Life Profile of Founder K. Kumaran
Gandhi Seva Sadan was founded by Kollaikal Kumaran, son of Madathil Narayanan Nair and Kollaikal Devakiamma. He finished his schooling from the government high school in his native Thiruvilwamala and joined Government Victoria college, Palakkad, in the year 1941 for his intermediate.
While in college, Kumaran followed Mahatma Gandhi's call for fight against the British for India's independence and took part in Quit India Movement. Quite expectedly, he was expelled from the college for this action. He then joined the freedom struggle and was jailed in Alippuram, Bellary, for his activities against the "British Raj". Inspired by the Mahatma's call to "Do or Die", Kumaran managed to escape from Allipuram Jail in 1943. He was arrested in Madras, but he managed to escape again from police custody.His uncle Madathil Vasudevan Nair whom he lovingly called "Vasuetta" supported him.
During a second conviction in Bellary jail, Kumaran was subjected to torture and put in iron fetters under the order of Col. Howe. He was released in 1944. Soon after this, he went to Bombay (now Mumbai) as a full-time congress worker and captained the volunteer team for the 1945 AICC session. During this session, he came into contact with Gandhiji and several senior Congress leaders. Heeding to Mahatma Gandhi's call to youngsters to live and die in the villages of India, Kumaran set forth and put in the place the first modest steps for what was to become a big institution in his Perur. With the help of a small sum donated by few village elders he bought 12 charkhas (cotton-spinning machines which were at that time the symbol of the aspirations of an independent India). He established a school, a teacher training Institution,a Vocational centre,and a Kathakali Centre and Bharatanatyam Institute.Throughout his life time he wore Khadhi cloth and followed Gandhiji. He weathered difficult times, but eventually built Sadanam as a renowned institution. Kumaran died in 2005.
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