T. M. Varghese

T. M. Varghese (1886–1961) was a freedom fighter, and statesman.

Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma issued a proclamation on 21 October 1932 to constitute a new system of legislature in Travancore. This came into effect on 1 January 1933. According to this order, the seats were divided among the community as given below: Community (Population (in ten thousands), No. of representatives in the Assembly):- Christians (160.4, 10); Ezhavas (86.9, 3); Nairs (86.8, 36); Other Hindus (47.9, 15); Muslims (35.3, 3) Low Caste (91.7, 1) Europeans (578 people, 2). Total population 5,090,000. Total seats in the Assembly 70.[1]

The government conceded the demands of the Joint Political Party to a certain extent by introducing communal reservation in appointments to the public service. On August 1936 a new constitution was promulgated and elections for the Travancore State Assembly were held during April–May, 1937. T. M. Varghese won the election as a candidate of the Joint Political Party. In the Sree Mulam Assembly he was elected as Deputy President, then the highest position achievable by open elections.

C. Kesavan, who was imprisoned in 1935, was released in 1937 after the elections. Welcoming Kesavan at Kollam and Alappuzha, Varghese said, "In the name of and on behalf of the 5.1 lakhs of people of Travancore, I accord with pleasure, a hearty welcome to the most-self sacrificing individual C. Kesavan."[2] The Dewan (the ex-officio President of the Sree Moolam Assembly) was furious and, following his directive, a no confidence motion was moved against Varghese. In the voting that followed, 42 supported the motion, 24 were against, and 2 abstained. Thus Varghese was removed from his position as Deputy President.

Varghese was the founder member of the Travancore State Congress party. He was the foremost leader of the (Responsible government Struggle) struggle against C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer, the Dewan of Travancore State. In 1947, when India gained independence, Travancore became a state of Indian union. In the first general election to the Travancore legislative assembly, Varghese was elected and became the Home Minister after Travancore and Cochin were unified. He was also the first Speaker of Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly. In 1951 again he became the home minister and in 1955 he quit from the politics. He died in 1961.

T. M. Varghese had 11 children.

References

  1. ↑ Saroja Sundararajan [2002] Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar- a biography, Page 293.
  2. ↑ Saroja Sundararajan [2002]. Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Aiyar- a biography, Page 147.

External links

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