Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai

Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai was a social reformer from Kerala, who lived from 1878-1970. Faced with abject poverty in his childhood, Pillai became highly empathetic to the needs and living conditions of the downtrodden in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom. Pillai mobilized the marginalised groups and organised a ‘savarnajatha’ satyagraha to stop the practise of untouchability. Further, he escalated the movement to guarantee ‘Temple Entry’ for all groups. Post-independence, Pillai continued to serve the people through the Nair Service Society until his demise.