V. P. Appukutta Poduval | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Indian |
Education | Master of Arts in Political philosophy |
Occupation | Independence activist |
Notable work | Gandhian Darsanathile Adhyatmikata, Bhagavat Gita: Atmavikasathinte Sasthram |
V. P. Appukutta Poduval (born 9 October 1923) [1] [2] is an Indian independence activist [3] [4] [5] and Gandhian social activist from Kerala, India. [6] [7] He was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India [8] [9] in 2023. [10] [11]
After completing his schooling at Payyanur Sanskrit Padhanasala and the Basel Mission School, Payyanur, V. P. Appukutta Poduval joined the University of Lucknow and later the University of Mysore.
A meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in 1934 [12] —during Gandhiji's visit to Payyanur—changed Appukutta Poduval's life for ever. Gandhiji's visit to Payyanur [13] was as per the invitation of Swami Ananda Theertha, a strong voice against untouchability. Poduval was influenced by Swami Ananda Theertha, Raghavji—who was among the 78 who participated in the Salt March with Gandhiji, [14] freedom fighter and poet A. V. Sreekanda Poduval and Appukutta Poduval's uncle V. P. Sreekanda Poduval—a prominent figure in the Salt March at Payyanur. [15] During the Quit India Movement in 1942, Poduval was arrested by the British for delivering lectures in student meetings in Kozhikode and Kannur—for which he was imprisoned for two weeks at the Central Prison, Kannur. [16] Personally and professionally, he dedicated his life to Khadi and Gandhism. In 1944, he joined the Kerala branch of Charkha Sangh. [17] He also dabbled at art—the picture of Bharat Mata that he drew was featured on the cover of Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu in 1946. [18] In 1947, he became the in-charge the Oorijita Khadi Kendra in Payyanur, [19] under the then Madras Government. He participated in the Bhoodan movement along with Vinoba Bhave and Jayaprakash Narayan. During the early '50s, he worked for Deccan Herald as a journalist—during which he covered Jayaprakash Narayan's speech in Payyanur. In 1957, he took care of the office of the ninth Sarvodaya Sammelan, held at Kalady. [20] [21] In 1962, Poduval became an employee of the Khadi Gramodyog Commission. [22] He has served as Program Executive Officer of Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, Secretary of Bharatiya Sanskrita Prachara Sabha, Principal of Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya Payyanur and the President of Payyanur Sarvodaya Mandal. [23]
Sabarmati Ashram is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, adjoining the Ashram Road, on the banks of the River Sabarmati, 4 miles (6.4 km) from the town hall. This was one of the many residences of Mahatma Gandhi who lived at Sabarmati (Gujarat) and Sevagram when he was not travelling across India or in prison. He lived in Sabarmati or Wardha for a total of twelve years with his wife Kasturba Gandhi and followers, including Vinoba Bhave. The Bhagavad Gita was recited here daily as part of the Ashram schedule.
Koyapalli Kelappan was an Indian politician, independence activist, educationist and journalist. During the Indian independence movement, he was the lead figure of Indian National Congress in Kerala and was popularly known as Kerala Gandhi. After Indian independence, he held various seats in Gandhian organisations. He was the co-founder and the first president of the Nair Service Society and was also the founder of Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti.
Khadi, derived from khaddar, is a hand-spun and woven natural fibre cloth promoted by Mahatma Gandhi as swadeshi (self-sufficiency) for the freedom struggle of the Indian subcontinent, and the term is used throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The first piece of the hand-woven cloth was manufactured in the Sabarmati Ashram during 1917–18. The coarseness of the cloth led Gandhi to call it khadi. The cloth is made from cotton, but it may also include silk or wool, which are all spun into yarn on a charkha. It is a versatile fabric that remains cool in summer and warm in winter. To improve its appearance, khadi is sometimes starched to give it a stiffer feel. It is widely accepted in various fashion circles.
Payyanur, is a municipal town and a taluk, a sub-district administrative unit, in the Kannur district of Kerala, India. On 10 March 2018, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated Payyanur as the fifth taluk in the district. Payyanur taluk comprises 22 villages including 16 de-linked from the Taliparamba taluk and six from the Kannur taluk. The town is situated on the banks of the Perumba River.
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Padmanabha Pillai Gopinathan Nair was an Indian social worker, Gandhian, independence activist, and the chairman of Mahatma Gandhi National Memorial Trust. He participated in the Quit India movement of 1942 and worked alongside Vinoba Bhave to promote Bhoodan and Gramdan movements. He was the initiator of the camp movement, a student program that was part of the Construction Movement of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a recipient of the Jamnalal Bajaj Award, among other honors. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2016, for his contributions to society.
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