PERUNNA: Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said NSS general secretary Sukumaran Nair is one who is firm in his stands and strongly leads the organization. He was speaking as the chief guest at the Mannam Jayanthi celebrations held at NSS headquarters in Perunna.

Chennithala said that he feels blessed to be the chief guest of the Mannam Jayanthi celebrations. I am extremely honored to be a part of the grand function. Chennithala said that he shows his heartfelt gratitude and love for the NSS leadership and its leader G Sukumaran Nair, who invited him for this function. Among the great men contributed to India, Mannathu Padmanabhan is the best. He led a community stuck in mediocrity and superstition to progress and renaissance. In his inaugural address, Chennithala recalled that the Kerala society had shed new light through it.

Chennithala said NSS helped him when faced a crisis during his education period. Got admission in Perunna NSS College with the help of NSS. When the great darkness of communalism is looming around us, the great movement of NSS is before us as a beacon of hope. NSS is the brand ambassador of secularism. In his speech, Chennithala said that he salutes the contributions of the NSS and its leadership from time to time to ensure secularism in the country, fight against communal attacks and strengthen religious harmony by being a part of my great movement, the Congress, which firmly believes in secularism.

He appreciated the care of the present general secretary to uphold the grand vision of secularism put forward by the NSS in this era where efforts are being made to usurp political power in the name of caste and religion.

‘I thank NSS for my Congress movement. I also think it's time to take it forward stronger. When someone gave him a walking stick as a gift on the occasion of his 60th birthday, Mannam said: "Mannam is old. If you think that this gift is to help me walk with a stick, then you are wrong. Mannam is ageless. I accept this stick in order to stop every blow that comes against the community and to give it in return.''

Mannam always wanted people to be seen as human beings. That is what he stood for. NSS needs to carry forward the goal set by Mannam that reform in his own community and society should also be carried forward with utmost strength. Mannam built this educational empire through the micro-financing concept of accepting small donations from Nair households. NSS played a vital role in social and economic transformation. The Kerala society owes it to the NSS that the torch that Mannam held in his hand burns brightly even today.