M.N. GOVINDAN NAIR COMMEMORATED

M.N. GOVINDAN NAIR

 COMMEMORATED

Shri. M.N.Govindan Nair, veteran Communist leader, fondly called MN, was born on December 10, 1910.After graduation, he actively participated in the freedom struggle. In the initial stages of an eventful career, he had spent a year in Wardha Ashram and was very much active in Harijan Upliftment. Shri. M.N. had also to give up Law studies due to active participation in the Travancore State Congress movement. Later, he became a member of CPI, and served as Secretary, Travancore Unit of CPI, Member, CPI Central Secretariat, Member, National Executive of CPI and the Secretary, CPI Kerala Unit.

Shri.M.N. had previously served as a member of TCLA during 1952 -1954.

Shri. M.N. Govindan Nair became elected to KLA from Punalur in 1967 and from Chadayamangalam in 1970, and served as leader, CPI Legislature Party. He was the Minister for Agriculture and Electricity in the EMS Ministry from 06.03.1967 to 21.10.1969. He also served as the Minister for Transport and Electricity in the C.Achutha Menon Ministry from 25.09.1971 to 25.03 1977.Shri. Govindan Nair served also as a member of Rajya Sabha from 1962 to 1967, and member of Lok Sabha from 1977 to 1979.Married to Smt. Devaki they have one son and one daughter.

Shri. M.N. Govindan Nair passed away on 27.11.1984.

Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran has said that the C. Achutha Menon Cabinet will always remain a model for coalition governments in initiating intra-party and inter-party dialogues aimed at the welfare of people.He said this while addressing a meeting organised by the district unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) to commemorate the former minister and party leader M.N. Govindan Nair here on Tuesday,27^th November,2012.Barring a few, the decisions taken by the Achutha Menon government were largely flawless. The political outlook that led that coalition was also correct.M.N. Govindan Nair exemplified how a politician could become a leader by remaining attached to people. He was one of the few leaders who were wholeheartedly welcomed into any house. The Lakshamveedu scheme that was his baby was an example of his outlook towards people.Inaugurating the meeting, CPI State unit secretary Pannian Ravindran said MN was not only a model communist but a model politician for the whole country. He wanted all communists to be like MN. CPI district unit secretary T. Ramachandran presided over the meeting.

Prof. John Kurakar