Aiyappan Pillai

M. R. Ry. Kumar Aiyappan Pillai (born 24 May 1914) is an Indian lawyer, politician, former member of legislative council and a writer. He turned 100 in May 2014.[1] As of 2018, he is the senior-most living member of the Bar in India.[2][3][4][5]

K. Aiyappan Pillai
Vice-President, Bharatiya Janata Party
Personal details
Born (1914-05-24) 24 May 1914
Mundanad House, Trivandrum, Travancore State, British Raj (present-day Kerala, India)
NationalityIndian
Political partyIndian National Congress Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)Rajamma Pillai
RelationsThachudaya Kaimal Maharaja of Travancore
ResidenceTrivandrum
Alma materLaw College, Trivandrum
OccupationLawyer

Early life and education

The son of Kumara Pillai of Nagercoil, Aiyappan Pillai was born in the princely state of Travancore to an aristocratic family related to the ruling dynasty of Travancore. He was educated privately and graduated from the Law College, Trivandrum.

Career

Aiyappan Pillai was born into the Mundanad family of Kayamkulam as the nephew of the Thachudaya Kaimal, but following a meeting with Mahatma Gandhi,[6] chose to give up a stately sinecure and agitate for responsible government. He participated in the Quit India Movement[7] Gandhi advised him to serve the people directly which prompted him to stand for elections in the newly formed legislature of Travancore representing Trivandrum as an Indian National Congress candidate.[8]

As a lawyer and close-confidante of the Maharaja of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, when India attained Independence, he was asked by the Maharaja to carry on secret negotiations with Indian National Congress and the Government of Travancore in 1947.

In 1971, he was requested to be a figurehead for the newly created Bharatiya Janata Party. Thereafter, he has remained behind the scenes in the region's politics, as Chairman at various times and as a vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party since 1971.[9]

Books published
  • Challenging Times and my life: Memoirs of Aiyappan Pillai
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References
  1. Staff (24 May 2014). "Man Who Walked with History for 100 Years". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  2. Challenging times and my life : memoirs by K. Aiyappan Pillai. British Library Records Asia, Pacific & Africa YP.2014.a.4814 K. Aiyappan Pillai, 1914-, Thiruvananthapuram : Sree Uthradom Thirunal Institute of Culture, 2012.
  3. Interview to Bar & Bench Journal. Accessed at : https://barandbench.com/gandhiji-told-work-people-meet-102-year-old-lawyer-k-ayyappan-pillai/
  4. Article in Outlook Magazine India Accessed at : https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/secrets-behind-the-evening-glow/299032
  5. Article in The Hindu newspaper about "Senior Advocated (being) Honoured" Accessed at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/23-senior-advocates-honoured/article3144661.ecein%5B%5D
  6. Interview to Bar & Bench Journal. Accessed at : https://barandbench.com/gandhiji-told-work-people-meet-102-year-old-lawyer-k-ayyappan-pillai/
  7. "On 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement, children meet 103-year-old freedom fighter | City- Times of India Videos". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  8. Interview to Bar & Bench Journal. Accessed at : https://barandbench.com/gandhiji-told-work-people-meet-102-year-old-lawyer-k-ayyappan-pillai/
  9. Challenging times and my life : memoirs by K. Aiyappan Pillai. British Library Records Asia, Pacific & Africa YP.2014.a.4814 K. Aiyappan Pillai, 1914-, Thiruvananthapuram : Sree Uthradom Thirunal Institute of Culture, 2012.
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