Dedicating Padma Bhushan to Sree Narayana Guru: Vellappally Natesan

Vellappally Natesan, general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, said on Sunday (January 25, 2026) that he was placing the Padma Bhushan, for which he has been chosen, at the feet of Sree Narayana Guru.

Mr. Natesan was picked for the award in the field of ‘Public Affairs,’ according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A long-serving general secretary of the SNDP Yogam, Mr. Natesan told The Hindu that he was happy to have been chosen. “It is a recognition of my services to the society. It is also a recognition for the SNDP Yogam and the SN Trust. I place this award at the feet of the Guru,” he said.

Hailing from Kanichukulangara in Alappuzha district, Mr. Natesan is also the Secretary of the Sree Narayana Trust, which manages several educational institutions in Kerala.

Born in September 1937, Mr. Natesan had already established himself as a businessman when he first took over as general secretary of the SNDP Yogam – a social organisation dating back to 1903 that has had a significant impact on Kerala’s social life – in 1996. Mr. Natesan has been known for his outspokenness, a trait that has often sparked debate, sharp responses and controversies in Kerala’s political and social spheres.

On his being chosen for the Padma Bhushan, Mr. Natesan said that it is equally a recognition for the society and the (Ezhava) community that had equipped him for public life. “The support and cooperation extended by the people equipped me for the role. So this award is also a recognition for the society and the community,” he said.

Bharath Dharma Jana Sena president Thushar Vellappally is Mr. Natesan’s son.