Ambat Ravunni Menon (1886-1960), popularly known as Dr. A. R. Menon, was a politician and a doctor from

Thrissur Thrissur (, ), Renaming of cities in India, formerly Trichur, also known by its historical name Thrissivaperur, is a city and the headquarters of the Thrissur district in Kerala, India. It is the List of most populous urban agglomerations in Ke ...

City in

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. He was the first Minister of Health in Kerala and the Chairman of

Municipality. He was the first MLA from Thrissur Assembly Constituency to

Kerala Legislative Assembly The Kerala Legislative Assembly, popularly known as the Kerala Niyamasabha, is the State Assembly of Kerala, one of the 30 states in India. The Assembly is formed by 140 elected representatives. Each elected member represents one of the 140 ...

in 1957.

Life

Menon was born on 6 April 1886 in Chittur, then a part of the erstwhile Kingdom of Kochi and currently in Palakkad district. He completed school, college and medical education (MBBS from Madras medical college & FRCP from London) with high marks and worked in England as a surgeon for almost fourteen years, Menon returned to India during the time of

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and was active in social field even while continuing his practice as a doctor. The role played by Menon during Malabar Riot was highly appreciated in all sections of the society. He always kept his interest in people's interests from a young age. He was a member of Cochin Legislative Assembly from 1925 to 1945. During this period, he was the Minister for Rural Development for five years. He also served as the Chairman of

and

Palakkad Palakkad (), Renaming of cities in India, also known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery, is a city and a municipality in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of P ...

municipalities. He was also a member of

Madras University The University of Madras is a public university, public State university (India), state university in Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 1857, it is one of the oldest and most prominent universities in India, incorporated by an ...

Senate and A.I.C.C. He was also the first minister in Independent India who resigned due to no-confidence motion. Menon later resigned from Congress, and contested as an Independent candidate. After the formation of Travancore-Cochin state, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1954. In the elections which followed the formation of the current Kerala state, he was elected from Thrissur constituency by defeating K. Karunakaran, then a Trade Union (

INTUC The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) is a National trade union center, national trade union centre in India. Founded on 3 May 1947, it is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation. The INTUC claims a membership of ...

) leader, who later grew up as a stalwart politician, and served as the Chief Minister of Kerala. He was one of the three Independent members in the first elected Communist Ministry in Asia headed by E. M. S. Namboothirippad, along with V. R. Krishna Iyer and Joseph Mundassery. Menon was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly in the second Legislative Assembly elections in 1960 from the erstwhile Parali constituency. He died in office on 9 October 1960 aged 74 after multiple health issues. He was cremated with full state honours in his home premises.

References

1886 births 1960 deaths Malayali politicians Indian National Congress politicians from Kerala Politicians from Thrissur Kerala MLAs 1957–1959 Kerala MLAs 1960–1964 {{Kerala-INC-politician-stub