K.M. Chandy
Encyclopedia
Prof. K.M. Chandy was an eminent English professor, leading politician and able administrator during the independence struggle and post-independence India. After demonstrating his leadership abilities during the freedom struggle, he became a notable member of the state and central government administration and continued his social participation as state Governors for Pondicherry, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
. During his active years, he contributed significantly to the Co-operative movement and Trade Unionism that were emerging and nourished during the early years of independent India. He was also involved heavily in raising the stakes of agricultural products of Kerala in the international markets especially that of natural rubber.
. He completed his Master of Arts in English language and literature with honours from Thiruvananthapuram
in 1942.
While he was 17 years and studying for 'intermediate' in SB College, he entered politics by leading a students' strike protestin the lathi
charge on students at Thiruvananthapuram who had cheered the activities of State Congress leaders. As a result, he was among the few who were expelled from the college. A mass satyagraha
was conducted at the college gates to effect their unconditional taking back to the student rolls.
During his studies at Thiruvananthapuram, he was instrumental in forming the 'Tagore Academy' under the leadership of Gandhian stalwart G. Ramachandran
. The academy was banned by the government in 1942 on accounts of activising the nationalist movement amongst students and others from young generation.
Early in 1946, while working as Secretary, Meenachil
Taluk Congress Committee, the State Government, through a prohibitory order banned his participation in any political activity. This did not deter him from his active association in the freedom movement. He was arrested in July 1946 and when the High Court granted him bail, he was detained under the Defence of India Act and kept in prison till the end of September 1947, even more than a month after India's Independence.
He was elected unanimously to the State Legislature after Independence at the age of 26 and he was re-elected in 1952 and 1954. He was the Chief Whip of the Congress Party in the State Assembly and a Member of the first State Planning Board. He was also a Member on the first State Minimum Wages Advisory Board which recommended minimum wages for most of the industries. He organised and led a number of Trade Unions even before the advent of the INTUC called "THOZHILALI" in support of his Trade Union activities.
He was President of the District Congress Committee from 1953 to 1957. General Secretary of the K.P.C.C. from 1963 to 1967 and Treasurer of the K.P.C.C. from 1967 to 1972. He was Member of the K.P.C.C. from 1948 onwards and a Member of the All India Congress Committee from 1963 onwards. In January, 1978, he resigned from the Chairmanship of the Rubber Board and became the President of the K.P.C.C. He took up the challenging task of building up the image of the Congress in Kerala when many had deserted Mrs. Gandhi.
The first Youth Congress Unit was started by him in the year 1953 and attended the first All India Convention of youth Congress held at Avadi, Madras in January, 1957. Also, the present students organisation in Kerala owes much to Shri Chandy for the ideological orientation and organisational leadership that he gave it in the formative stage.
Chandy was mainly responsible for the establishment and growth of many big co-operative institutions in Kerala. As President of the Meenachil Taluka Co-operative Union for over two decades from 1949, he helped the establishment of a large number of co-operative banks and service societies. He founded the Meenachil
Co-operative Land Mortgage Bank and was its President for over a decade. He was also the Founder of the Palai Co-operative Marketing Society and was also the Founder of the Palai Co-operative Marketing Society and was its President till 1972 when he became the Chairman of the Rubber Board. He has also served as Director of the Kottayam
District Co-operative Bank, Kerala State Co-operative Bank and Kerala State Marketing Federation. The Kerala State Rubber Marketing Federation was founded by him in 1971.
Hailing from a family of farmers, he was always keenly interested in agrarian problems and championed the cause of the agriculturists. Hence he was appointed by the Government in 1962 as member of the Committee to examine the problems of the settlers in Government forest lands. His report was well appreciated by all sections.
He founded the Indian Rubber Growers Association in 1966 and was its President till he became the Chairman of the Rubber Board. He became a Member of the Rubber Board in 1968 representing small growers and was elected its Vice-Chairman in 1971. Later, the Government of India appointed him as Chairman of the Rubber Board in March 1972. During his tenure from 1972 to 1978, he has made significant contributions for the development of rubber plantations and rubber industry. Vast developments in rubber research in India have been initiated by him. The world Bank Project in Rubber was initiated, planned and finally successfully negotiated by him. The present B. Tech. Course in rubber technology in the Cochin University is his brain child. It was at his instance that India joined the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries and started playing an important role in the International Rubber community. He led a large number of delegations from India to conferences of International Rubber Study Group, Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries, International Rubber Research Development Board held at London, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, etc. from 1972 to 1978. He also visited Washington to negotiate the World Bank Project in Rubber. He also held the Office of the Chairman, Cardamom Board during 1974-76 and it was during his Chairmanship research in Cardamom plantation was started by the Board.
He took teaching in 1950 at St. Thomas College, Palai which he helped to establish. He became the Post-graduate Professor in English in 1968 but gave up the post in 1972 to become the Chairman of the Rubber Board. He was a Member of the Senate of the University of Kerala, General Council of the Kerala Agricultural University and Member of various Academic bodies of Kerala and Cochin Universities. He played a very prominent role in organizing the All Kerala Private College Teachers Association bringing under one banner teachers working in various Universities in Kerala. It was during his Presidentship of the Association from 1969 to 1972, the two major settlements benefitting teachers in private Colleges viz., the parity of pay with Government College teachers and direct payment by Government to the teachers of private Colleges were made.
He took over of as Lt. Governor of Pondicherry on 15 th May, 1982 and took over charge as Governor of Gujarat on August 6, 1983. He remained on this post till 25.04.1984.
Soon after this tenure he was appointed as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh
state on 15 May 1984 and continued in that position till the 30th of March, 1989.
He was married to Mariakutty in the year 1939. He had eight sons and two daughters.
His death was on 7 September 1998.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
. During his active years, he contributed significantly to the Co-operative movement and Trade Unionism that were emerging and nourished during the early years of independent India. He was also involved heavily in raising the stakes of agricultural products of Kerala in the international markets especially that of natural rubber.
Biography
Prof. Kizhakethil Mathayi Chandy was born on 6 August 1921 at Palai in Kottayam district of Kerala. He completed his school education in his home town and then continued on to St. Berchmans CollegeSt. Berchmans College
St.Berchmans' College Changanassery also known as S. B. College, is one of the most reputed Colleges in Kerala, India situated in the town of Changanassery 18 kilometers south of Kottayam. Established in 1922, the college has grown over the years into one of the leading colleges with thirteen...
. He completed his Master of Arts in English language and literature with honours from 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...
in 1942.
While he was 17 years and studying for 'intermediate' in SB College, he entered politics by leading a students' strike protestin the lathi
Lathi
Lathi means stick and also refers to an Indian martial art based on cane-fighting. The word is used in Hindi, Bengali and various other Indian languages. The lathi typically measures 6 to and may be tipped with metal. It commonly used as a crowd control device by the Indian Police and other South...
charge on students at Thiruvananthapuram who had cheered the activities of State Congress leaders. As a result, he was among the few who were expelled from the college. A mass satyagraha
Satyagraha
Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth satya agraha soul force" or "truth force" is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term "satyagraha" was conceived and developed by Mahatma...
was conducted at the college gates to effect their unconditional taking back to the student rolls.
During his studies at Thiruvananthapuram, he was instrumental in forming the 'Tagore Academy' under the leadership of Gandhian stalwart G. Ramachandran
G. Ramachandran
G. Ramachandhran was a soldier for the Gandhian cause, social reformer and a teacher. With his wife, Dr. Soundram Ramachandhran, daughter of T V Sundaram Iyengar, founder of TVS Group, he started the Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu in 1945. He authored several books...
. The academy was banned by the government in 1942 on accounts of activising the nationalist movement amongst students and others from young generation.
Early in 1946, while working as Secretary, Meenachil
Meenachil
Meenachil is the name of the north-eastern region of Kottayam district in Kerala, south India. The name originates from Meenakshi the Dravidian goddess. Palai is the main town in Meenachil. The arterial river of the district is also named Meenachil...
Taluk Congress Committee, the State Government, through a prohibitory order banned his participation in any political activity. This did not deter him from his active association in the freedom movement. He was arrested in July 1946 and when the High Court granted him bail, he was detained under the Defence of India Act and kept in prison till the end of September 1947, even more than a month after India's Independence.
He was elected unanimously to the State Legislature after Independence at the age of 26 and he was re-elected in 1952 and 1954. He was the Chief Whip of the Congress Party in the State Assembly and a Member of the first State Planning Board. He was also a Member on the first State Minimum Wages Advisory Board which recommended minimum wages for most of the industries. He organised and led a number of Trade Unions even before the advent of the INTUC called "THOZHILALI" in support of his Trade Union activities.
He was President of the District Congress Committee from 1953 to 1957. General Secretary of the K.P.C.C. from 1963 to 1967 and Treasurer of the K.P.C.C. from 1967 to 1972. He was Member of the K.P.C.C. from 1948 onwards and a Member of the All India Congress Committee from 1963 onwards. In January, 1978, he resigned from the Chairmanship of the Rubber Board and became the President of the K.P.C.C. He took up the challenging task of building up the image of the Congress in Kerala when many had deserted Mrs. Gandhi.
The first Youth Congress Unit was started by him in the year 1953 and attended the first All India Convention of youth Congress held at Avadi, Madras in January, 1957. Also, the present students organisation in Kerala owes much to Shri Chandy for the ideological orientation and organisational leadership that he gave it in the formative stage.
Chandy was mainly responsible for the establishment and growth of many big co-operative institutions in Kerala. As President of the Meenachil Taluka Co-operative Union for over two decades from 1949, he helped the establishment of a large number of co-operative banks and service societies. He founded the Meenachil
Meenachil
Meenachil is the name of the north-eastern region of Kottayam district in Kerala, south India. The name originates from Meenakshi the Dravidian goddess. Palai is the main town in Meenachil. The arterial river of the district is also named Meenachil...
Co-operative Land Mortgage Bank and was its President for over a decade. He was also the Founder of the Palai Co-operative Marketing Society and was also the Founder of the Palai Co-operative Marketing Society and was its President till 1972 when he became the Chairman of the Rubber Board. He has also served as Director of the Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
District Co-operative Bank, Kerala State Co-operative Bank and Kerala State Marketing Federation. The Kerala State Rubber Marketing Federation was founded by him in 1971.
Hailing from a family of farmers, he was always keenly interested in agrarian problems and championed the cause of the agriculturists. Hence he was appointed by the Government in 1962 as member of the Committee to examine the problems of the settlers in Government forest lands. His report was well appreciated by all sections.
He founded the Indian Rubber Growers Association in 1966 and was its President till he became the Chairman of the Rubber Board. He became a Member of the Rubber Board in 1968 representing small growers and was elected its Vice-Chairman in 1971. Later, the Government of India appointed him as Chairman of the Rubber Board in March 1972. During his tenure from 1972 to 1978, he has made significant contributions for the development of rubber plantations and rubber industry. Vast developments in rubber research in India have been initiated by him. The world Bank Project in Rubber was initiated, planned and finally successfully negotiated by him. The present B. Tech. Course in rubber technology in the Cochin University is his brain child. It was at his instance that India joined the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries and started playing an important role in the International Rubber community. He led a large number of delegations from India to conferences of International Rubber Study Group, Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries, International Rubber Research Development Board held at London, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, etc. from 1972 to 1978. He also visited Washington to negotiate the World Bank Project in Rubber. He also held the Office of the Chairman, Cardamom Board during 1974-76 and it was during his Chairmanship research in Cardamom plantation was started by the Board.
He took teaching in 1950 at St. Thomas College, Palai which he helped to establish. He became the Post-graduate Professor in English in 1968 but gave up the post in 1972 to become the Chairman of the Rubber Board. He was a Member of the Senate of the University of Kerala, General Council of the Kerala Agricultural University and Member of various Academic bodies of Kerala and Cochin Universities. He played a very prominent role in organizing the All Kerala Private College Teachers Association bringing under one banner teachers working in various Universities in Kerala. It was during his Presidentship of the Association from 1969 to 1972, the two major settlements benefitting teachers in private Colleges viz., the parity of pay with Government College teachers and direct payment by Government to the teachers of private Colleges were made.
He took over of as Lt. Governor of Pondicherry on 15 th May, 1982 and took over charge as Governor of Gujarat on August 6, 1983. He remained on this post till 25.04.1984.
Soon after this tenure he was appointed as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
state on 15 May 1984 and continued in that position till the 30th of March, 1989.
He was married to Mariakutty in the year 1939. He had eight sons and two daughters.
His death was on 7 September 1998.