Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai (died 1969) was a freedom fighter during the British Raj in India and was a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) which fought against the British rule in India. He was the first Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin at the time of its formation in 1949.[1]
"Parur TK" as he was fondly called was born in North Paravur, Kerala, India. He was educated at the Union Christian College in Alwaye, Ernakulam district and earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1911. He became the thaluk president of the INC, North Paravur unit, in 1924 and then went on to become the Travancore-Cochin secretary of the INC in 1932, and its president in 1938. He was a founding member of the Travancore State Congress.
After India gained independence from Britain in 1947, and the King of Travancore acceded to join the Indian union upon the request of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was India's then Home minister, Parur TK, became the first chief minister of the newly formed Travancore-Cochin state under the union of India. His successes in the state of Travancore-Cochin is attributed to a lot of men who were his staunch supporters, among them his personal secretary, the famous freedom fighter from Karikkakom in Thiruvananthapuram, Karikkakom S. Narayana Pillai. He was unanimously elected the leader of the Congress Legislature Party and he assumed charge as the Chief Minister (Premier) from 1 July 1949.
Annie Mascarene, health minister, who had resigned in Jan. 1950 as part of a move to reduce the number of ministers, accused E. John Philipose, minister for public works, of corruption. Parur TK stood by Philipose, but Panampilly Govinda Menon, education minister, insisted that Philipose resign. In this circumstance, Parur TK forwarded the resignation of the entire cabinet to the Rajpramukh on 1 March 1951. (Philipose filed a defamation suit against Mascarene at the High court; this was transferred to Madras High court at Mascarene's request, where Philipose was cleared of scandal and Mascarene was found guilty as charged.)
Parur TK became the food, labour and education minister during the next ministry which was headed by C. Kesavan, but it was short-lived as he resigned from that post on 5 September 1951 because of differences with the Chief minister.
One contentious issue during his tenure was the investigation into the burning of the famous Swami Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala during off season, and his refusal to make the report public citing communal riots in the event doing so.
He stood for the Parliament of India in the elections of 1952 but lost the Chirayankil constituency in Thiruvananthapuram district. After his defeat, Parur TK retired from politics and devoted his time to writing. He was bed ridden for a few years with arthritis until his death.
The playback singer Sujatha Mohan is his granddaughter.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Pattom A. Thanu Pillai |
Chief minister of Travancore 1948–1949 |
Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by none |
Chief minister of Travancore-Cochin 1949–1951 |
Succeeded by C. Kesavan |