West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has stirred a controversy by alleging that he was prevented from paying floral tributes at the sacred Mannam Samadhi located at the Nair Service Society (NSS) headquarters in Perunna, Kottayam. The governor made these revealing remarks during a public event in the national capital.
The Allegation: A Denied Tribute
Speaking at the inauguration of the Mannam Jayanthi celebrations organized by the NSS karayogam in Delhi, Governor Bose disclosed a personal slight he experienced before assuming his constitutional role. He revealed that he had specifically wished to offer floral tributes at the samadhi (memorial) of Mannath Padmanabhan, the revered founder of the NSS, prior to taking charge as the Governor of West Bengal. To facilitate this, he had even secured a prior appointment with NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair.
Bose described the sequence of events at Perunna. He was welcomed by Sukumaran Nair at the NSS headquarters and was offered tea. However, after the meeting concluded and he was seen off, the general secretary did not facilitate or mention the planned floral tribute at the samadhi. "Though he was welcomed by Nair at the NSS headquarters and was offered tea before seeing him off, the general secretary did not say anything regarding offering the floral tribute," Bose stated, framing the omission as a deliberate denial.
Governor's Rhetorical Questions and Community Rights
In his speech, the governor posed pointed questions to the audience, challenging the authority behind the perceived snub. He asked whether he did not possess the right as an individual to offer a floral tribute at the community memorial. Extending his argument, Bose emphasized that paying respects at the samadhi is the fundamental right of every member of the Nair community, implying that no single person should hold exclusive control over access to it.
Beyond the allegation, Bose also made a constructive suggestion. He urged the office-bearers of the Delhi unit of the NSS to consider building a memorial for Mannath Padmanabhan in Delhi. This, he suggested, would allow community members in the capital to pay their respects more easily.
Adding a personal note to the narrative, Governor Bose mentioned that Sukumaran Nair was among the first people with whom he shared the news of his appointment as the Governor of Bengal, highlighting a prior cordial relationship that made the subsequent incident more surprising to him.
The NSS Response: A Firm Denial
In the wake of these public allegations, NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair has issued a firm denial. He has contradicted the governor's version of events, refuting the claims raised by Bose. This sets the stage for a classic 'his word versus his' situation, with the head of a prominent socio-cultural organization on one side and a sitting state governor on the other.
The incident has sparked discussions on protocol, community rights, and access to heritage sites within socio-religious organizations. It remains to be seen whether this war of words will lead to further clarification or reconciliation between the two parties.
