Paravur T. K. Narayana Pillai
Encyclopedia
Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai (died 1969) was a freedom fighter during the British Raj
in India and was a member of the Indian National Congress
(INC) which fought against the British rule in India
. He was the first Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin
at the time of its formation in 1949.
, Kerala
, India
. He was educated at the Union Christian College in Alwaye, Ernakulam
district and earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1911. He became the thaluk president of the INC, North Paravur unit, in 1924 and then went on to become the Travancore-Cochin secretary of the INC in 1932, and its president in 1938. He was a founding member of the Travancore State Congress.
acceded to join the Indian union upon the request of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
, who was India's then Home minister, Parur TK, became the first chief minister of the newly formed Travancore-Cochin state under the union of India. His successes in the state of Travancore-Cochin is attributed to a lot of men who were his staunch supporters, among them his personal secretary, the famous freedom fighter from Karikkakom in Thiruvananthapuram
, Karikkakom S. Narayana Pillai. He was unanimously elected the leader of the Congress Legislature Party and he assumed charge as the Chief Minister (Premier) from 1 July 1949.
Annie Mascarene, health minister, who had resigned in Jan. 1950 as part of a move to reduce the number of ministers, accused E. John Philipose, minister for public works, of corruption. Parur TK stood by Philipose, but Panampilly Govinda Menon
, education minister, insisted that Philipose resign. In this circumstance, Parur TK forwarded the resignation of the entire cabinet to the Rajpramukh on 1 March 1951. (Philipose filed a defamation suit against Mascarene at the High court; this was transferred to Madras High court at Mascarene's request, where Philipose was cleared of scandal and Mascarene was found guilty as charged.)
Parur TK became the food, labour and education minister during the next ministry which was headed by C. Kesavan
, but it was short-lived as he resigned from that post on 5 September 1951 because of differences with the Chief minister.
One contentious issue during his tenure was the investigation into the burning of the famous Swami Ayyappa
shrine at Sabarimala
during off season, and his refusal to make the report public citing communal riots in the event doing so.
He stood for the Parliament of India
in the elections of 1952 but lost the Chirayankil
constituency in Thiruvananthapuram
district. After his defeat, Parur TK retired from politics and devoted his time to writing. He was bed ridden for a few years with arthritis
until his death.
The playback singer Sujatha Mohan
is his granddaughter.
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
in India and was a member of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
(INC) which fought against the British rule in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was the first Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin
Travancore-Cochin
Travancore-Cochin or Thiru-Kochi is a former state of India . It was created on 1 July 1949 by the merger of two former princely states, the kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin....
at the time of its formation in 1949.
Early life
"Parur TK" as he was fondly called was born in North ParavurNorth Paravur
North Paravur formerly known as Parur is a town, municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is an old and growing municipality. Paravur is the capital of Paravur Taluk in Ernakulam district...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was educated at the Union Christian College in Alwaye, Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
district and earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1911. He became the thaluk president of the INC, North Paravur unit, in 1924 and then went on to become the Travancore-Cochin secretary of the INC in 1932, and its president in 1938. He was a founding member of the Travancore State Congress.
Political career
After India gained independence from Britain in 1947, and the King of TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
acceded to join the Indian union upon the request of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was an Indian barrister and statesman, one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress and one of the founding fathers of India...
, who was India's then Home minister, Parur TK, became the first chief minister of the newly formed Travancore-Cochin state under the union of India. His successes in the state of Travancore-Cochin is attributed to a lot of men who were his staunch supporters, among them his personal secretary, the famous freedom fighter from Karikkakom in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, Karikkakom S. Narayana Pillai. He was unanimously elected the leader of the Congress Legislature Party and he assumed charge as the Chief Minister (Premier) from 1 July 1949.
Annie Mascarene, health minister, who had resigned in Jan. 1950 as part of a move to reduce the number of ministers, accused E. John Philipose, minister for public works, of corruption. Parur TK stood by Philipose, but Panampilly Govinda Menon
Panampilly Govinda Menon
Panampilly Govinda Menon was an Indian politician, freedom fighter, and lawyer. He was born at Chalakudy and started his lawyer practice there as a junior to Adv. M. C. Joseph . He was the first treasurer of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham. He moved his practice to Ernakulam afterwards...
, education minister, insisted that Philipose resign. In this circumstance, Parur TK forwarded the resignation of the entire cabinet to the Rajpramukh on 1 March 1951. (Philipose filed a defamation suit against Mascarene at the High court; this was transferred to Madras High court at Mascarene's request, where Philipose was cleared of scandal and Mascarene was found guilty as charged.)
Parur TK became the food, labour and education minister during the next ministry which was headed by C. Kesavan
C. Kesavan
C. Kesavan was the Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin during 1951–1952.-External links:*...
, but it was short-lived as he resigned from that post on 5 September 1951 because of differences with the Chief minister.
One contentious issue during his tenure was the investigation into the burning of the famous Swami Ayyappa
Ayyappan
Ayyappan is a Hindu deity worshiped in a number of shrines across India. Ayyappan is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sastha, who is the son of Shiva and Vishnu . The name "Ayyappan" is used as a respectful form of address in the Malayalam language, spoken in the Indian state of Kerala...
shrine at Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
during off season, and his refusal to make the report public citing communal riots in the event doing so.
He stood for the Parliament of India
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
in the elections of 1952 but lost the Chirayankil
Chirayinkil (Lok Sabha constituency)
Chirayinkil Lok Sabha constituency was a Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, dissolved in 2008.-Assembly segments:Chirayinkil Lok Sabha constituency was composed of the following assembly segments:#Varkala#Attingal#Kilimanoor Assembly Constituency...
constituency in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
district. After his defeat, Parur TK retired from politics and devoted his time to writing. He was bed ridden for a few years with arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
until his death.
The playback singer Sujatha Mohan
Sujatha Mohan
Sujatha Mohan , usually credited as Sujatha, is an award-winning Indian playback singer who is popular for singing in Malayalam and Tamil movies. She has also sung for Telugu, Kannada and Hindi movies. She is widely popular for her evergreen melodies and her sweet voice is considered to be her...
is his granddaughter.