Padma Shri Award to Dr N Chandrasekharan Nair, Chairman, Kerala Hindi Sahitya Academy as a recognition of his exceptional and distinguished service in the field of Literature and Education.

Welcome to the official website of Dr. N Chandrasekharan Nair

DR N CHANDRASEKHARAN NAIR (PADMA SHRI AWARD WINNER)

Founder & Former Chairman – Kerala Hindi Sahitya Academy, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Dr N Chandrasekharan Nair, was an eminent Hindi Scholar of 99 years and the Founder and Chairman of Kerala Hindi Sahitya Academy (KHSA), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was the former Head of the Department of Hindi at Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram. Dr Nair was Awarded D.Lit., Major Research Fellow of U.G.C and Emeritus Professor of U.G.C. During 1976-2010 Dr. Nair has been nominated in 14 Hindi SalakarSamitees of various Central Government Ministries as “Salahkar” (Advisor) to the Ministers, Govt. of India. During 1989-93 Dr Nair was nominated as a “Senator” to the University of Kerala by the Governor of Kerala.He served as the Chairman of Hindi Text Book Committee besides so many other academic Committeesfor Hindi Promotion and wasalso the Head of the Hindi Department of NSS Colleges in many parts of Kerala.

Dr Nair was actively involved in social activities. In Ottapalam, Palghat, he established Gandhi Vigyan Bhavan and was nominated as the Chairman of Gandhi Centenary Committee. Dr N Chandrasekharan Nair also established Gandhi Vigyan Bhawan and Bharat YuvakSamaj in Ottapalam (Palakkad), Kerala to promote Gandhian way of life and his principles.

Dr. N. Chandrasekharan Nair (Dr N C Nair) was born in Sasthamkotta, Kollam, Kerala in a middle class family. After completing his studies and 4 years of teaching in high schools, Dr NC Nair joined as Lecturer in Hindi in the Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram in 1951. Dr Nair got M.A Degree in Hindi from Banaras Hindu University and Ph.D. from Bihar University. Dr. Nair pursued vigorously both academics as well as his literary works along with the routine teaching career in the colleges for more than 3 decades.

Dr Nair, was a strong Gandhian, took Hindi Propagation has his Dharma and his devotion to Gandhiji. For the last 77 years, he was promoting Hindi in a non-Hindi Speaking Southern State of India, Kerala as his mission for National Integration. Even at the age of 16 he used to teach Hindi in rural villages in different parts of Kerala.  Dr N C Nair established Kerala Hindi Sahitya Academy (KHSA) in 1980 to promote Hindi studies and national integration through literary and cultural activities. For the last 39 years KHSA has been playing a proactive role in promoting Hindi language by organising Seminars, Workshops, bringing out Publications & Periodical Magazine “SodhaPathrika” undertaking high quality Research, honouring personalities all over India in Hindi literature and Research with Awards and Recognitions, training and capacity building of youth in bringing out good Hindi publications, etc.Dr Nair hadinstituted a resourceful library in his house which is enabling Ph.D. students and other researchers to pursue their research and academics. Six Professors have obtained Ph.D. Degree on the works of Dr N C Nair.Over a period of time, KHSA created a congenial atmosphere for the promotion of Hindi Literature in Kerala. KHSA has been recognised by the Central Hindi Directorate through Grants. It has honoured more than 180 Hindi writers, especially youth from different parts of India. Academy’s publications, especially periodical “ShodhPathrika” is nationally and internationally renowned.

Dr N Chandrasekharan Nair instituted an Award for the best Hindi Ph.D Thesis in Kerala in 2018. The Award is of Rs 50000/-, Citation and Certificate. He instituted Cash Awards to school students for their best performance in Hindi.

Dr Nair was a prominent writer both in Hindi and Malayalam. He was renowned as a Poet, Novelist, Dramatist, Story writer, Research Scholar, A well-known artist in painting and critic in both art subject and literary field. Dr Nair has written more than 50 original books in Hindi. Many of his books have been selected as text books by the Indian Universities.  Gave “Preface” to many well-known works of noted writers. Dr Nair published articles in more than 800 periodicals in India and abroad. Dr Nair who was leading a Yogic life had many religious publications and works based on Upanishad, great epics like AdhyatmaRamayan, Chiranjeevi, Ram-Maruti Milan, Praises of Ram, Sree Lalitha SahasranamVyakhyaye, etc.Dr N C Nair had drawn more than hundred paintings. A number of paintings of Dr. Nair have been published in the Indian Airlines magazines like Swagath.  Many of his paintings were exhibited at Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi.  

Dr N Chandrasekharan Nair was the recipient of numerous awards and honours. He received several National & State Awards and Awards instituted by Eminent Organisations / Institutions. In 2020, Dr N Chandrasekharan Nair was conferred one of the highest civilian honours of India, “Padma Shri”as a recognition of his distinguished contribution and service in the field of Literature and Education.

Dr N C Nair received the prestigious “Vishva Hindi Samman” from the former Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh at the 10th Vishva Hindi Samelan hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in Bhopal on September 12th, 2015. Recognizing his life time contribution for the propagation of Hindi all over the world, the Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India conferred the Vishva Hindi Samman to Dr Nair. Dr Chandra Sekharan Nair was also honored and awarded in the third World Hindi Conference held in 1983 in New Delhi.

In 2020, Dr Chandrasekharan Nair was honoured by UCO Bank by awarding UCO BharathiyaBhashaSouhardSamman (Year 2019-20) for his exceptional and distinguished service in promoting the Hindi language, literature and education. In 2018, Dr Nairwas honoured by PSUs / Navaratnas with TOLIC Award. In 2014, Dr Nair was awarded “Hindi RatnaSamman” by the Hindi Bhawan, New Delhi and “DeshRatna” by Uttar Pradesh Government. Dr Nair received the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s award for Hindi writers in non-Hindi speaking areas for 2004-05. He received the prestigious national award, “Ganesh Shankar VidyarthiSamman” of Rs 1 lakh from late former President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in 2005 and Maharashtra Hindi Sahitya Academy award in 2008.  

Dr N Chandrasekharan Nair received “AbhinandanGrandhas” from many prominent Indian personalities like Late Sri Narasimha Rao, Former Finance Minister, Minister of Finance, Govt of India, His Excellency Mr Rachayya, Former Governor of Kerala and Sri Lal Krishana Advani, Former Minister for Communication, Govt of India.He has been given awards on the name of Indian scholars and leaders like Madan Mohan Malavya, Vivekananda, Premchand, Ezhuthachan, Kesavasuth, Poet Mulla Dawood, Maharshi Vidhydhi Raja, Sri Ganesh SankarVidhyarthi, etc.