M. Krishnan Nair (politician)

Diwan Bahadur Sir Mannath Krishnan Nair KCIE (1870–1938) was an Indian politician from the Indian National Congress and later, Justice Party who served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council and later, executive council of the Governor of Madras. He also served as the Chief Justice of Travancore High Court and later Diwan of Travancore from 1914 to 1920

Sir

Mannath Krishnan Nair

KCIE
Law Member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras
In office
1928–1933
PremierP. Subbarayan,
B. Munuswamy Naidu,
Ramakrishna Ranga Rao of Bobbili
GovernorGeorge Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen
Preceded bySir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer
Dewan of Travancore
In office
11 May 1914 – 7 July 1920
MonarchMoolam Thirunal
Preceded bySir P. Rajagopalachari
Succeeded byT. Raghavaiah
Personal details
Born1870
Malabar district
Died1938

Early life and political career

Krishnan Nair was born in 1870[1] in the Mannath family of landlords from the Malabar district of Madras Presidency. Krishnan Nair had his schooling in Malabar district and higher education at the Government College, Calcutta and Madras Christian College.[1] Krishnan Nair studied law at the Madras Law College before enrolling as a lawyer.

At a young age, he joined the Indian National Congress and participated in its meetings.[2] He was elected to the Madras Legislative Council in 1904 and served as its member from 1904 to 1910.[1]

Both his sons were also in the Imperial Civil Service(ICS). Elder son P A Menon, was an ambassador for India, in many countries. Second son, P M Menon, too was a Secartary to Government of India. His daughter married Appu Nair who was Secretary to Madras Government and their daughter married P Govindan Nair also an ICS Officer.

Diwan of Travancore

Krishnan Nair was appointed Diwan of Travancore in 1914 and he succeeded Sir P. Rajagopalachari.[3] Krishnan Nair served as Diwan of Travancore from 1914 to 1920.[3]

Justice Party

In 1920, Nair joined the Justice Party and won the 1920[2] and 1923 elections, the latter by allegedly polarizing the communal atmosphere in the Malabar district in the wake of the 1922 Moplah riots.

When the Justice Party joined hands with the Swarajya Party against the Simon Commission, the then Governor of Madras, Lord Goschen appointed Krishnan Nair, then a Justice Party member, as his law member in order to woo the Justice Party.[4][5] As law member, Krishnan Nair expressed support for the devadasi bill passed by Muthulakshmi Reddy.[6]

Death

Krishnan Nair died in 1938.[7]

Honours

In January 1930, Krishnan Nair was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire.

Notes
  1. The International who's who, Volume 2004. Europa Publications Ltd. 1938. p. 838.
  2. M. Gangadhara Menon (1989). Malabar Rebellion, 1921-1922. Vohra Publishers & Distributors. p. 84.
  3. "Indian Princely States K - W". worldstatesmen.
  4. Ralhan, O. P. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Political Parties. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 192. ISBN 978-81-7488-865-5.
  5. A. Ganesan (1988). The press in Tamil Nadu and the struggle for freedom, 1917-1937. Mittal Publications. p. 116. ISBN 978-81-7099-082-6.
  6. Stanley A. Wolpert. Charisma and commitment in South Asian history. Orient Blackswan. p. 350.
  7. Delhi School of Economics (1977). The Indian economic and social history review, Volume 14. Vikas Publishing House. p. 261.
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