Paravur TK Narayana Pillai

Paravur T. K. Narayana Pillai, or "Paravur T. K." as he is fondly called, was born March 25 1890, in North Paravur, Central Kerala (Travancore-Cochin kingdom at that time) and died on June 23, 1971. He was a freedom fighter during the British raj in India and was a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) which fought against the British rule in India.

He was educated at the Union Christian College in Alwaye, Ernakulam district and graduated in bachelor of arts in 1911. He became the thaluk president of the INC, North Paravur unit, in 1924 and then went on to become the Travancore-Cochin secretary of the INC in 1932, and its president in 1938.

After India gained independence from Britain in 1947, and the King of Travancore-Cochin kingdom acceded to join the Indian union upon the request of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, who was India's then Home minister, Paravur T. K., became the first chief minister of the newly formed Travancore-Cochin state under the union of India. His successes in the state of Travancore-Cochin is attributed to a lot of men who were his staunch supporters and among them was his personal secretary, the famous freedom fighter from Karikkakom in Thiruvananthapuram, Karikkakom S. Narayana Pillai. After a resounding victory for the Indian national congress in the elections conducted for the first time after independence, he was unanimously elected the leader of the Indian national congress legislative party and he assumed charge as the Chief Minister (Premier) from 1 July 1949.

His ministry fell on 1 March 1951 because of political friction between two of the heavy weights in Travancore-Cochin state at that time, Panampilli Govinda Menon and E.John Philipose. Paravur T. K. became the food, labour and education minister during the next ministry which was headed by C. Kesavan, but it was short-lived as he resigned from that post on 5 September 5 1951 because of differences with the Chief minister, C. Kesavan.

He stood for the Parliament of India in the elections of 1952 but lost the Chirayankizh constituency in Thiruvananthapuram district. After his defeat, Paravur T.K. retired from politics and mainly spend his time writing articles in famous newspapers. He was bed ridden for a few years with arthritis until he died on June 23, 1971.