Bhushan award.
A staunch Gandhian, Mr. Nair has worked all over India since the Quit India Movement. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, he was associated with social and development-related issues, including Gramdan, Bhoodan (giving up land) and cow protection. He was involved in the activities of the Shanti Sena, an organisation to promote peace and harmony. He was called in as mediator to resolve the communal tension in Marad.
Former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai is the only other person from Kerala in the list of Padma awardees this year. He has been selected for the Padma Bhushan in the civil service category. Though born in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Rai is an IAS officer belonging to the Kerala cadre.
