Pattom A. Thanu Pillai

Pattom A. Thanu Pillai Biography

Pattom A. Thanu Pillai was the Chief Minister of Kerala from 22 February 1960 to 25 September 1962. He was a participant in the Indian independence movement from Thiruvananthapuram as well. He was Governor of Punjab from 1962 to 1964, and Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 1964 to 1968. Thus he served 7 years as Governor and two years later, he died on 27 July 1970. He was also a lawyer, administrator and politician by profession. Pattom A. Thanu Pillai played crucial role in drafting the constitution of India.

He was born to Varada Iyer and Eswari Amma in the year 1885, July 15 in Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. His place name has been added as tag to his original name. Thanu Pillai completed his studies and earned a degree in law. He started practising as a lawyer as well. But very soon he got attracted towards Indian freedom struggle movement and abandoned his career in favour of involvement in the Indian National Congress. He became leader of Congress in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.

In 1946 he was appointed as the member of the constituent assembly of India. Sir C.P. left Travancore on August 19, 1947. After that, before the birth of Kerala state in 1956, Pattom A. Thanu Pillai Prime Minister of Travancore from March 24, 1948 to October 22, 1948. As a PSP member Pillai became Chief Minister of Thiru-Kochi (or Travancore-Cochin) from March 16, 1954 to February 14, 1955. After Vimochana Samaram (Liberation Struggle) held against the bad administrative principles of first elected ministry, Communist-led government subsequently collapsed. Elections were held once again in 1960 Pillai became the second Chief Minister of Kerala, as head of a PSP-Congress coalition administration. In 1962, he was appointed as the governor of Punjab. Pattom A. Thanu Pillai was married to Ponnamma Thanu Pillai and their daughter’s name is Lalithambika. Pattom A. Thanu Pillai passed away on July 27, 1970.

Published: N/A

Updated: November 19, 2013