J. Thomas Kayalackakom
Encyclopedia
J Thomas Kayalackakom was a politician and public figure of the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin
State of pre-independent India (which became part of Kerala after India's independence). He was an elected member of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly
, one of the earliest popularly-elected legislatures on the Indian sub-continent.
He was born on April 8, 1888 in Palai, a small town in the central part of Travancore. His father died when he was nine years old, and after that he grew up under the guardianship of his paternal uncle Augusti Mathai. He was also inspired and guided by his elder brother Joseph Augusti.
He started political and social activities at a young age. In 1913, he started a literary magazine by name "Vijnaana Rathnaakaram
", with Mahakavi (Great Poet) Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai
as Editor, the second literary magazine of Travancore, and one of the early such publications in Malayalam language.
In 1922, he was elected a member of 50-member Sree Moolam Popular Assembly. The Assembly had 28 elected members and 22 nominated members. He served the Assembly for 3 terms. He was also the first chairman of the local Village Union, the forerunner of Panchayat & Municipality
. In 1927, he was instrumental in holding in Palai the first all Kerala catholic conference, as part of organising on a state-wide basis, the All Kerala Catholic Congress, which was formed in 1918.
In the early 1930s, he set up of one of the first brick-making units of central Travancore, and also pioneered backwater-farming by reclaiming land, in the backwaters near Vaikom
. He was in the fore-front developing large plantations in Mangulam, Vaalakom, Nellappara, Mannamkandom etc. In 1943, together with his elder brother, he oversaw the public-issue of the 2800 acres (11.3 km²) Mysore Plantations Limited, the State’s first plantation-public-issue. In 1946, he along with two of his cousins started "Kayalackakom Company" Cochin, the first stock & share brokers' firm in the state.
He was very popular and influential in political and social circles. He donated land from his property to the Kadappattoor Temple in Palai for building a foot bridge over the Meenachil River
for the benefit of devotees. He died on February 27, 1972.
Travancore-Cochin
Travancore-Cochin or Thiru-Kochi is a former state of India . It was created on 1 July 1949 by the merger of two former princely states, the kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin....
State of pre-independent India (which became part of Kerala after India's independence). He was an elected member of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly
Sree Moolam Popular Assembly
Sree Moolam Popular Assembly of Travancore was the first popularly elected legislature in the history of India.Its predecessor legislative council was formed in Travancore in 1888 with 8 appointed members. Sree Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma who became king of Travancore in 1886 set up this unique...
, one of the earliest popularly-elected legislatures on the Indian sub-continent.
He was born on April 8, 1888 in Palai, a small town in the central part of Travancore. His father died when he was nine years old, and after that he grew up under the guardianship of his paternal uncle Augusti Mathai. He was also inspired and guided by his elder brother Joseph Augusti.
He started political and social activities at a young age. In 1913, he started a literary magazine by name "Vijnaana Rathnaakaram
Vijnaana Rathnaakaram
"Vijnaana Rathnaakaram" was a literary magazine started in 1913 in the old Native State of Travancore, India. J Thomas Kayalackakom was its founder publisher and Mahakavi Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai was its Editor. It was the second literary magazine of Travancore, and one of the early such...
", with Mahakavi (Great Poet) Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai
Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai
Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai was a Malayalam poet. His magnum opus is the epic poem Shreeyeshu Vijayam composed over a span of 15 years, and finished in the year 1926, which earned him the title of Mahakavi. He was the Editor of Vijnaana Rathnaakaram, one of the early literary magazines in the...
as Editor, the second literary magazine of Travancore, and one of the early such publications in Malayalam language.
In 1922, he was elected a member of 50-member Sree Moolam Popular Assembly. The Assembly had 28 elected members and 22 nominated members. He served the Assembly for 3 terms. He was also the first chairman of the local Village Union, the forerunner of Panchayat & Municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
. In 1927, he was instrumental in holding in Palai the first all Kerala catholic conference, as part of organising on a state-wide basis, the All Kerala Catholic Congress, which was formed in 1918.
In the early 1930s, he set up of one of the first brick-making units of central Travancore, and also pioneered backwater-farming by reclaiming land, in the backwaters near Vaikom
Vaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...
. He was in the fore-front developing large plantations in Mangulam, Vaalakom, Nellappara, Mannamkandom etc. In 1943, together with his elder brother, he oversaw the public-issue of the 2800 acres (11.3 km²) Mysore Plantations Limited, the State’s first plantation-public-issue. In 1946, he along with two of his cousins started "Kayalackakom Company" Cochin, the first stock & share brokers' firm in the state.
He was very popular and influential in political and social circles. He donated land from his property to the Kadappattoor Temple in Palai for building a foot bridge over the Meenachil River
Meenachil River
The Meenachil river flows through the heart of Kottayam district of Kerala state, India. The river, 78 km long, flows through Poonjar, Teekoy, Erattupetta, Palai, Ettumanoor and Kottayam before emptying itself into the Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom, the famous tourist place of Kerala.The...
for the benefit of devotees. He died on February 27, 1972.