Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai (1898-1969) was a social reformer, politician and freedom fighter from

Kollam Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the List of cities and towns in Kerala, fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake ...

in erstwhile

Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...

. An upper caste by birth, who worked for upliftment of lower Caste, spreading modern education and

democratization Democratization, or democratisation, is the structural government transition from an democratic transition, authoritarian government to a more democratic political regime, including substantive political changes moving in a democratic direction ...

. He was the president of

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee is the state unit of the Indian National Congress in Kerala. It is responsible for organizing and coordinating the party's activities and campaigns within the state, as well as selecting candidates for local, s ...

from 1949-1951 and one of the leaders of

Vimochana Samaram The Liberation Struggle in Kerala (1958–59) was a period of anti-communist protest against the first elected state government in Kerala, led by E. M. S. Namboodiripad of the Communist Party of India. Organised opposition to the government w ...

. He was also the founder and first president of

Panmana Panmana is a village in Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. Demographics As of the 2011 Indian census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating popula ...

Ashramam made in commemoration of

Chattampi Swamikal Ayyappan Pillai (born 25 August 1853 – 5 May 1924), better known as Chattampi Swamikal was a Hindu sage and social reformer whose thoughts and work influenced the launching of many social, religious, literary and political organisations and ...

Life

Sanku Pillai was born at Prakkulam,

in a Nair landlord family named Thottuvayalil Bungalow on 15 February 1898 and after his childhood he moved to

. He undertook various social reform activities like organizing inter-caste-dining and facilitating temple entry for back ward castes at two temples near Panmana even before the

Temple Entry Proclamation The Temple Entry Proclamation was issued by Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma on November 12, 1936. The Proclamation abolished the ban on the backward and marginalised communities, from entering Hindu temples in the Princely State of ...

of 1936. He was a disciple of

and invited the saint to

in his late years of life. After

passed away, by 1938 Pillai established the Panmana Ashramam to propagate teachings of Swamikal. The relationship with

Barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include arguing cases in courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, jurisprud ...

A.K. Pillai brought Sanku Pillai into politics. He participated in struggles for responsible government in

. In the end of 1940's he was in forefront of protests against

Pattom Thanu Pillai Pattom A. Thanu Pillai (15 July 188527 July 1970) was an Indian politician and independence activist who served as the 2nd Chief Minister of Kerala from 1960 to 1962. He also served as the Governor of Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.He was considere ...

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...

members. In this period he rose up in ranks to the president of

. Sanku Pillai was also part of the

. He was also the founder of Devaswom board College,

Sasthamkotta Sasthamkotta or Sasthamcotta is a village in the Kunnathoor Tehsil of Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. Kunnathoor taluk headquarters is located at Sasthamkotta. The Sasthamkotta freshwater lake is the largest freshwater lake i ...

Popular art

The

autobiography An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life, providing a personal narrative that reflects on the author's experiences, memories, and insights. This genre allows individuals to share thei ...

of Sanku Pillai is ''Ente Kazhinjakaala Smaranakal.''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanku Pillai, Kumbalathu 1969 deaths Politicians from Kollam People from Kollam People from the Kingdom of Travancore Indian independence activists from Kerala Indian National Congress politicians from Kerala Malayali politicians 1898 births Presidents of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee

Life

Popular art

See also

References