The social reformer who got Padma Bhushan in 1966?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Mannathu Padmanabhan was a distinguished social reformer and freedom fighter from Kerala.
He founded the Nair Service Society (NSS) in 1914 to promote the social and educational advancement of the Nair community.
His immense contributions to public service and social reform were recognized by the Government of India, which conferred upon him the Padma Bhushan in 1966.
He was also a key figure in movements like the Vaikom Satyagraha, which fought for the rights of lower castes to use public roads.

Option A: Sahodaran Ayyappan was a significant social reformer known for his rationalist views and fight against the caste system, but he did not receive the Padma Bhushan in 1966.
Option B: Poikayil Yohannan was a Dalit activist and founder of the Pratyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha (PRDS). While a major social reformer, he was not the recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 1966.
Option D: V.T. Bhattathiripad was a reformer focused on the Namboodiri community and is famous for his play 'Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathekku'. He was not awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1966.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Indian Social Reformers and National Awards as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
General knowledge questions are a common component of competitive examinations, including those for nursing positions, to assess the candidate's overall awareness.
Knowledge of national heroes and social reformers reflects an understanding of the country's history and cultural evolution.
What if? If the year was different, for example, 1954, the answer could be different as the Padma Awards were instituted in that year and given to various other personalities. The year 1966 is specific to Mannathu Padmanabhan's award.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key elements in the question: 'social reformer', 'Padma Bhushan', and the year '1966'.
This is a factual recall question based on Indian history and general knowledge.
Evaluate each option based on these three key elements.
Recall or deduce the contributions of each social reformer listed.
Eliminate options that do not match the specific criteria (the award and the year). For instance, while all are social reformers, only one received the Padma Bhushan in 1966.
Select the individual who fits all parts of the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qf6gaK_TvesfJAoQxITPjw

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.