R. Sankar
Encyclopedia
R. Sankar was an Indian politician and the third Chief Minister of Kerala
. He was born on April 30, 1909 in Kuzhikkalidavaka village in Kottarakkara
.
After completing his studies, he became a teacher. He joined Sivagiri High School as Principal. It was during those days, that he associated himself with the activities of the SNDP Yogam. He talked about the social injustice prevalent in those days, particularly the discriminatory attitude shown towards backward class communities, and also equal opportunities for backward classes.
in State . The end of the Nivarthana agitation and the gradual growth of the State Congress, accelerated Sankar’s rise as a political leader. He participated in the freedom struggle and was arrested and put in jail. After India’s independence he focused his attention on strengthening the Congress party.
Later, taking a break from the Congress party, he began to work in the SNDP Yogam. His work during this period served a great deal to bring backward class communities into the fold of the Congress party. During his long association with the SNDP Yogam of over 13 years, he served the Yogam as its General Secretary, President and Chief of the SN Trust. Under his leadership the SNDP Yogam gave emphasis to the field of education and started many educational institutions. Sankar returned to the State Congress at a crucial juncture, when it was going through one of its worst periods. His organising skills and leadership qualities became evident in the election held after independence. He was elected to the Travancore
Assembly in 1948. He also became a member of the Travancore-Cochin Assembly from 1949 to 1956. Sankar was a member of the Constituent Assembly and also a member of the Franchise and Delimitation Commission and the Reforms Committee constituted after the introduction of the Responsible Government.
He led the Congress party as KPCC
President during the Vimochana Samaram(Liberation Struggle). The Congress won the elections in 1960 under Sankar’s leadership and he became the Deputy Chief Minister in the Pattom Thanupillai ministry. He handled Finance portfolio from 1960 to 1962. When Pattom Thanupillai has resigned, Sankar became the Chief Minister of Kerala
from September 26, 1962 to September 10, 1964. He brought about many economic reforms while handling the finance portfolio. He served as the Chairman of the Committee of Privileges from 1960 to 1964. He was also the editor of a newspaper called Dinamony. His wife was Lekshmikutty Amma and they have one son and one daughter. Sankar died at the age of 63 on November 6, 1972. The Assembly paid its homage to him on November 13, 1972.
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....
. He was born on April 30, 1909 in Kuzhikkalidavaka village in Kottarakkara
Kottarakkara
Kottarakkara , also transliterated as Kottarakara, is a town and taluk in Kollam District , in Kerala state, India. The town is close to the Kollam port which has a rich history linked to the early medieval period as well as a reputation for being an important commercial, industrial and trading...
.
Education and public life
His formal education began in the Puthoor Primary School and later continued in an English School in Kottarakkara. In 1924, he joined Maharajas College (present University College), Thiruvananthapuram, with the help of a wealthy and benevolent relative, as his father could not afford the expenses for his education. After graduating, he moved to the Law College, Thiruvananthapuram in 1933.After completing his studies, he became a teacher. He joined Sivagiri High School as Principal. It was during those days, that he associated himself with the activities of the SNDP Yogam. He talked about the social injustice prevalent in those days, particularly the discriminatory attitude shown towards backward class communities, and also equal opportunities for backward classes.
Political life
Having started public life as a teacher and lawyer, he was drawn to politics with the birth of the Indian National CongressIndian 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...
in State . The end of the Nivarthana agitation and the gradual growth of the State Congress, accelerated Sankar’s rise as a political leader. He participated in the freedom struggle and was arrested and put in jail. After India’s independence he focused his attention on strengthening the Congress party.
Later, taking a break from the Congress party, he began to work in the SNDP Yogam. His work during this period served a great deal to bring backward class communities into the fold of the Congress party. During his long association with the SNDP Yogam of over 13 years, he served the Yogam as its General Secretary, President and Chief of the SN Trust. Under his leadership the SNDP Yogam gave emphasis to the field of education and started many educational institutions. Sankar returned to the State Congress at a crucial juncture, when it was going through one of its worst periods. His organising skills and leadership qualities became evident in the election held after independence. He was elected to the Travancore
Travancore
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...
Assembly in 1948. He also became a member of the Travancore-Cochin Assembly from 1949 to 1956. Sankar was a member of the Constituent Assembly and also a member of the Franchise and Delimitation Commission and the Reforms Committee constituted after the introduction of the Responsible Government.
He led the Congress party as KPCC
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee is the unit of the Indian National Congress - the world's largest political organization -working in the state of Kerala. Its head office is situated at Trivandrum ....
President during the Vimochana Samaram(Liberation Struggle). The Congress won the elections in 1960 under Sankar’s leadership and he became the Deputy Chief Minister in the Pattom Thanupillai ministry. He handled Finance portfolio from 1960 to 1962. When Pattom Thanupillai has resigned, Sankar became the Chief Minister of 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....
from September 26, 1962 to September 10, 1964. He brought about many economic reforms while handling the finance portfolio. He served as the Chairman of the Committee of Privileges from 1960 to 1964. He was also the editor of a newspaper called Dinamony. His wife was Lekshmikutty Amma and they have one son and one daughter. Sankar died at the age of 63 on November 6, 1972. The Assembly paid its homage to him on November 13, 1972.