Mohan Kumaramangalam

Mohan Kumaramangalam Biography

Mohan Kumaramangalam was a politician from Tamil Nadu belonging to Communist party of India. He was also known as communist theorist. He has served as a member of Lok Sabha for Pondicherry from 1971 to 1972. He was born as the son of P. Subbarayan, a noted politician, freedom fighter and diplomat who has served as the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency. His mother, Radhabai Subbarayan was a politician, women's rights activist and social reformer. His elder brother, Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam was the 7th Chief of Staff of the Indian Army who served during the period 1967–1970 and has been honoured with Padma Vibhushan by Indian government in 1970 for his military service. His son Rangarajan Kumaramangalam was an active politician who has served both Indian National Congress and BJP and daughter Lalitha Kumaramangalam is a member of national executive of Bharatiya Janata Party.

Mohan Kumaramangalam was born in London. He belonged to a zamindar family of Kumaramangalam of Salem district, Tamil Nadu. He was born as the third son of P. Subbarayan was a noted politician, freedom fighter. P. P. Kumaramangalam and Gopal Kumaramangalam were his elder brothers. Kumaramangalam was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. During this time he was deeply influenced by communism. Once his return to India in 1939, he participated in Indian freedom struggle movement. In 1941, he was arrested as a part of Madras Conspiracy Case. Once released, he served as the editor of the communist magazine, People's War, which he later renamed as ‘People’s age’.

After Indian independence, he participated in Communist party rebels in the state for which Kumaramangalam was arrested along with other communist leaders. He was later released. During 1960’s, he moved away from Communist party and later joined Indian National Congress in 1967. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Pondicherry in the 1971 elections and stood with Indira Gandhi. He served as the Minister of Steel and Mines from 1971 until his death in 1973 in an air crash.

Published: N/A

Updated: February 13, 2014