28, June, 2024
The educationist, writer, and former additional director of the Kerala Education department, P Chitran Namboodiripad passed away at the age of 103 in Thrissur, Kerala on June 27, 2024. Namboodiripad was well-known for his contributions in the fields of education, literature, and cultural activism.
He was the Director of Public Instruction in Kerala and was instrumental in the development of the Kalolsavam, the state school arts festival. In addition, he was a respected member of the SSLC board, the education advisory committee, the secondary education advisory committee of the union government, and the secretary of the Kerala Kalamandalam. He resigned in 1979.
P Chitran Namboodiripad’s Contribution to the Education System and Culture of Kerala
Namboodiripad was a highly respected figure in Kerala, having made invaluable contributions to the state’s education system. He was known for his deep expertise in education and had served as the director of public instruction for Kerala. He was instrumental in implementing progressive changes in the state’s education system and had a major role in shaping Kerala’s state school arts festival, Kalolsavam. Notably, Namboothiripad been to the Himalayas more than thirty times and had a strong affinity for them.
The festival, which is held every year in the state, has become a cultural phenomenon in Kerala, attracting thousands of students from all over the state to participate in various cultural events such as music, dance, and drama. Namboodiripad’s contributions to the festival have been widely acknowledged, and his legacy has continued to inspire generations of young artists throughout the state.
Namboodiripad was not only an educator but also a prolific writer and scholar. He had written a number of books on literature, history, and culture, among other topics. People from all walks of life enjoyed and read his books, and he was known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing.
Born in 1920 in Thrissur, Kerala, Namboodiripad worked in education for most of his life in a variety of roles. He was actively involved in a number of movements that sought to advance the rights of underrepresented groups in society and shared a deep commitment to social justice. Additionally, he worked tirelessly to spread the Malayalam language to the young people of Kerala.
Namboothiripad attended Thrissur St. Thomas College for his intermediate studies, where he actively participated in the Left Students Movement throughout his academic career. He opened a school on a five-acre plot of land in Mookkuthala in 1947 after graduating from the University of Madras. Nevertheless, after ten years, he sold the school to the Kerala government for one rupee.
The idea for a school festival in Kerala came from his experience as a spectator at the 1956 Delhi inter-university arts festival. CS Venkateswaraya Lyer, the Director of Education in the Thrissur district at the time, invited Namboothiripad and other individuals to discussions. The school arts festival was ultimately the result of this. It has now developed into Asia’s biggest youth celebration.
Utilizing his close relationship with C. Achutha Menon, he also played a crucial role in advocating for pensioners’ rights. He contributed to the establishment of a unified pension system through political and legal efforts, bringing uniformity to the various pension plans.
Namboodiripad will be remembered as a scholar and visionary who tirelessly advocated for education, equality, and social justice.
