C. Kesavan

May 23, 2018

A commemorative postage stamp on the birth anniversary of C. Kesavan, 2^nd Chief Minister of Travancore–Cochin (Thiru–Kochi) (1950-52) :

Issued by India

Issued on May 23, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on C. Kesavan.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 600000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : C. Kesavan

Born on 23 May, 1891 at Mayyanad, Kollam district, Kerala, India

Died on 7 Jul, 1969 at Mayyanad, Kollam district, Kerala, India

About :

C. Kesavan was born at Mayyanad in Quilon. He graduated from University College, Trivandrum and took his law degree from Law College, Trivandrum. He was a prominent freedom fighter who organised, guided and led the struggle for the independence of India and was the chief architect of the liberation of Travancore State from the clutches of monarchy.
After obtaining BA and BL degrees, he started legal practice at Kollam. He imbibed the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru, the great sage and social revolutionary and was gradually attracted to the dynamic philosophy of Gandhiji. As a man of the masses, he admired the radical economic and political teachings of Karl Marx also. Serving as the general secretary of the social organisation Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, he gave a new momentum to the social and political struggles in the state.
C. Kesavan briefly worked as a school teacher. His political career began in 1932 as the undisputed leader of Abstention Movement (Nivarthana Agitation). As a leader of this Movement, which later shaped the struggle for Independence in this part of the country, he entered mainstream politics through the State Congress. He invited the severe wrath of the rulers while serving as the general secretary of All Travancore Joint Political Congress. He was arrested at Alleppey on June 6, 1935, tried for sedition, sentenced to imprisonment and fined and confined to Central Prison, Thiruvananthapuram. He made an epoch-making speech in Kozhenchery in 1935 which was a turning point in his career and a milestone in shaping the destiny of modern Kerala. C. Kesavan was arrested and imprisoned in Central Jail, Poojappura, Trivandrum. Later released, he was given a rousing reception at Kidangaparambu, Alappuzha. With the establishment of Travancore State Congress in 1938, the stormy political life of C. Kesavan had begun. Later, he courted arrest frequently and became a regular visitor to Poojappura Central Prison in Trivandrum. He had to again undergo imprisonment from August 29, 1942 for one year for taking part in the Quit India Movement.
In the first election held after Independence he was elected to the Travancore Legislative Assembly and became a Minister in the Pattom Thanu Pillai Ministry in 1948 and held the portfolio of Health & Forest. By opening the Medical College in Trivandrum and legislating the bill for minimum wages of labourers, C. Kesavan displayed a model to Kerala society. However, he resigned after a few months. Subsequently, he was again elected to the Assembly and became the Chief Minister of Travancore State on February 28, 1951. Afterwards, even though he was elected to the Assembly once again in 1952, he retired from active public life after a few years and spent the last phase of his life at his home town Mayyanad in Quilon till his death on July 7, 1969.
C. Kesavan was also a pioneering journalist; he launched one of the first daily newspapers in Malayalam: Kaumudi. He was a singer, actor and writer who penned one of the classic autobiographies in literary history: Jeevitha Samaram (Life Struggles).
A Kerala icon, former Chief Minister of erstwhile Travancore-Cochin, leader of freedom movement, founding father of Travancore State Congress, architect of modern Kerala, hero of Abstention Movement; C. Kesavan was an outstanding social reformer of avowed commitment who revolutionized the society of Kerala with his trademark honesty, humility and inexorable determination. Known for fierce independence of thought, outlook and action, C. Kesavan’s brilliant and coercive oratory moved millions in their pursuit for political independence and social regeneration.
Text : Based on the information received from proponent.