Draft:Olappamanna Damodaran Nambudiripad

• Comment: Resubmitted without any improvement (just after previous decline). Just resubmission might lead to rejection. Twinkle1990 (talk) 07:01, 22 July 2024 (UTC)

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Olappamanna Damodaran Nambudiripad (1947-2017) was a prominent figure in Kerala's cultural and heritage preservation. Rooted in a tradition-rich upbringing, Damodaran's visionary leadership revitalized Olappamanna Mana, transforming it into a global beacon that not only safeguarded its legacy but also elevated the cultural stature of his native village, Vellinezhi.

Early life and Family.

Olappamanna Damodaran Nambudiripad was born into the nambudiri family of Olappamanna Mana on 24 May 1947, as the son of eminent Sanskrit scholar OMC Narayanan Nambudiripad and Uma antharjanam  in Vellinezhi (Palakkad district, Kerala, India). He is the brother of Sumangala, a popular author of children’s literature in Malayalam and grandson of the famous Social reformer Kurur Unni Nambudiripad. He is married to Sreedevi Purayannur, daughter of PMC Divakaran Nambudiripad (founder of South India Metal Company, Shoranur)

Social activities and contributions

Upon the demise of Sri O.M.C Narayanan Nambudiripad, (O.N. Damodaran’s father), on the 4^th of April 1989, Damodaran had to shoulder the responsibility of Olappamanna Mana’s regular functioning and maintenance. He divined the importance of preserving mana’s centuries old cultural heritage, and in 1990, Deviprasadam Trust (in memory of Sri O.M.C Narayanan Nambudiripad) was established as a solid footing towards achieving his vision. The trust started functioning with a minimum capital, until DC Books bought the copyrights for publishing OMC Narayanan Nambudiripad’s Rigveda Bhasha Bhashyam in 8 different volumes. This marked a rise in the trust’s resources. Olappamanna Damodaran Nambudiripad was the chairperson of Deviprasadam Trust from 1990 – 2017 and administered all the official operations of the trust. In the light of Olappamanna Mana’s legacy of art and literature, Deviprasadam Trust honored distinguished personalities in the realms of Sanskrit, Veda, Kathakali and Malayalm literature( Literary award was presented in memory of renowned poet Mahakavi Olappamanna - Damodaran’s paternal uncle)

Damodaran’s extensive public engagements brought about a shift in his perspective towards the importance of preserving one’s cultural legacy. In the wake of his father's and Mahakavi Olappamanna’s death, he actively pursued to find new ways to compensate for the void left by them. He realized that this gap would make Olappamanna Mana lifeless and desolate. With great effort, he breathed new life to Olappamanna Mana by showcasing the traditional and cultural richness of his home to the world. He made sure that Olappamanna Mana's popularity grew steadily each year.

Given the family's literary heritage, Olappamanna Mana has a small library, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a world of words. Recognizing the unique architecture of his home, Damodaran generously opened it to architectural engineering students for their academic project work, only requesting a copy of their project in return, to enrich the mana’s library. He meticulously curated a museum within the house to display an array of artifacts, offering visitors a glimpse into the family's centuries-old lifestyle. Today, regardless of caste or creed, Olappamanna Mana provides a platform for diverse public events, while preserving the sanctity of the temple deity.

Damodaran also rekindled Olappamanna Mana’s patronage of performing arts by providing a venue to keen teachers for conducting lessons in art forms such as Carnatic music, Violin, Mridangam and Chenda every weekend, transforming the Mana into the vibrant centre of activities that it was always known for.

Even in retirement, Damodaran liked to maintain an active and engaged lifestyle. He recognized the historical significance of his home as a distinctive feature to attract potential guests across the world. In 2006, his entrepreneurial inclination turned one of the outhouses (pathayappura) into a homestay – The Olappamanna Mana Homestay. This was also an opportunity for Damodaran’s wife Sreedevi, to re-discover her passion for cooking. Her culinary expertise accompanied by Damodaran’s hospitality elevated the homestay’s popularity exceptionally^[2]. This attracted guests from both domestic and international destinations. With their children grown – up and independent, this was a new chapter in the lives of Damodaran and Sreedevi.

Damodaran was eager to share the history of Olappamanna Mana to a wider audience. His enthusiasm led Dr.N.P Vijayakrishnan,  to write a book titled Olappamanna Mana. Dr.N.P Vijayakrishnan, having a deep knowledge and understanding of the Mana's activities and goals, has imparted authenticity and credibility to his writing. Damodaran Nambudiripad considered such activities indispensable to bring his home back to life and the Mana owes its evolution entirely to Damodaran's tireless dedication.

Damodaran’s high regard for cultural heritage extended beyond his mana, to Vellinezhi-the village that raised him. The preliminary seminar regarding the possibilities of Kalagramam was conducted by Malayala Manorama at Olappamanna Mana and Damodaran had a deep discussion with Dr. Venu, the then Secretary of Department of Tourism, Kerala, and Mr.T.K.A Nair (Former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India). The land on which Kalagramam now stands was donated to the Department of Education, Kerala, by Olappamanna mana years ago. Damodaran proposed that this site would be ideal for the Kalagramam. Damodaran's extensive knowledge of diverse art forms was invaluable to Malayala Manorama's regional writers in their endeavour to proclaim Vellinezhi as a Kalagramam.