Gopinathan Nair’s birth centenary (1923-2023)
What makes a man’s life echo through time? How does one leave behind a legacy that continues to stir conversations even after one’s passage? For me, as his daughter, it’s not just a question but a lived reality. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the values, principles, and passion that my father, N. Gopinathan Nair, embodied. As I reflect on his centenary, I can’t help but feel that his legacy isn’t confined to the articles he penned or the milestones he achieved in journalism, but in the quiet lessons he imparted to me, lessons that continue to guide me as I revisit his life and work today.
Born in the humble abode of Kuzhiyathu Veedu, Uliyakovil, on November 21, 1923, N. Gopinathan Nair’s words and ideas were destined to reverberate even decades later. His journey began not with fanfare, but with quiet determination. After graduating from the American College in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, he embarked on a career in journalism—a decision that would shape the course of his life and leave an indelible mark on the field.
His early years saw him cutting his teeth at renowned publications like the Indian Express and Eastern Express, before moving to Kollam in Kerala where he joined Prabhatam. But as with all trailblazers, he wasn’t one to settle at one place. Restless and fueled by ambition, he soon left to form Yuvakeralam alongside a group of spirited young minds. And then came the turning point—in January 1949, he became the founding editor of Janayugom Rashtriya Vaarika and soon after, launched the Janayugom daily in November 1953. What followed was a meteoric rise. By the time he left for Delhi in 1962, Janayugom had secured its place as the third-largest circulating newspaper in Kerala.
But what drew him to Delhi? What was waiting for him in the capital?
In Delhi, the man once affectionately known as Janayugom Gopi transformed into NGN, a force to be reckoned with in English-language journalism. The ink in his veins didn’t dry up—starting with Patriot, where he was one of the first renowned special correspondents, he went on to launch New Wave with several distinguished colleagues. Later, he joined the United News of India, retiring in 1980, but not before shaping the journalistic landscape.
It was during this period that he was diagnosed with Steele, Richardson Olzewski syndrome—a rare Parkinson Plus condition. He passed away on June 17, 1991. Yet, even as his life ebbed away, his words remained alive—in the countless articles he had written, many of which my late mother, Dr. K. Saradamoni, preserved in her heart and in print. She immortalized him through the book The Scribe Remembered, N. Gopinathan Nair: His Life and Times, a bilingual work self-published in 2012. But the story doesn’t end there. There are still many unpublished treasures, and I hope to bring them to light in the years to come.
One such treasure came to life in October 1972, when NGN found himself part of a journalist delegation visiting the “mysterious” Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Led by Shri K.R. Ganesh, the then Minister of State for Finance, the trip made a profound impact on the journalist and social observer in NGN. He returned, filled with insights, and penned a vivid piece for New Wave on the delicate future of the islands. He wrote:
“The solution to this problem is inextricably intertwined with two main questions—the Government’s perspective about the future of these islands and the pattern of its future development… Because of its enchanting beauty, there is a school of thought which would like to convert the islands into a tourist’s haven—another Hawaii… It is high time these questions are settled once for all.”
Fast forward fifty years, and those very questions remain as pressing as ever. And as we observe NGN’s birth centenary, we are joined by Pankaj Sekhsaria, an Associate Professor at IIT Mumbai and a stalwart of environmental advocacy, to take us through the maze of policies surrounding the Andaman Nicobar islands. In his latest book, The Great Nicobar Betrayal (Frontline, 2024), Sekhsaria lays bare the devastating implications of a much touted 80,000-crore project aimed at ‘developing’ Great Nicobar.
It is a narrative of destruction—pristine forests ravaged, the homeland of the Shompens and Nicobarese at risk, endemic species like the giant tree fern and leatherback turtle in peril. And let’s not forget the island’s seismic activity, with 44 earthquakes rattling the region every year. This fragile ecosystem, already reeling from the 2004 tsunami, faces an uncertain future if the project proceeds.
At the centenary event, after Pankaj presents his arguments, the stage will be set for a gripping discussion. Three experts—S. Santhi, KG Thara, and G. Sajan—will weigh in, bringing their diverse experiences in ecology, Adivasi rights, disaster management, and media. Together, they will unravel the complexities of the policies related to Andaman and Nicobar as also their far-reaching consequences.
Pankaj Sekhsaria’s environmental journey began in the suburbs of Pune. As a schoolboy, his participation in the Save Western Ghats march sparked an enduring passion for conservation. For thirty years, he has been working on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, fighting to protect its communities and ecosystems. His efforts in the Supreme Court’s Godavarman case in the late 1990s, as a representative of Kalpavriksh, resulted in significant rulings that protected the Jarawa community and the islands’ forests.
A prolific writer, Pankaj has chronicled the environmental challenges of the A&N Islands in several works. His books include the widely acclaimed The Last Wave (now available in English, Kannada, and Tamil), Islands in Flux—a 25-year chronicle of his journalism, and Waiting for Turtles—a children’s book that captures the magic of turtle nesting in the Andamans. And most recently, The Great Nicobar Betrayal, a clarion call to protect what is left of this fragile paradise. Evidently, he shares NGN’s perspectives and conviction. We hope the event with his presence will help take NGN’s legacy forward.
A fitting tribute to the legendary