J. Hareendran Nair

J. Hareendran Nair is an Indian Ayurveda practitioner and entrepreneur from Kerala. He is the founder of "Pankajakasthuri" group of enterprises, a business group which has contributed in promoting and popularising Ayurveda and ayurvedic products across the country. The Government of India, in 2012, honoured him with Padma Shri for his services to the cause of Ayurveda.
Biography.
Hareendran Nair was born in a family with frugal means, at Kattakkada, Thiruvananthapuram, in Kerala to Janardhanan Nair, a document writer and Pankajam, as the youngest of their three children. After early education at the Government Upper Primary School, Kandala and the Christian College, Kattakada, he joined the Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram from where he graduated in ayurvedic medicine with a BAMS in 1983.
His medical career started as a research fellow at Poojappura Regional Research Institute but he submitted his resignation from the service when he was transferred to the central Kerala town of Shornur in 1986. Nair spent the next two years in the formation of "Sree Dhanwanthari Ayurvedics", the forerunner of "Pankajakasthuri Herbals India Ltd" [PHIL], which came into stream in 1988 at Poovachal. The early days were difficult which changed in 1996 when Nair launched ayurvedic over-the-counter products under the brand name "Pankajakasthuri", a name coined combining his mother's name, Pankajam, and his eldest daughter's name, Kasturi.
Hareendran Nair is married to Asha who is involved in the business at administrative levels and the couple has two daughters, both studying ayurvedic medicine. The family lives in Thiruvananthapuram.
Pankajakasthuri.
Hareendran Nair found "Pankajakasthuri" in 1988, under the name "Sree Dhanwanthari Ayurvedics" at Poovachal, in Thiruvananthapuram. In 1996, the brand "Pankajakasthuri" was launched and the company's name was changed to Pankajakasthuri Herbals Pvt Ltd. Over the years, the establishment has grown to cover the parent company dealing in over-the-counter ayurvedic products, "Pankajakasthuri Panchakarama spas", "Pankajakasthuri Jeevanam" clinics and Pankajakasthuri Ayurveda Hospital, Herbal garden and Pankajakasthuri Ayurveda Medical College, in Killi near Kattakkada, which opened on 28 August 2002, which is stated to be the first self financed ayurveda medical college in Kerala.
Social service.
Hareendran Nair is also active in social service. He has arranged for 1000 free lunch everyday through his Ayurveda medical college. He also sponsors the educational expenses of 125 students and provides free in-patient medical treatment to 50 patients, including medicines. His group also conducts free medical camps every month in Thiruvananthapuram. "My only agenda," said Nair, "is the popularisation of Ayurveda as an effective and economic mode of treatment among people."
Positions.
Nair holds various positions at regional and national levels.