A. J. John

A. J. John (1893 –1957) was a Travancorean freedom fighter, and statesman. He was Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin and Governor of Madras.

Born as the third son of Joseph and Mary on July 18, 1893 at Thalayolaparambu, John had his primary education at the local school and finished his school final from Vaikom High School. After doing degree in Law in 1919 from the Law College, Madras, he began his career as a lawyer. He was in the forefront in the historic ‘Abstention Movement’ which rocked Travancore for some time; an agitation against social injustice staged by the weaker sections and backward classes for proportionate representations in government service.

A. J. John's tombstone

The turning point in John’s life came when he plunged into freedom struggle after abandoning his bright future in his profession. He was one of the founder leaders of ‘the State Congress’, a political organisation formed in Travancore to fight for responsible government.

A. J. John was the Chief Minister of the Union State of Travancore and Cochin from 1952 to 1954.[1]

A J John also served as Speaker of the first Travancore Legislative Assembly in 1948, Minister and Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin State and Minister for Home, Food, Civil Supplies and Forest in Panampally Govinda Menon Ministry from 1955-56.[2]

A J John died in 1957 when he was the Governor of Madras State after sudden illness.

References

  1. ↑ Mathew, George (1989). Communalism - Intertwining of Economy and Polity. Communal Road to a Secular Kerala. Concept Publishing Company. p. 129.
  2. ↑ "Lost in the annals of history".
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