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R. Ramachandran Nair

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Ramakrishna Pillai Ramachandran Nair (born 23 April 1939) is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer from Kottayam, Kerala, who served as collector of Kannur and Kollam districts, managing director of Travancore-Cochin Chemicals, secretary to various departments, and finally as the Chief Secretary of Kerala state in different intervals.[1] He was also the founding Vice Chancellor of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady. A prolific writer, he has also written many poems and essays in Sanskrit (under the pseudonym Thulaseevanam), Malayalam and English. His Sanskrit compositions, most of them being Carnatic kritis, praise more on the deities of Kerala temples, especially around Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam. Nair is credited with popularising many temples in Kerala.

Early life

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Nair was born on the 10th of Medam 1115 (Malayalam calendar), 23 April 1939, in Mangombil house (his ancestral home) in Kottayam, Kerala as the fifth of the nine children of Thumbunkal Ramakrishna Pillai, a mathematics teacher by profession, and Mangombil Bharathi Amma. His ancestors originally hailed from Thirunavaya in the present-day Malappuram district, and migrated to Travancore following Tipu Sultan's invasion. He has seven brothers and a sister, among which one died at a very young age. He spent his childhood in Poonjar in the eastern side of Kottayam district. He was a brilliant student in his school, and passed SSLC with distinction in 1955. From a very young age itself, he learnt Sanskrit from noted scholars. After his education, he served as a teacher at University college in Thiruvananthapuram for a short time. He joined IAS in 1961.

Personal life

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Nair is married to Lakshmi R. Nair, the daughter of the late V. R. Pillai from Haripad, Alappuzha district. Their marriage happened on 8 December 1965, when Nair was 26 and Lakshmi was 19. The couple has two sons and a daughter. Their eldest son, Prof. R. Hemanth Kumar is the principal of Ettumanoorappan College, Ettumanoor, Kottayam district. The second son Dr. R. Ajay Kumar is a cardiologist by profession. The third child and only daughter, Anjali R. Mohan is a school teacher by profession in Chennai. Their son-in-law is a nephew of E. K. Nayanar, former Chief Minister of Kerala. Nair is a devotee of the noted Hindu saint and social reformer Chattambi Swamikal, and is a member of numerous organisations related to his ideologies.

As a writer

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Nair is well-known for Carnatic compositions, written under the pseudonym Thulaseevanam. His compositions usually feature the deities in Kerala temples, especially around Kottayam, his native place, and Thiruvananthapuram, where he finally settled. He is well-credited for popularising numerous temples in Kerala, like Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple, Sreekanteswaram Mahadeva Temple, Attukal Bhagavathi Temple, Kidangoor Subramanya Temple, Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple, etc. He also wrote songs on Chattambi Swamikal, the noted social reformer of Kerala, whom he idolises most. Most of his songs were written in Sanskrit. Though he has immense poetic talent, he lacks musical proficiency, and thus he had to seek outside help for tuning his songs, just like Arunachala Kavirayar and Periyasamy Thooran. His songs have been composed and sung by numerous popular musicians like Maharajapuram Santhanam, T. V. Sankaranarayanan, T. N. Seshagopalan, R. K. Srikantan, Rajkumar Bharathi, Prince Rama Varma, Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath and numerous others. His most popular composition is Bhaja Manasa Vighneshwaram Anisham in the raga Bahudari.[2]

Composition Raga Tala Praising Temple
Akhilānda Nāyakā
अखिलाण्डनायका
Madhyamavati Adi Shiva N/A
Āmaya Karunāvāhini
आमयकरुणावाहिनी
Poorvi Kalyani Adi Parvati N/A
Āmaya Nāśana
आमयनाशन
Kalyani Adi Venkateswara Tirupati
Anagha Śambhō
अनघशंभो
Yadukulakamboji Roopakam Shiva Ettumanoor
Ātma Nivedanaṁ
आत्मनिवेदनम्
Vrindavana Saaranga Adi Krishna N/A
Bhāvaye Sādaraṁ
भावये सादरम्
Keeravani Adi Sastha Sabarimala
Bhaja Mānasa Vighneshwaramanisham
भज मानस विघ्नेश्वरमनिशम्
Bahudari Adi Ganesha Pazhavanagdi
Bhajāmahē Śrī Vināyakaṁ
भजामहे श्री विनायकम्
Hamsadhwani Adi Ganesha Pazhavanagdi
Bhajarē Cētaha
भजरे चेतः
Arabhi Adi Ganesha Pazhavanagdi
Bhajarē Mānasa Śāstāraṁ
भजरे मानस शास्तारम्
Sindhu Bhairavi Adi Sastha N/A
Bhajarē Śrīkaṇțeśvaraṁ
भजरे श्रीकण्ठेश्वरम्
Kamboji Adi Shiva Sreekanteswaram
Bhajē Surēśaṁ
भजे सुरेशम्
Shriranjini Adi Venkateswara Tirupati
Bhūtanātha Māṁ Pāhi
भूतनाथ मांं पाहि
Saveri Adi Sastha Sabarimala
Caraņayuga Smaraṇaṁ
चरणयुगस्मरणम्
Malayamarutham Adi Krishna Guruvayur
Dāsamimaṃ Pāhi
दासमिमं पाहि
Begada Adi Shiva Thirunakkara
Dainyāpahaṃ Bhāvaye
दैन्यापहं भावये
Shriranjini/Thodi Adi Parvati Kanyakumari
Dāsosmyahaṃ Danuja Śāsaka
दासोस्म्यहं दनुजशासक
Mukhari Adi Krishna Guruvayur
Dēvā Namō Namō
देवा नमो नमो
Khamas Adi Chattambi Swamikal N/A
Dēvā Vidyādhirājā
देवा विद्याधिराजा
Kedara Gowla Adi Chattambi Swamikal N/A
Dharmasthalēśvara
धर्मसथलेश्वर
Ananda Bhairavi Adi Shiva Dharmasthala
Duritāpahaṃ Aniśaṃ
दुरितापहमनिशम्
Shriranjini Adi Sastha Sabarimala
Duritāraṇya Kṛṣanmō
दुरितारण्य कृषन्मो
Neelambari Chappu Krishna Thirumala
Ēkaradanam Vāraṇa Vadanam
एकरदनं वारणवदनम्
Hindolam Adi Ganesha Pazhavangadi
Gajānana Mām Pālaya
गजानन मां पालय
Mohanam Adi Ganesha Pazhavangadi
Gajamukha Māmava
गजमुख मामव
Reethigowla Adi Ganesha Pazhavangadi
Gajānanam Bhaje
गजाननं भजे
Kamalamanohari Adi Ganesha Pazhavangadi
Gāyāmi Tava Nāma
गायामि तव नाम
Huseni Chappu Krishna Guruvayur
Girivara Putrīṃ
गिरिवर पुत्रीम्
Dwijavanthi Sanskrit Parvati Shankhumukham
Guruvāyupurēsha Surēsha
गुरुवायुपुरेश सुरेश
Shaama Adi Krishna Guruvayur
Hara Hara Shiva Pālaya
हर हर शिव पालय
Shahana Adi Shiva Ettumanoor
Harihara Tanūja Devā
हरिहरतनूज देवा
Begada Chappu Sastha Sabarimala
Indirā Mandiraṃ
इन्दिरामन्दिरम्
Surutti Adi Venkateswara Tirupati
Kāma Madāpaha
काममदापह
Poorvikalyani Adi Shiva Ettumanoor
Kāma Nishūdanam
कामनिषूदनम्
Yadukulakamboji Adi Shiva Dharmasthala
Karuņākaram Śrīkaram
कऱुणाकरं श्रीकरम्
Pantuvarali Roopakam Krishna Guruvayur
Kērala Bhūtalapālā
केरळ भूतलपाला
Devagandhari Adi Sastha Sabarimala
Kuru Śubham Adhunā
कुरु शुभम् अधुना
Shaama Adi Sastha Sabarimala
Laṃbōdaram Bhāvayē
लम्बोदरं भावये
Kamboji Adi Ganesha N/A
Mādhava Harē
माधव हरे
Todi Adi Vishnu Thiruvananthapuram
Mahishī Madahara
महिषीमदहर
Poorvikalyani Adi Sastha Sabarimala
Māmava Mādhava
मामव माधव
Behag Adi Venkateswara Tirupati
Māmava Mahēśvarī
मामव महेश्वरी
Bhairavi Adi Parvati Shankhumukham
Māmava Māmava
मामव मामव
Dhanyasi Adi Venkateswara Tirupati
Māmava Vidyādhirājā
मामव विद्याधिराजा
Abhogi Adi Chattambi Swamikal N/A
Maňgaľa Guņārņava
मङ्गळ गुणार्णव
Kalyani Roopakam Chattambi Swamikal N/A
Maranda Bhāshiņī
मरन्दभाषिणी
Chakravakam Adi Saraswati Panachikkadu
Māyā Mānusha Hare
मायामानुष हरे
Mukhari Roopakam Krishna Guruvayur
Mūkāmbikām Āśrayē
मूकांबिकाम् आश्रये
Dhanyasi Adi Mookambika Kollur
Namāmi Vijayām
नमामि विजयाम्
Charukesi Adi Parvati Kumaranalloor
Nīlāmbara Sōdarā
नीलांबरसोदरा
Surutti Adi Krishna Guruvayur
Pāhimām Śrī Varāhamūrtē
पाहिमां श्रीवराहमूर्ते
Ananda Bhairavi Roopakam Varaha Sreevaraham
Paňkaja Dalanayanē
पङ्कजदलनयने
Kanada Adi Parvati Shankhumukham
Paramēśvara Pāhi
परमेश्वर पाहि
Kedaram Roopakam Shiva Sreekanteswaram
Paripāhi Dayākarā
परिपाहि दयाकरा
Simhendramadhyamam Roopakam Murugan Kidangoor
Pāvana Tīrthapādā
पावन तीर्थपादा
Nattakurinji Adi Chattambi Swamikal N/A
Sadā Namōstutē
सदा नमोस्तुते
Mohanam Adi Ganesha Pazhavangadi
Sādhaka Kalpalatē
साधक कल्पलते
Mayamalavagowla Adi Saraswati Panachikkadu
Śabarīśvaram Bhāvayē
शबरीश्वरं भावये
Kharaharapriya Adi Sastha Sabarimala
Śaraņāgata Vidhēyē
शरणागतविधेये
Todi Roopakam Parvati Shankhumukham
Sarvam Samāśrayē
सर्वं समाश्रये
Suddha Dhanyasi Roopakam Shiva Sreekanteswaram
Śata Ravi Śōbha
शतरविशोभ
Kalyani Misrachappu Vishnu Thiruvananthapuram
Śivakāminīm Bhāvayē
शिवकामिनीं भावये
Mukhari Adi Parvati Shankhumukham
Śivaśaňkara Pāhi
शिवशङ्ककर पाहि
Shaama Misrachappu Shiva Thirunakkara
Śrīharē Padmanābhā
श्रीहरे पद्मनाभा
Devamanohari Roopakam Vishnu Thiruvananthapuram
Śrī Padmanābha Harē
श्रीपद्मनाभ हरे
Huseni Misrachappu Vishnu Thiruvananthapuram
Śrīvallabham Bhajē
श्रीवल्लभं भजे
Darbar Roopakam Vishnu Thiruvalla
Śrīkara Māmava
श्रीकर मामव
Poornachandrika Khandachappu Shiva Sreekanteswaram
Śyāma Kalēbara
श्यामकळेबर
Behag Adi Krishna Guruvayur
Śyāma Kalēbaram
श्यामकळेबरम्
Hindolam Adi Sastha Sabarimala
Uragēndra Bhūshaņam
उरगेन्द्रभूषणम्
Shankarabharanam Roopakam Shiva Ettumanoor
Vandē Sadāham
वन्दे सदाहम्
Saaranga Adi Krishna Guruvayur
Vāraņavadanam Bhajām
वारणवदनं भजम्
Gaula Adi Ganesha Pazhavangadi
Venkatēśa Harē
वेङ्कटेश हरे
Bageshri Jhampa Venkateswara Tirupati
Vighnanāśana Prabhō
विघ्ननाशन प्रभो
Madhyamavathi Adi
Tishra gati
Ganesha N/A
Vighnēśvarā Kumarā
विघ्नेश्वरा कुमारा
Arabhi Roopakam Ganesha Pazhavangadi
Vighnēśvara Śubhakara
विघ्नेश्वर शुभकर
Arabhi Roopakam Ganesha Pazhavangadi

Malayalam and English works

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Controversies

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Though Nair was instrumental in the formation of Sri Sankaracharya Sanskrit University, he caught up in corruption allegations on its matter. It was in the matter of purchasing land for sub-centres for the University that he was accused of. Due to this matter, he was suspended from service on 10 January 1997, when he was under a long leave. After his retirement, he was also arrested on the same matter, and became the first former Chief Secretary of Kerala, and probably in India itself, to be arrested on corruption allegations.[3] But, he was later acquitted by the High Court of Kerala due to lack of evidence, and his time period under suspension, which lasted till his retirement on 30 April 1997, was regularised, thereby enabling him to enjoy full pension.

The case was that Nair caused a loss of ₹3.4 Million to the University by purchasing 75 cents of land from a private organisation named Sree Vidyadhiraja Vidya Samajam, which was founded by him, and was headed by R. Kumaran Nair, his elder brother, as the President, and his close friend named V. N. Krishna Pillai as the Secretary when this incident happened. The vigilance charge sheet said that Nair brought the land for an exorbitant amount of ₹50,000, while its price was just ₹5,650 in market rate. The Samajam had bought it just six months before this incident, at the rate of ₹3,000. Krishna Pillai was also arrested on its matter, while Kumaran Nair was acquitted due to lack of evidence earlier.

Nair accused his immediate successor C. P. Nair, a 1962 Batch IAS officer, and himself a noted writer, on this case. His accusation was that despite being a year junior to him in both birth and service, C. P. Nair was trying to topple him to get to the post of Chief Secretary earlier, but still the then-government appointed him, and enraged by this incident, C. P. Nair tied with the opposition parties, which came to power in 1996, and by considering this as an opportunity, framed him in the cases, which led to his suspension, and also prevented from him being appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of India, despite being the senior-most serving IAS officer at that time.

Footnotes

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