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Pattom A. Thanu Pillai

Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
പട്ടം താണുപിള്ള
Pattom Thanu Pillai.jpg
4th Governor of Andhra Pradesh
In office
4 May 1964 – 11 April 1968
Preceded by Satyawant Mallannah Shrinagesh
Succeeded by Khandubhai Kasanji Desai
4th Governor of Punjab
In office
1 October 1962 – 4 May 1964
Preceded by Narahar Vishnu Gadgil
Succeeded by Hafiz Mohammad Ibrahim
2nd Chief Minister of Kerala
In office
22 February 1960 – 26 September 1962
Preceded by E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Succeeded by R. Sankar
4th Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin
In office
16 March 1954 – 10 February 1955
Preceded by A. J. John
Succeeded by Panampilly Govinda Menon
1st Premier of Travancore-Cochin
In office
24 March 1948 – 17 October 1948
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai
Personal details
Born (1885-07-15)15 July 1885
Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore
Died 27 July 1970(1970-07-27) (aged 85)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Political party Praja Socialist Party (PSP)
Spouse(s) Ponnamma Thanu Pillai
Children 1 daughter(Lalithambika)

Pattom Ayyar Thanu Pillai (15 July 1885 – 27 July 1970) was a participant in the Indian independence movement who later served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 22 February 1960 to 25 September 1962. He was known as the 'Bhishmacharya' of Kerala politics.

Born in Thiruvananthapuram, A.Thanu Pillai was the son of Varadaraja Ayyar and Eswari Amma. Thanu Pillai completed his studies and earned a degree in law. He had practised as a lawyer as well. But soon he got attracted towards Indian Freedom Struggle movement and abandoned his career in favour of involvement in the struggle and joined the Indian National Congress. He became the leader of Indian National Congress in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.

Pattom Thanu Pillai remained as one of the leaders of Indian National Congress during the period when Kingdom of Tranvancore became an Independent state and later mergered with Cochin to form Travancore-Cochin. On 3 June 1947, United Kingdom accepted demands for a partition and announced its intention to quit India within a short period. The Maharaja of Travancore desired to declare himself independent. Supported by the then Diwan, C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, Chithira Thirunal issued a declaration of independence on 18 June 1947. As Travancore's declaration of independence was unacceptable to India, negotiations were started with the Diwan by the Government of India. Family sources indicate that C. P., himself, was not in favour of independence but only greater autonomy and that a favourable agreement had been reached between C. P. and the Indian representatives by 23 July 1947 and accession to the Indian Union could not be carried out only because it was pending approval by the Raja. Nevertheless, an assassination attempt was made on C. P. on 25 July 1947 during a concert commemorating the anniversary of Swati Thirunal. C. P. survived with multiple stab wounds and hastened the accession of Travancore state to the Indian Union soon after his recovery.

After the accession of Travancore state to the Indian Union, P. G. N. Unnithan took over as the last Diwan of independent Travancore on August 20, 1947 following C. P. Ramaswami Iyer resigning as Diwan (subsequent to the attempt on Sir CP's life at the Swathi Thirunal Music academy on July 25, 1947). P. G. N. Unnithan chaired the Travancore Constitutional Reforms Committee. He relinquished office on March 24, 1948 when a people's government led by Sri Pattom Thanu Pillai as Prime Minister took over. Pattom Thanu Pilla was the first Prime Minister of Independent Travancore state. He resigned as Prime Minister of Tranvacore on 17 October 1948. He was succeed by Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai as the second and last Prime Minister of Travancore. After India's independence in 1947, Travancore and Cochin were merged to form Travancore-Cochin on 1 July 1949. It was originally called United State of Travancore and Cochin with Trivandrum as the capital. It was renamed State of Travancore-Cochin in January 1950 and was recognised as a state. During merger of Travancore and Cochin E. Ikkanda Warrier was the Prime Minister of the state of Cochin. Warrier resigned as the last Prime Minister of the state of Cochin on 30 June 1949 helping the merger of the two states. Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai was unanimously elected the leader of the Congress Legislature Party and he assumed charge as the first Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin from 1 July 1949.


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