Thottakattu Sankunni Menon CSI

Order of the Star of India

The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...

, also spelt as Shungoony Menon, was an Indian civil servant and administrator who served as the Diwan of the Cochin kingdom from 1860 to 1879. His administration is recognized as a period of development. Sankunni Menon's brother T. Govindan Menon also served as Diwan from 1879 to 1889.

Early life

Sankunni Menon was the eldest son of Sankara Warrier who had served as the Diwan of Cochin kingdom till 1856.

Early Career

Sankunni Menon began his career as a civil servant in the Cochin kingdom. He was soon appointed DIwan Peishkar of Kottayam

Kottayam

Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...

. In 1860, he became the Diwan of Cochin kingdom.

Diwan

As Diwan, Sankunni Menon was responsible for innumerable social and administrative reforms in the kingdom. He entirely revamped the judicial administration in the kingdom and established munsiff courts in all the taluks.

Sankunni Menon was brought reforms in non-judicial spheres as well. The Ernakulam Public Library was opened on January 1, 1870 and the Trichur Public Library in 1873. On his retirement in 1879 due to failing health, the monarch Rama Varma wrote to him

Honours

For his services to the British Empire, Sankunni Menon was made a Companion of the Order of the Star of India.