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Who Was Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair?

Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair:

A biopic on Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair will be produced.

  • It will be based on the book, ‘The case that shook the empire’ written by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat in 2019.
  • Born in the year 1857 in Mankara village of Malabar’s Palakkad district.
  • Known for being a passionate advocate for social reforms and a firm believer in the self-determination of India.
  • He was an acclaimed lawyer and judge in the Madras High Court.
  • He was one of the early builders of the Indian National Congress (INC), formed in 1885.
  • In 1897, he became the youngest president of the INC in the history of the party till then, and the only Malayali to hold the post ever.
  • In 1902, Lord Curzon appointed him a member of the Raleigh University Commission.
  • In 1904, he was appointed as Companion of the Indian Empire by the King-Emperor and in 1912 he was knighted.
  • He was appointed as a permanent judge in the Madras High Court in 1908.
  • In 1915, he became part of the Viceroy’s Council, put in charge of the education portfolio.
  • As a fervent freedom fighter, he firmly believed in India’s right for self-government.
  • In 1919, as part of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, he played an important role in the expansion of provisions in the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms.
  • It introduced a system of dyarchy in the provinces and increased participation of Indians in the administration.
  • When the massacre of Jallianwala Bagh (13th April, 1919) happened, he resigned from the Viceroy’s Council in protest.
  • His resignation shook the British government.
  • In the immediate aftermath, press censorship in Punjab was lifted and martial law terminated.
  • Further, a committee was set up under Lord William Hunter to examine the disturbances in Punjab.
  • In his book ‘Gandhi and Anarchy’, he spelt out his critique of Gandhi’s methods, especially those of non-violence, civil disobedience and non-cooperation.
  • He believed that any of these movements was destined to lead to riots and bloodshed.