This year’s Padma Award is for Kerala’s freedom struggle, conservation of traditional agriculture, martial art Kalaripayat and historical studies. This time V.P.Appukutta Phudhuval, Cheruvayal Raman and SRD Prasad C.I.Isaak won the award and it was a proud achievement for the whole country. The award was given to those who have upheld the heritage, culture and uniqueness of Kerala. These four people have found their own place in Malayalam.
∙ V.P. Appukutta general sword
Padma Shri winner Appukutta Phuduwal’s life changed with Gandhiji’s visit to Payyannur. Gandhiji came to Payyannur on the invitation of Swami Ananda Tirtha, who fought strongly against untouchability. Appukutta also came to freedom struggle under the influence of Ananda Teertha and others. Gandhiji had come to the public meeting in the field near Payyannur old bus stand. Appukutta, who went to listen to the sermon with his brother, was only 11 years old. VP Sreekanta General, who was an uncle and a freedom fighter, made the child Appukutta a part of the national movement. In 1930, the enthusiasm faced by the Uppu Satyagraha Jatha led Appukuttapothuwal to become a part of the freedom struggle. In 1942, V.P. Srikanthapothuwale became active in the struggle after he was arrested by the British police.
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After K. Kelappan left active politics in 1957, Appukutta Phuduwal also left active politics and became active in Gandhian activities and Khadi activities. From 1947 he worked as the in-charge of Urjita Khadi Kendra at Payyannur under the Madras Government and from 1962 as Senior Auditor in the Akhil Bharatiya Khadi Gramodyoga Commission. He then participated in Bhudanpadayatra along with Vinobhabhave and Jayaprakash Narayanan. ,
Worked as Executive Officer of Gandhi Memorial Program, President of Bharatiya Sanskrit Prachar Sabha and Principal of Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya. MA in Political Science After graduating, he wrote Spirituality in Gandhian Philosophy and Bhagavad Gita – The Science of Self-Development.
∙ Cheruvayal Ramen
Talakkara Cheriya Raman is a small field ram who is a tribal farmer from Mananthavadi Kammana, Wayanad. Called the father of rice, he cultivates and preserves about 45 varieties of rice. He started working in the field at the age of 10 and represented the farmers of Kerala in the conference of eleven countries for the conservation of biodiversity held in Hyderabad in 2011.
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Rama, who belongs to the Kurichya community, is seen as the protector of heritage poems. He has won many awards like the 2016 Genetic Conservation Award and the 2016 National Plant Genome Savior Award. Ram’s residence is in a 150-year-old house built of mud and soil. The heritage of this house is called by several generations who fought with the soil and nature and reaped gold.
He started working in the soil from the age of ten. Raman started farming on 40 acres of land given to him by his uncle. In 1969, farming began to be done more seriously. As time progressed, hybrid varieties and folk songs also came in agriculture, but Raman never went that way. Rametan’s farming is based on his inherited farming methods and seeds. After each harvest, he saves the seeds for the next crop. He is a complete organic farmer long before we hear about organic farming.
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∙ S.R.D. Prasad
SRD are color gurus who are proficient in English and Malayalam. Prasad. That is why Prasad Gurus come to speak authentically about Kalaripayat at national and international platforms. Apart from Juddamura, the Gurus also have clear knowledge of Kalaripayat’s justice system.
Prasad’s father was Chirakkal Sreedharan Nair. In 1935, Sreedharan Nair started Rajkumar Kalari in Valapatnam, Kannur. Prasad’s beginning was in this Kalari. Later he became the guru of many students. Prasad says that kalari is very beneficial for a healthy life from a young age. Kalaripayat should be known for mental physical strength and self defense. He also says that Kalari is present in more than thirty art forms including Kathakali.
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∙ C.I.Isaac
C.I.Isaac is one of the prominent Indian historians. He was a history teacher. Served as Vice President of Bharatiya Vichara Kendra Thiruvananthapuram and member of ICHR. Authored 10 books including Evolution of Christian Church in India.
English Summary: Padma award winners from Kerala 2023