Panampilly Govinda Menon
Encyclopedia
Panampilly Govinda Menon (1 October 1906 – 23 May 1970) was an India
n politician, freedom fighter, and lawyer. He was born at Chalakudy
and started his lawyer practice there as a junior to Adv. M. C. Joseph (a rationalist). He was the first treasurer of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham
. He moved his practice to Ernakulam
afterwards. Later in the 1930s he became prominent in the politics of the Kingdom of Cochin
and served briefly as the Prime minister of Cochin state in 1947.
After the union of Travancore
and Cochin, he served as minister for education under Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai and minister for finance under A. J. John, Anaparambil
. He was the Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin
in 1955–1956, but resigned after provoking internal squabbling among his own party members. After the resignation, the state was ruled by Presidential decree for more than a year, and later he was defeated in the Assembly elections at Chalakudy in 1957 by C. G. Janardhanan of the Praja Socialist Party
. A. R. Menon (Communist Party), T. M. Varghese, Thandaneth (Congress), and Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
(PSP) worked against his candidature. This effectively resulted in his eviction from state politics.
He represented Mukundapuram (Lok Sabha constituency)
from 1962 till his death. In 1967, he was the lone Congress parliamentarian to get elected from Kerala. He became Union Minister for Law and Railways (1969–1970) and Minister of state for Food and Agriculture. He was also the political mentor of K. Karunakaran. In 2006, the birth centenary celebrations of Panampilly Govinda Menon were inaugurated by the then President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
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...
n politician, freedom fighter, and lawyer. He was born at Chalakudy
Chalakudy
Chalakudy is a municipal town situated on the banks of Chalakudy River in Thrissur District of the Kerala State in India. It is the base camp for travellers to Athirappilly and Vazhachal Falls...
and started his lawyer practice there as a junior to Adv. M. C. Joseph (a rationalist). He was the first treasurer of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham
Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham
Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham is a well known rationalist group based in Kerala, India. It stands for rationalism and dialectical materialism. It is the initiator of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations....
. He moved his practice to 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...
afterwards. Later in the 1930s he became prominent in the politics of the Kingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
and served briefly as the Prime minister of Cochin state in 1947.
After the union of 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...
and Cochin, he served as minister for education under Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai and minister for finance under A. J. John, Anaparambil
A. J. John, Anaparambil
Anaparambil Joseph John was an Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, and statesman. He was Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin and Governor of Madras....
. He was the 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....
in 1955–1956, but resigned after provoking internal squabbling among his own party members. After the resignation, the state was ruled by Presidential decree for more than a year, and later he was defeated in the Assembly elections at Chalakudy in 1957 by C. G. Janardhanan of the Praja Socialist Party
Praja Socialist Party
The Praja Socialist Party was an Indian political party in existence from 1952 to 1972. It was founded when the Socialist Party, led by Jayprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Deva and Basawon Singh , merged with the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party led by J.B. Kripalani...
. A. R. Menon (Communist Party), T. M. Varghese, Thandaneth (Congress), and Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
Pattom A. Thanu Pillai was a participant in the Indian independence movement who later served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 22 February 1960 to 25 September 1962....
(PSP) worked against his candidature. This effectively resulted in his eviction from state politics.
He represented Mukundapuram (Lok Sabha constituency)
Mukundapuram (Lok Sabha constituency)
Mukundapuram Lok Sabha constituency was a Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala state in southern India. It was dissolved in 2008.-Assembly segments:Mukundapuram Lok Sabha constituency was composed of the following legislative assembly segments:#Chalakudy#Mala...
from 1962 till his death. In 1967, he was the lone Congress parliamentarian to get elected from Kerala. He became Union Minister for Law and Railways (1969–1970) and Minister of state for Food and Agriculture. He was also the political mentor of K. Karunakaran. In 2006, the birth centenary celebrations of Panampilly Govinda Menon were inaugurated by the then President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Further reading
- History of Kerala Legislature at The Official Web Site of Government of KeralaGovernment of KeralaThe Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
- Panampilly Memorial Government College, Chalakudy
- L. V. Harikumar: Panampilly Govinda Menon: Charithravazhiyile Deepashikha - Biography, 2nd Edition published by Kerala State Institute of Languages, Thiruvananthapuram, ISBN- 978-81-7638-832-0