Centre for Research and Education for Social Transformation (CREST) is an autonomous institution established in 2002 by Government of Kerala with the objective to enable professionals and other graduates from scheduled communities to compete in the open market for admission in professional as well as higher learning institutions of national reputation and to compete in the open market for specialised categories of job opportunities. Under the aegis of the Centre, a National Lecture ' Modernity and its Margins- A Critique' was delivered by Prof. Gopal Guru, JNTU, New Delhi on 8th August 2009 at Alakapuri Auditorium, Calicut, in Memory of Shri K R Narayanan, former President of India.
Shri Kocheril Raman Narayanan (KR Narayanan) was born in perumthanan in Uzhavoor village in Tavencore (present day Kottayam district )of Kerala on October 27, 1920 (as given by his uncle while admitting in the school as he was unaware of the actual date of birth). He was the fourth of seven children of Kocheril Raman Vaidyer and Paappiyamma who belonged to Parava cast to which the assigned work was plucking of coconuts as per the cast system. He used to walk about 15 km daily to attend the school and was often listened the lessons from outside the class room because tuition fees was not paid in time. His elder brother Neelakandan was suffering from Asthma and was unable to go to school and hence he used to copy the borrowed books and gave to Narayanan as he was not able to afford the cost of books. After getting MA in English Literature from University of Travancore (present day Kerala University) he left for Delhi and worked as a journalist in The Hindu and The Times of India(1944-45). In 1945 he left to England and studied Political science under Harold Laski at the London School of Economics with scholarship from JRD Tata. During the years he was active in the Indian League under VK Krishnamenon. He shared lodging with Dr KN Raj and Veerasamy Ringadoo. Narayanan returned to India in 1948 with a letter from Laski to Prime Minister Pandit Jawaherlal Nehru and he appointed him in IFS. Paditji referred Narayanan as' the best diplomat of the Country'.
He served as the Ambassador to Japan, UK,Thailand, Turkey, Peoples Republic of China and USA. He joined in politics at Indira Gandhis request and won three successive elections to the Loksabha from Ottappalam in Kerala. He has served as a minister of state in the Union Cabinet. under former Prime Minister Rajive Gandhi. He was elected as Vice President of India in 1992. He became President of India in 1997. He was an independent and assertive president who set several precedents and enlarged the scope of of the highest Constitutional Office. He described himself as 'a working President' who worked 'within the four corners of the constitution'.
Even though he was born as dalit still he reached the highest position of the country through hard-work. Now a days so many facilities are available for dalits for their up coming, still they are not coming up, Why? Is it due to marginalization? I don't think so. I feel that it is due to lack of courage and determination. All have become sugian, not ready for hard work. Narayanan walked 15 km to study, now no body have such a situation. 'Too light winning make the price light'
The need of the hour is that to teach the dalits to express themselves instead of completely immersing them in expectations. Spoon feeding will not create Narayanans. Mere erection of so many statues will not up lift the dalits from the present day turmoil. I think CREST will recognize the actual facts and do the needful for the upliftment of the dalits.
The gathering was welcomed by Dr D D Nambudiri, Executive Director of CREST and Presided by Dr P Sanal Mohan and vote of thanks by Prof. Ashley Paul.
With best wishes for a better future!!!
ktv
Shri Kocheril Raman Narayanan (KR Narayanan) was born in perumthanan in Uzhavoor village in Tavencore (present day Kottayam district )of Kerala on October 27, 1920 (as given by his uncle while admitting in the school as he was unaware of the actual date of birth). He was the fourth of seven children of Kocheril Raman Vaidyer and Paappiyamma who belonged to Parava cast to which the assigned work was plucking of coconuts as per the cast system. He used to walk about 15 km daily to attend the school and was often listened the lessons from outside the class room because tuition fees was not paid in time. His elder brother Neelakandan was suffering from Asthma and was unable to go to school and hence he used to copy the borrowed books and gave to Narayanan as he was not able to afford the cost of books. After getting MA in English Literature from University of Travancore (present day Kerala University) he left for Delhi and worked as a journalist in The Hindu and The Times of India(1944-45). In 1945 he left to England and studied Political science under Harold Laski at the London School of Economics with scholarship from JRD Tata. During the years he was active in the Indian League under VK Krishnamenon. He shared lodging with Dr KN Raj and Veerasamy Ringadoo. Narayanan returned to India in 1948 with a letter from Laski to Prime Minister Pandit Jawaherlal Nehru and he appointed him in IFS. Paditji referred Narayanan as' the best diplomat of the Country'.
He served as the Ambassador to Japan, UK,Thailand, Turkey, Peoples Republic of China and USA. He joined in politics at Indira Gandhis request and won three successive elections to the Loksabha from Ottappalam in Kerala. He has served as a minister of state in the Union Cabinet. under former Prime Minister Rajive Gandhi. He was elected as Vice President of India in 1992. He became President of India in 1997. He was an independent and assertive president who set several precedents and enlarged the scope of of the highest Constitutional Office. He described himself as 'a working President' who worked 'within the four corners of the constitution'.
Even though he was born as dalit still he reached the highest position of the country through hard-work. Now a days so many facilities are available for dalits for their up coming, still they are not coming up, Why? Is it due to marginalization? I don't think so. I feel that it is due to lack of courage and determination. All have become sugian, not ready for hard work. Narayanan walked 15 km to study, now no body have such a situation. 'Too light winning make the price light'
The need of the hour is that to teach the dalits to express themselves instead of completely immersing them in expectations. Spoon feeding will not create Narayanans. Mere erection of so many statues will not up lift the dalits from the present day turmoil. I think CREST will recognize the actual facts and do the needful for the upliftment of the dalits.
The gathering was welcomed by Dr D D Nambudiri, Executive Director of CREST and Presided by Dr P Sanal Mohan and vote of thanks by Prof. Ashley Paul.
With best wishes for a better future!!!
ktv
Nice article . There is a correction in it in the bottom of page "not ready for heard work. " but hard .
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't think it's not because of courage . They don't love to be like Narayanan . They love their present state itself. :)