Rajyasevapraveena G. Parameswaran Pillai
Encyclopedia
G. Parameswaran Pillai (1890–1963), also known as "GP", was the Chief Secretary and Officiating Dewan
of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom in pre-Independent India. He started his career as a lawyer
, and later became Judge of the Court of Travancore, before joining the administration. The Maharaja
of Travancore
eventually conferred on him the title of Rajyasevapraveena.
His contributions to the State of Travancore and later to India
are numerous. He was considered an authority on constitutional matters and was deputed to India's Round Table Conference in London in 1930, as a constitutional expert in the delegation led by Mahatma Gandhi
and Dewan Bahadur T. Raghaviah, the Adviser for Madras States. He served as Post-War Reconstruction Officer following several years of service as Chief Secretary. He negotiated with the Federal Government, working closely with Sardar Patel
and V.P. Menon
, on behalf of Travancore to finalise the Instrument of Accession. After India won Independence, he served as independent India's first Trade Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand
(the Trade Commissioner position was later changed to that of the High Commissioner
).
He served as one of the first Directors on the Board of Governors of the Reserve Bank of India
and founded the Co-operative Bank. His service on administrative reforms committee set up by the State Government is well recognized. He also served on educational committees set up by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
, working in close association with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
, Dr. Zakir Husain
, Rao Bahadur
Krishnamachari, Honourable Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
et al.
Dewan
The originally Persian title of dewan has, at various points in Islamic history, designated various differing though similar functions.-Etymology:...
of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom in pre-Independent India. He started his career as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and later became Judge of the Court of Travancore, before joining the administration. The Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
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...
eventually conferred on him the title of Rajyasevapraveena.
His contributions to the State of Travancore and later to 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...
are numerous. He was considered an authority on constitutional matters and was deputed to India's Round Table Conference in London in 1930, as a constitutional expert in the delegation led by Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and Dewan Bahadur T. Raghaviah, the Adviser for Madras States. He served as Post-War Reconstruction Officer following several years of service as Chief Secretary. He negotiated with the Federal Government, working closely with Sardar 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...
and V.P. Menon
V. P. Menon
Vappala Pangunni Menon CIS CIE , also known as V. P. Menon, was an Indian civil servant who played a vital role during the partition of India and the integration of independent India, from the period 1945-1950....
, on behalf of Travancore to finalise the Instrument of Accession. After India won Independence, he served as independent India's first Trade Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
(the Trade Commissioner position was later changed to that of the High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
).
He served as one of the first Directors on the Board of Governors of the Reserve Bank of India
Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India is the central banking institution of India and controls the monetary policy of the rupee as well as US$300.21 billion of currency reserves. The institution was established on 1 April 1935 during the British Raj in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of...
and founded the Co-operative Bank. His service on administrative reforms committee set up by the State Government is well recognized. He also served on educational committees set up by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, working in close association with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Maulana Abul Kalam Muhiyuddin Ahmed was an Indian Muslim scholar and a senior political leader of the Indian independence movement, who lived from 11 November 1888 – 22 February 1958. He was one of the most prominent Muslim leaders to support Hindu-Muslim unity, opposing the partition of India on...
, Dr. Zakir Husain
Zakir Hussain (politician)
Dr. Zakir Hussain , was the third President of India from 13 May 1967 until his death on 3 May 1969. He was the first elected Muslim president of India....
, Rao Bahadur
Rao Bahadur
Rao Bahadur was a title of honour issued in British India to individuals who had performed great service to the nation....
Krishnamachari, Honourable Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
Dame Rajkumari Amrit Kaur DStJ was the health minister in the Indian Cabinet for ten years after India's independence from the British Raj in 1947. She was an eminent Gandhian, a freedom fighter, and a social activist....
et al.