Succeeded by Land reform in Kerala | ||
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Monarch Ayilyam Thirunal Visakham Thirunal Sree Moolam Thirunal Preceded by Kanakku Chempakaraman Padmanabhan Mootha Pillai of Kandamath Succeeded by Neyyattinkara Padmanabha Pillai | ||
M. R. Ry. Chempakaraman Padmanabhan Kesava Pillai Avergal of Kandamath (pronounced Canda-math) was a Pillai of Kandamath (1830–1924), a Travancorean jenmi landowner and Indian zamindar.
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Early life
He was born in Vaikkom, Travancore, where his father, Brahmasree Neelakantan Namboodiripad was an ecclesiastical dignitary linked to the Vaikom Temple. His mother belonged to the family of feudatory Chiefs of Kandamath. (See Pillai and Ettuveetil Pillamar) and he inherited Kandamath from his uncle the previous Mootha Pillai of Kandamath, Kanakku Chempakaraman Padmanabhan. The Pillais of Kandamath settled Kandamath in medieval times. According to popular lore and family-papers called Kandamukhathu Madom Granthavari(collection of palm-leaf documents), they settled at Kandamath on the banks of the Neyyar (river) in medieval times having originally been nobles from Kandiyoor Matom, Kayamkulam Kingdom who sought refuge in the Travancore Court (See Odanad)
Reforms
He was nominated for the seat of Neyyatinkara Taluk in the newly formed Sree Mulam Council, representing his land-holdings. He took a liberal view as the local magistrate on untouchability, minor crimes and punishment of the depressed classes. He initiated various reforms for the education and general upliftment of the working classes. He allotted land to the Anglican Church Mission to build and run a church school at Palli Potta in Chenkal, Neyyattinkara.
He was known for his vehement opposition to the changes to the Marumakkathayam Laws of Succession. Due to the support he had given to the conservative faction within the court of Travancore, he was considered an old-timer after having failed to convince the Government from pushing the reforms through. But this was far from the truth. Although claiming absolute loyalty to the crown, he was a staunch liberal and saw these proposed changes as an erosion of the rights of the common man against the state. This legislation created the division of family property possible in the landed families and affected the hegemony of the Nambudiri Brahmins, Rajas and upper class aristocratic Nair families.
Legacy
His remains were scattered into the Ganges at Benares. His ancestral estate of Kandamath at Chenkal, and most of his other property was lost to his heirs in the political turmoil of the following period,
His nephew was Neyyatinkara K. Padmanabha Pillai ("N.K." Padmanabha Pillai) was elected to the State Council since and his niece, Janaki Amma was the mother of the future diplomat K. P. S. Menon (senior) His son, Sreedharan Nayar Kandamath held several provincial positions was one of the founders of Travancore Urban Bank. His beautiful daughter, Sumathy Amma married into the Thachudaya Kaimal family of Mundanad. His portrait is included in the collection held by the legislative library in Kerala, in the former barracks of the Nayar Brigade.