Aiyappan Pillai
 |
K. Aiyappan Pillai | |
|---|---|
| File:Ayyappan Pillai.jpg | |
| Vice-President, Bharatiya Janata Party | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mundanad House, Trivandrum, Travancore State, British Raj (present-day Kerala, India) |
| Political party | Indian National Congress Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Rajamma Pillai |
| Relations | Thachudaya Kaimal Maharaja of Travancore |
| Residence | Trivandrum |
| Alma mater | Law College, Trivandrum |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
M. R. Ry. Kumar Aiyappan Pillai (born 4 May 1914) is an Indian lawyer, politician, former member of legislative council and a writer. As of 2018, he is the senior-most living member of the Bar in India. [1] [2] [3] [4]
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 HH the Thachudaya Kaimal, but following a meeting with Mahatma Gandhi,[5] chose to give up a stately sinecure and agitate for responsible government. He participated in the Quit India Movement[6] 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 a Indian National Congress candidate.[7]
As a lawyer and close-confidante of the Maharaja of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, when India attained Independance, 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.[8]
Books published
- Challenging Times and my life: Memoirs of Aiyappan Pillai, HH Sree Uthradom Thirunal Institute of Culture , 2012
- Challenging Times and my life: Memoirs of Aiyappan Pillai, HH Sree Uthradom Thirunal Institute of Culture , 2012
- ^ 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.
- ^ Interview to Bar & Bench Journal. Accessed at : https://barandbench.com/gandhiji-told-work-people-meet-102-year-old-lawyer-k-ayyappan-pillai/
- ^ Article in Outlook Magazine India Accessed at : https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/secrets-behind-the-evening-glow/299032
- ^ 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
- ^ Interview to Bar & Bench Journal. Accessed at : https://barandbench.com/gandhiji-told-work-people-meet-102-year-old-lawyer-k-ayyappan-pillai/
- ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/city/kochi/on-75th-anniversary-of-quit-india-movement-children-meet-103-year-old-freedom-fighter/videoshow/60049055.cms
- ^ Interview to Bar & Bench Journal. Accessed at : https://barandbench.com/gandhiji-told-work-people-meet-102-year-old-lawyer-k-ayyappan-pillai/
- ^ 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.