C. Achutha Menon
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C. Achutha Menon | |
---|---|
Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly | |
In office 1952–1953 | |
Personal details | |
Born | British India | 13 January 1913
Died | 16 August 1991 Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India | (aged 78)
Political party | Communist Party of India |
Spouse | Ammini Amma |
Children | Sathi, Radha, Ramankutty |
Residence(s) | Thrissur, Kerala |
Alma mater | Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram |
As of 26 January, 2009 Source: Legislators of Kerala |
Chelat Achutha Menon (13 January 1913 – 16 August 1991) was an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the 4th Chief Minister of Kerala from November 1969 to August 1970 and again from October 1970 to 1977. He is viewed as one of the most influential Chief Ministers of Kerala.[1]
Personal life
He was born in a
Education
Being a brilliant student, he studied on merit scholarship throughout his student life, and stood first in the SSLC examination in the then State of
Political life
Achutha Menon started his political career by associating himself with the State Congress, and actively took part in the Congress meeting held at
Legislative career
Achutha Menon was elected to the Travancore-Cochin State Legislature while "underground" in 1952. When Kerala became a separate state in 1956, Achutha Menon prepared a pamphlet in which he beautifully expressed his dreams of future Kerala. The pamphlet titled "Towards a more prosperous and plentiful Kerala", became the manifesto of the Communist Party in the general elections held in 1957. The election witnessed the political victory of the Communist Party, and Kerala became the second state in the world in which the communist party came to power through the ballot paper. Achutha Menon also became elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly, thus becoming the first Finance & Agricultural Minister of Kerala in the Ministry headed by E.M.S. Namboodirippad in 1957. He presented the first Budget of Kerala state on 7 June 1957. As the so-called Vimochanasamaram (Liberation Struggle) gained momentum the Home Minister was found unfit to handle the situation and was divested of the crucial portfolio which then was handed over to Menon. He was again elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1960. Menon also became a member of the Rajyasabha during 1968–69.
Election | Constituency | Result | Majority |
---|---|---|---|
1957 | Irinjalakuda | Won | 2660 |
1960 | Irinjalakuda | Won | 361 |
1970 | Kottarakkara | Won | 26063 |
1970 | Kodakara | Won | 3151 |
Split of Communist Party
During the Communist Party split, he continued to remain with the CPI. The political instability during the late sixties had paved the way for a realignment in coalition politics, which had far-reaching implication on the political history of the state. He was elected as the State Secretary of C.P.I. too, many times, and was also a member of the National Council of the C.P.I.
Chief Minister of Kerala
In the
It was under his stewardship that Kerala signed on to continue with the Mullaperiar Dam agreement with Tamil Nadu, as a part of reviewing the pre-independence agreement between the Kingdom of Travancore and the Madras Presidency. Experts on the subject believe this agreement frittered away the interests of Kerala and became the prime reason for the unenviable situation that Kerala finds itself in today in the Mullaperiar issue. He was not a member of the Kerala Assembly then but subsequently got elected from
Achutha Menon retired from active politics in 1977. He suffered multiple health problems during the final years of his life. He died on 16 August 1991, aged 78, at Sree Chithira Thirunal Hospital in
Developmental works
He started a lot of institutions for industrialization and inclusive development of Kerala. More than 50 institutions in the fields of science, technology, public health, planning, housing, education, social sciences, geology, forest protection, water management, environment conservation and so on were started.
In the fields of social sciences, research, environment and technology institutions such as Centre for Development Studies, Electronic Research and Development Center (C-DAC Trivandrum), Regional Research Laboratory, National Centre for Earth Science Studies, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) were set up during his tenure as chief minister of Kerala. [7]
He pioneered industrial development in Kerala by helping K. P. P. Nambiar set up Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (KELTRON) in 1973. He was instrumental in bringing Apollo Tyres company to Kerala.[8] The two specialised universities of the state namely the Kerala Agricultural University and Cochin University of Science and Technology were started during his tenure. In the field of health care Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum was started during his ministry.
The Kerala State Planning Board, constituted by Second Namboodiripad Ministry was strengthened during his period as the chairperson.
The most controversial and discussed decision he has made is the renewal of the Mullaperiyar dam lease contract with Tamil Nadu for 999 years. This decision was denied by two of the Chief Ministers before his tenure as the Chief Minister of Kerala. Tamil Nadu still leads and won the legal battle against the Kerala Government's poor plea on the matter in the Supreme Court with the backup of the lease deed signed by him. This puts his clean image in the shadow of disgrace by the Kerala people worrying about their security.
In 1985, a non-profit organisation named Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development (COSTFORD) was formed by him along with K. N. Raj and Laurie Baker.[9]
Literary works
A talented writer, Shri. Achutha Menon had authored many books. He wrote many books and articles, mostly related to Marxism, Communism and Indian History. He also translated H.G. Wells' "Brief History of the World" into Malayalam. "Soviet Land", "Kissan Padha Pusthakam", "Keralam – Prasnangalum Sadhyadhakalum", "Smaranayude Edukal", and "Manushyan Swayam Nirmikkunnu" (Translation) are his other famous works. Along with those, he has contributed many noteworthy articles in newspapers and periodicals.
See also
References
- ^ "A Brief Biographical Sketch of C.Achutha Menon".
- ^ "KERALA c Achutha Menon :: STATE OF KERALA :: The Ultimate Destination of Kerala Information". stateofkerala.in. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ Kerala Legislature. "Members – Kerala Legislature". niyamasabha.org. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ISSN 0012-9976.
- ^ "KERALA-One Lakh Houses Scheme". Economic and Political Weekly. 11 (16): 7–8. 5 June 2015.
- ^ "Emergency in Kerala: The trains ran on time, young students like P Rajan were killed". www.dailyo.in. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "The C. Achutha Menon Government: An Effective Template Against (...) - Mainstream". www.mainstreamweekly.net. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "How ex CM Achutha Menon kickstarted Kerala's tryst with tyres". The News Minute. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
Further reading
- Chief Ministers, Ministers, and Leaders of Opposition of Kerala (PDF), Thiruvananthapuram: Secratriat of Kerala Legislature, 2018