Kesava Pillai of Kandamath
|
M. R. Ry. Kesava Pillai of Kandamath |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Jenmi of Chenkal and Neyyattinkara | |
| Monarch | Ayilyam Thirunal Visakham Thirunal Sree Moolam Thirunal |
| Preceded by | Kanakku Chempakaraman Padmanabhan Mootha Pillai of Kandamath |
| Succeeded by | Neyyattinkara Padmanabha Pillai |
| Member of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly as Neyyattinkara |
|
| Succeeded by | Land reform in Kerala |
M. R. Ry. Chempakaraman Padmanabhan Kesava Pillai Avergal of Kandamath, a Pillai of Kandamath (1830–1924), was an Indian Zamindar, one of the jenmis of Travancore and a member of the first legislative body in the Indian subcontinent.
He was born in Vaikkom, Travancore, where his father, Brahmasree Neelakantan Namboodiripad was an ecclesiastical dignitary linked to the Vaikom Temple. His mother belonged to the family of feudatory Chiefs of Kandamath. (see Pillai and Ettuveetil Pillamar) He inherited Kandamath from his uncle, the previous Mootha Pillai of Kandamath, Kanakku Chempakaraman Padmanabhan. The Pillais of Kandamath settled Kandamath in medieval times. According to popular lore and family-papers called Kandamukhathu Madom Granthavari (collection of palm-leaf documents), they settled at Kandamath on the banks of the Neyyar in medieval times having originally been nobles from Kandiyoor Matom, cadet branch of the ancient line of Odanad rulers of Kayamkulam Kingdom who sought refuge in their kinsmen of the Travancore Court (see Odanad).
He was nominated for the seat of Neyyatinkara Taluk by the Maharajah in the newly formed Sree Mulam Council, representing his land-holdings. He took a liberal view on untouchability, minor crimes and punishment of the depressed classes. He initiated various reforms for the education and general upliftment of the working classes. He allotted land to the Anglican Church Mission to build and run a church school at Palli Potta in Chenkal, Neyyattinkara.
He was known for his vehement opposition to the changes to the Marumakkathayam Laws of Succession. Due to the support he had given to the conservative faction within the court of Travancore, he was considered an old-timer after having failed to convince the Government from pushing the reforms through. However, this was far from the truth. Although claiming absolute loyalty to the crown, he was a staunch liberal and saw these proposed changes as an erosion of the rights of the common man against the state. This legislation created the division of family property possible in the landed families and affected the hegemony of the Nambudiri Brahmins, Rajas and upper class aristocratic Jenmi families.
...
Wikipedia