Kailash Nath Katju Biography 
Kailash Nath Katju was a prominent Congress politician from 20th century who served as 3rd Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh during the period 1957-1962. He also served as Governor of Orissa and West Bengal, Union Home Minister and the Union Defence Minister in his political journey. Kailash is widely regarded to be one of the prominent lawyers of his period, during British rule in India. He lived during the period, 17 June 1887 – 17 February 1968.
Many of his family members are closely related to law and order and politics, and serves in many elite positions of Indian administration, politics and judiciary. His son Brahma Nath Katju was a Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court. His second son Shiva Nath Katju was a famous lawyer who served as judge at Allahabad high court and politician associated with Congress. His grandson Markandey Katju served as a Judge at the Supreme Court of India, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Madras High Court and as acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court.
He was born on 17 June 1887 in Jaora in present-day Madhya Pradesh. He was born into a rich family of Kashmiri Pandits. His father Tribhuwan Nath Katju served as Diwan of princely state Jaora. His family later moved to Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh where it flourished in the field of law and order, and also active politics. Primary education of Kailash Nath Katju was completed at Joara and he moved to Lahore for higher studies. He completed his matriculation in Panjab University and continued his studies in Lahore. In 1907 he completed LLB from Allahabad University.
He started practicing in law in Kanpur, and later shifted to Allahabad. He joined Allahabad High Court as an advocate in 1921. After Indian independence, he was fully active in politics. He became the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in 1957, and also served as Governor of Orissa and West Bengal before his death in 1968 following kidney ailments, aged 80.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 13, 2018
