Travancore Divan Sir CP Ramaswami Iyer
- last year
Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, popularly known as ‘Sir CP’ or simply CP was an able lawyer, efficient administrator and astute politician. He was the Dewan of the erstwhile Travancore princely state from 1936 to 1947. Under his Dewanship, Travancore became the first princely state to abolish capital punishment, first to introduce free and compulsory education, first to introduce universal adult franchise and the first to be connected to the rest of India by air.
Ramaswami Iyer served as Diwan from 1936 to 1947; during his tenure, many social and administrative reforms were made. However, at the same time, he is also remembered for the ruthless suppression of the communist-organised Punnapra-Vayalar revolt, and his controversial stand in favour of an independent Travancore
In 1931, when crown prince Sri Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma was barred from succeeding his deceased uncle Sri Mulam Thirunal as the Maharaja of Travancore, C.P Ramaswami Iyer spoke on his behalf to Lord Willingdon, the Viceroy of India. The Viceroy agreed to crown prince Chithira Thirunal on the condition that Ramaswami should function as Adviser,
Sri Mulam Tirunal was the first ruler in India to establish two legislative bodies in a princely state under the guidance of Sir CP. The proposed bicameral legislature comprised of the Sri Mulam Assembly (First Chamber) and the Sri Chithira State Council (Second Chamber) and Sir C.P. was the President of both. In 1936, Sri Chithira Thirunal personally requested Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer to serve as the Dewan of Travancore which he accepted and served for ten years.
A most vital social reform measure for which he made himself responsible was the Temple Entry Proclamation of the Maharajah of Travancore in 1936. It was his condition for accepting the post of Dewan of Travancore, and his first act as Dewan. It was the first time the avarnas, as they were known, were accepted into Hindu temples. Mahatma Gandhi and other social reformers praised the Maharaja and the Dewan for this proclamation though the conservative Hindus opposed it.
On February 12, 1946, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar visited the Government High School at Vellamadam in the then State of Travancore (now Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu). He inaugurated the scheme of compulsory education for children above five years. He also introduced at this school, for the first time in India, the free midday meal scheme for poor and needy students. These two schemes were to have far-reaching results, making Kerala a 100% literate state with the highest levels of education in India.
In implementing his marathon welfare projects in Madras and Travancore during an exceptionally critical period of the nation’s history, C.P. earned more foes than friends. But generations to come will acknowledge that C.P. was the man of the hour, needed most in a society riven by caste and creed, religion, language and social prejudices. The role of culture, he believed, was to give people an awareness and underst
Ramaswami Iyer served as Diwan from 1936 to 1947; during his tenure, many social and administrative reforms were made. However, at the same time, he is also remembered for the ruthless suppression of the communist-organised Punnapra-Vayalar revolt, and his controversial stand in favour of an independent Travancore
In 1931, when crown prince Sri Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma was barred from succeeding his deceased uncle Sri Mulam Thirunal as the Maharaja of Travancore, C.P Ramaswami Iyer spoke on his behalf to Lord Willingdon, the Viceroy of India. The Viceroy agreed to crown prince Chithira Thirunal on the condition that Ramaswami should function as Adviser,
Sri Mulam Tirunal was the first ruler in India to establish two legislative bodies in a princely state under the guidance of Sir CP. The proposed bicameral legislature comprised of the Sri Mulam Assembly (First Chamber) and the Sri Chithira State Council (Second Chamber) and Sir C.P. was the President of both. In 1936, Sri Chithira Thirunal personally requested Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer to serve as the Dewan of Travancore which he accepted and served for ten years.
A most vital social reform measure for which he made himself responsible was the Temple Entry Proclamation of the Maharajah of Travancore in 1936. It was his condition for accepting the post of Dewan of Travancore, and his first act as Dewan. It was the first time the avarnas, as they were known, were accepted into Hindu temples. Mahatma Gandhi and other social reformers praised the Maharaja and the Dewan for this proclamation though the conservative Hindus opposed it.
On February 12, 1946, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar visited the Government High School at Vellamadam in the then State of Travancore (now Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu). He inaugurated the scheme of compulsory education for children above five years. He also introduced at this school, for the first time in India, the free midday meal scheme for poor and needy students. These two schemes were to have far-reaching results, making Kerala a 100% literate state with the highest levels of education in India.
In implementing his marathon welfare projects in Madras and Travancore during an exceptionally critical period of the nation’s history, C.P. earned more foes than friends. But generations to come will acknowledge that C.P. was the man of the hour, needed most in a society riven by caste and creed, religion, language and social prejudices. The role of culture, he believed, was to give people an awareness and underst