Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair: A Life of Principle and Purpose

Surprisingly, it required someone like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sitting 2,500 km away in Delhi, to illuminate the significant contributions of Kerala's illustrious son, Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair (1857-1934), for Keralites and Indian historians.

Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair

This luminary had risen to prominent judicial roles in the British administration, received a knighthood under British rule, yet ultimately relinquished all these accolades to fight against injustice within the same British legal framework, a system that ironically helped pave the path to India's eventual independence.

Following PM Modi's directive, Union Minister Suresh Gopi visited the ancestral home of freedom fighter and former Congress president's family in Ottapalam and their residence in Chandranagar, Palakkad, on Sunday.

Courtesy: Facebook Suressh Gopi 

Role in India's Independence

Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair played a multifaceted and crucial role in India's struggle for independence. However, under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's leadership after independence, his contributions did not receive the same level of recognition as those of some other prominent figures. Here's a breakdown of his contributions:

1. Early Nationalist and President of the Indian National Congress (INC):

• He was an active member of the INC from its early days.
• In 1897, he became the youngest president of the INC at the Amravati session, a significant platform to voice the demand for self-governance. In his address, he criticized the high-handedness of the foreign administration and called for reforms and Dominion Status for India.
• His early leadership helped shape the nationalist discourse and advocate for greater Indian participation in governance.

2. Advocate for Social Reform:

• As a lawyer and later as a judge in the Madras High Court, Nair championed social reforms.
• In a landmark judgment (Budasna v Fatima, 1914), he upheld the right to conversion to Hinduism and stated that converts should not be treated as outcasts.
• He also supported inter-caste and inter-religious marriages, demonstrating a progressive and reformist outlook.

3. Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council and Advocate for Constitutional Reforms:

• In 1915, he was appointed as the Education Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council.
• In this role, he advocated for increased Indian control over educational institutions, pushed for greater resources for primary education, and supported technical and professional education for Indians.
• He played a crucial role in the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919, which introduced a system of dyarchy and increased Indian participation in administration. His dissenting notes on the initial drafts led to the inclusion of more liberal provisions.

4. Protest Against the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre:

• The Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 deeply affected him.
• In protest against the massacre and the imposition of martial law in Punjab, he resigned from the prestigious Viceroy's Executive Council. This was a powerful statement of defiance against British rule by a high-ranking Indian official and sent shockwaves through the administration.

5. Legal Battle Against Colonial Injustice:

• In his book Gandhi and Anarchy (1922), he criticized Mahatma Gandhi's methods of non-cooperation and also directly accused Michael O'Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab during the massacre, of implementing policies that led to the killings.
• O'Dwyer sued Nair for defamation in a British court in 1924. Although Nair lost the case, this legal battle brought the atrocities of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the bias of the British legal system to international attention, further fueling nationalist sentiments in India. His refusal to apologize, even when offered a waiver of the penalty, became a symbol of resistance.

In summary, Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair's contribution to India's independence stemmed from his early leadership in the INC, his progressive social reforms, his advocacy for greater Indian participation in governance as part of the Viceroy's Council, his courageous protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre through his resignation, and his relentless pursuit of justice against colonial authorities, even on British soil. 

He was a significant figure who, through his legal acumen, political engagement, and unwavering principles, contributed significantly to the growing nationalist movement.

The Movie

Recently, a movie has been released on April 18, 2025 about Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair. The movie is titled Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, and it centers around Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair's courageous legal battle against the British Empire following the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. It depicts his efforts to seek justice for the victims and hold the British government accountable. Here are some key details about the film:

• Starring: Akshay Kumar plays the role of Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair. The cast also includes R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday.
• Director: Karan Singh Tyagi.
• Based on: The movie is inspired by the book The Case That Shook the Empire: One Man's Fight for the Truth about the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre by Sir Sankaran Nair's great-grandson Raghu Palat and his wife Pushpa Palat.

The film has garnered attention for highlighting the significant role of Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, a prominent lawyer and member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, who resigned in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and fought for justice.

Dedication

This blog post is a tribute to Raju (Kozhipurath Rajagopal, 1948-2023), my friend and classmate from Victoria College, Palakkad. Beyond his own impressive achievements – a brilliant student who rose to the position of General Manager at SBI – Raju also carried the distinguished heritage of being a descendant of Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, as a great grand nephew of the esteemed gentleman.