Sir Sankaran Nair
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: IE
Context: Prime Minister of India paid tribute to Sir Sankaran Nair on the 106th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, recalling his legal battle against British atrocities.
About Sir Sankaran Nair:
• Who was Sir Sankaran Nair? Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair was a distinguished jurist, statesman, and fearless nationalist known for speaking truth to colonial power.
• Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair was a distinguished jurist, statesman, and fearless nationalist known for speaking truth to colonial power.
• Early Life and Education: Born in 1857, Mankara village, Palakkad, Malabar region (present-day Kerala). Graduated from Presidency College, Madras, with a law degree. Began legal career under Sir Horatio Shepherd, later Chief Justice of Madras High Court.
• Born in 1857, Mankara village, Palakkad, Malabar region (present-day Kerala).
• Graduated from Presidency College, Madras, with a law degree.
• Began legal career under Sir Horatio Shepherd, later Chief Justice of Madras High Court.
• Career and Achievements: Sankaran Nair was appointed public prosecutor (1899) and went on to become a judge of the Madras High Court (1908). 1912: Knighted by the British Crown. 1915: Member of Viceroy’s Executive Council for education reforms. 1919: Resigned in protest after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• Sankaran Nair was appointed public prosecutor (1899) and went on to become a judge of the Madras High Court (1908).
• 1912: Knighted by the British Crown.
• 1915: Member of Viceroy’s Executive Council for education reforms.
• 1919: Resigned in protest after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• Contribution to Indian Freedom Movement: Advocated for constitutional reforms and India’s self-governance. Presided over Indian National Congress Session at Amraoti (1897). He was a chairman of the All-India Committee, which in 1928–29 rather ineffectually met with the Simon Commission Served as councillor to the Secretary of State for India (1920–21). He simultaneously opposed the Indian nationalist movement led by Mohandas K. Gandhiand its forcible suppression by the British Indian government.
• Advocated for constitutional reforms and India’s self-governance.
• Presided over Indian National Congress Session at Amraoti (1897).
• He was a chairman of the All-India Committee, which in 1928–29 rather ineffectually met with the Simon Commission
• Served as councillor to the Secretary of State for India (1920–21).
• He simultaneously opposed the Indian nationalist movement led by Mohandas K. Gandhiand its forcible suppression by the British Indian government.
• Jallianwala Bagh Case (1922–24): Authored “Gandhi and Anarchy”, critiquing both British excesses and Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement. Fiercely held O’Dwyer accountable for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, faced a defamation suit in a British court, and despite losing the case, displayed moral courage by refusing to apologise. The case revealed British judicial bias and stirred Indian nationalist sentiments.
• Authored “Gandhi and Anarchy”, critiquing both British excesses and Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement.
• Fiercely held O’Dwyer accountable for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, faced a defamation suit in a British court, and despite losing the case, displayed moral courage by refusing to apologise.
• The case revealed British judicial bias and stirred Indian nationalist sentiments.
• Reformist and Social Justice Advocate Judgements supported inter-caste and inter-faith marriages. In Budasna v Fatima (1914), upheld conversion to Hinduism without loss of caste status. Founded and edited Madras Law Journal and Madras Review.
• Judgements supported inter-caste and inter-faith marriages.
• In Budasna v Fatima (1914), upheld conversion to Hinduism without loss of caste status.
• Founded and edited Madras Law Journal and Madras Review.