T. Sankunni Menon
Thottakattu Sankunni Menon CSI | |
---|---|
Diwan of Cochin | |
In office 1860–1879 | |
Monarch | Ravi Varma IV, Rama Varma XIV |
Preceded by | Venkata Rayar |
Succeeded by | T. Govindan Menon |
Thottakattu Sankunni Menon CSI, also spelt as Shungoony Menon, was an Indian civil servant and administrator who served as the Diwan of the Cochin kingdom from 1860 to 1879. His administration is recognized as a period of development. Sankunni Menon's brother T. Govindan Menon also served as Diwan from 1879 to 1889.
Early life
Sankunni Menon was the eldest son of Sankara Warrier who had served as the Diwan of Cochin kingdom till 1856.[1]
Early career
Sankunni Menon began his career as a civil servant in the Cochin kingdom. He was soon appointed DIwan Peishkar of Kottayam. In 1860, he became the Diwan of Cochin kingdom.
Diwan
As Diwan, Sankunni Menon was responsible for innumerable social and administrative reforms in the kingdom. He entirely revamped the judicial administration in the kingdom and established munsiff courts in all the taluks.
Sankunni Menon was brought reforms in non-judicial spheres as well. The Ernakulam Public Library was opened on January 1, 1870 and the Trichur Public Library in 1873. On his retirement in 1879 due to failing health, the monarch Rama Varma wrote to him
We shall lose in you a safe and prudent administrator, and it will be a constant regret that the conduct of affairs will no longer be guided by your wise and sagacious counsels. We fully realize that during your term of office the country has made vast progress in material prosperity; the resources of the land have remarkably developed; commerce and agriculture have been widely extended; and the revenue has attained to an amount that is the highest on record
Honours
For his services to the British Empire, Sankunni Menon was made a Companion of the Order of the Star of India.
Notes
- ↑ Penny, F. E.; Lady Lawley (1914). Southern India. A. C. Black. p. 368.
References
- Chelnat Achyuta Menon (1923). The life of T. Sankunnimenon, Diwan of Cochin, 1860-79. V. Sundra Iyer.