Thomas Kallampally

2021-06-26T14:11:19Z

103.165.167.54: Employment

{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Thomas Kallampally
| image = Thomas Kallampally.jpg
| caption = Thomas Kallampally
|office = [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly]] for [[Kanjirappally (State Assembly constituency)|Kanjirappally]]
|term_start3 = 25 January 1980
|term_end3 = 25 March 1987<ref name="Election Commission Data">{{cite web|last1=Kanjirappaly|first1=Elections|title=Thomas Kallampally term in Office|url=http://eci.nic.in/archive/electionanalysis/AE/S11/partycomp87.htm|website=eci.nic.in|publisher=Election Commission Analysis|accessdate=18 August 2014}}</ref>
|predecessor3 = KV Kurien
|successor3 = KJ Thomas<ref name="Election Commission Data"/>
|birthname = Joseph Thomas Kallampally
|birth_date = 19 April 1953
|birth_place = [[Kanjirappally]], [[Travancore-Cochin]], [[India]]
|death_date = 27 February 2002 (aged 48)
|death_place = [[Kanjirappally]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
|nationality = Indian
|party = [[Kerala Congress]][[File:Kerala-Congress-flag.svg|24px]]
|spouse = Thresikutty Thomas
|children = Subhash Chandra Jose Mohan Roy Mathews Vivek Anand T Kallampally Ashok T Kallampally
|alma_mater = [[St. Thomas College, Pala]] [[Government Law College, Ernakulam]] [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala|Mahatma Gandhi University]]
|website = [http://www.partyanalyst.com/candidateElectionResultsAction.action?candidateId=52144 Kanjirappaly]
}}
'''Thomas Kallampally''' (19 April 1953 – 27 February 2002) was a notable politician and educationist from [[Kanjirappally]], [[Kerala]]. He was born in Kanjirappally. He started Netaji Vayanasaala a library for the youth at Anakkal, Kanjirappally at the age of 18. He was elected as the State General Secretary of Kerala Students Congress, the students wing of [[Kerala Congress]] while doing his Law Degree at [[Government Law College, Ernakulam]]. He also served as the PTA president of St Antony's Public school from its inception till his demise.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.socialpulse.com/St_Antony_s_Public_School_Junior_College/profile/details | title=Shri Thomas Kallampally walks along with Governor of Kerala for the inauguration of St Antonys Public School | publisher=Social Plus | date=27 May 2014 | accessdate=28 May 2014}}</ref>
Kallampally was also a member of Center for Human Resourced Development of State of Kerala and Kerala State Pollution Control Board. He was also a lead campaign manager for the Kerala Congress for various Lok Sabha elections. Kallampally holds the record of the second youngest MLA in the history of [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]] having elected to the Assembly at the age of 26.

==Early life and education==
Kallampally was born on 19 April 1953 in a family of agriculturists belonging to the [[Nasrani (India)|Nasrani]] community, in [[Kanjirappally]] in [[Kottayam district]] of [[Kerala]], India.<ref>{{cite news |last=eminent personalities|url=http://www.kanjirappally.com/eminent.htm |work=Eminent Personalities of Kanjirappally |title=Shri Thomas Kallampally is an eminent person of Kanjirappaly | publisher=Kanjirappaly.com|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref> as the second son of Mr K. M Joseph and Annamma. Thomas Kallampally's parents send him to the AKJM school since he was good at studies from an early age. At the age of 18, he organized the local youth at his hometown to start a Library in his ancestral property, which he named after Netaji [[Subhash Chandra Bose]]. After predegree at St. Dominics College, he joined [[St. Thomas College, Pala]] for his bachelor's degree in Botany. He was attracted to the students' politics of Kerala Students Congress and soon rose as a dynamic student leader. He then joined [[Government Law College, Ernakulam]] for LLB. He had a brilliant academic career.<ref>{{cite news |last=Niyamasabha|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m698.htm |work= Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly Thomas Kallampally|title=Shri Thomas Kallampally had a brilliant academic career | publisher=Niyamasabha.org|accessdate=18 August 2014}}</ref>

==Early political career==
Kallampally became a member of the Kerala Congress during his student days. He was elected as the district president of Kerala Students Congress,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kallampally|first1=Thomas|title=Kallampally District President of KSC|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m698.htm|website=Niyamasabha.org|publisher=Niyamasabha.org|accessdate=18 August 2014}}</ref> the student wing of the Kerala Congress. Due to his dynamic leadership and flamboyant oratory skills, he was soon elected as the state general secretary of Kerala Students Congress under Mr P. M. Mathew as the state president.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kallampally|first1=Thomas|title=Kallampally State General Secretary of KSC|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m698.htm|website=Niyamasabha.org|publisher=Niyamasabha.org|accessdate=18 August 2014}}</ref> Kallampally led a foot protest march of KSC from Kasargod to Parasala against the anti-student policies of the government. He was the only leader to walk the entire 600+ kilo meters with his President. He was asked to contest the panchayat elections in Parathodu and he won the election to be the member of Parathodu panchayat.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kallampally|first1=Thomas|title=Kallampally won Parathodu Panchayat elections|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m698.htm|website=Niyamasabha.org|publisher=Niyamasabha.org|accessdate=18 August 2014}}</ref> He worked briefly as a lawyer in [[High Court of Kerala]].

==MLA of Kanjirappally==
In 1980 Kallampally contested for the Legislative Assembly from [[Kanjirappally (State Assembly constituency)|Kanjirappally]] as the Kerala Congress candidate. He defeated Joseph Varanam.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kerala Assembly Election Results 1980 Kanjirappally|url=http://www.empoweringindia.org/new/constituency.aspx?eid=586&cid=87 |work=Kanjirappally Election 1980 |title=Thomas Kallampally (KCM) elected | publisher=empoweringindia.org|accessdate=14 August 2014}}</ref> Under the leadership of Kallampally, there were many development initiatives like roads, bridges, drinking water schemes and schools that was brought in Kanjirappally. He was subsequently re-elected in 1982 when he defeated Mr Mustafa Kamal by a margin of 8437 votes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kerala Assembly Election Results 1982 Kanjirappally|url=http://keralaassembly.org/1982/1982087.html|work=Kanjirappally Election 1982 |title=Thomas Kallampally (KCM) elected by a margin of 8437 votes| publisher=keralaassembly.org|accessdate=14 August 2014}}</ref> He made a mark both inside and outside the Kerala Legislative Assembly with his oratory. He could use both a forensic style and a more flamboyant grand style with ease depending on the situation. A development roadmap was put forth for constituency which he chased professionally to bring the development initiatives. He remained in office until 1987 elections and was known for exceptional development works that he brought in the constituency.

===1987 Election===
1987 saw a lot of political polarization in Kerala. Kerala Congress was split just before the elections under [[P. J. Joseph]] and [[K. M. Mani]]. Kallampally's effort to avoid the split turned futile. Meanwhile, George J Mathew, another leader from Kerala Congress and earlier [[Member of Parliament]] from the Lok Sabha constituency was at odds with Kerala Congress, decided to contest the legislative elections from [[Kanjirappally (State Assembly constituency)|Kanjirappally]] against Kallampally. Both these developments caused the split in the [[United Democratic Front (India)|United Democratic Front]] votes. In the triangular contest, Kallampally was defeated and Mr KJ Thomas of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] won.
[[File:Thomas Kallampally at St Antonys College.jpg|thumb|right|Kallampally at St Antony's College Function]]
[[File:Thomas Kallampally at St Antonys School.jpg|thumb|right|Kallampally at St Antony's School Annual Day]]
[[File:Young Kallampally as MLA.jpg|thumb|right|Young Kallampally as MLA]]

==Education Initiatives==
Kallampally worked as a lawyer after the 1987 election. He spent a lot of his time on education initiatives around Kanjirappally apart from legal career and politics. He worked with the parish priests of Anakkal church to start the St Antony's Public School and Junior College in 1988. Initially the school was set up as an English medium school affiliated to the state syllabus. But the state government under [[E. K. Nayanar]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=EK|first1=Nayanar|title=EK Nayanar- Chief Minister from 1987 - 1991 in Kerala|url=http://www.keralaassembly.org/min87.html|website=www.keralaassembly.org|publisher=KLA|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> ordered to cancel the newly setup English medium schools as per the policy of the LDF government. Kallampally decided to pursue a CBSE affiliation to the school on the advice of the then education minister K. Chandrasekharan.<ref>{{cite web|last1=K|first1=Chandrashekharan|title=K Chandrashekaran - Education Minister from 1987 - 1991 in Kerala|url=http://www.keralaassembly.org/min87.html|website=www.keralaassembly.org|publisher=KLA|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> It was a time when CBSE schools where unknown in the central Travancore area and CBSE schools at Yercaud and Ootty was the privilege of the elite rich planters. Kallampally realized that a CBSE school was the best way to attain his objective to give the poor people of Kanjirappaly an affordable opportunity to have quality education on par with international standards. In 1988, after his continuous effort, visits to Delhi, meetings with the then Chairman of [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] (CBSE), H. S Sinha{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} and an inspection from a high power committee, CBSE affiliation was granted to the school.<ref>{{cite web|title=St Antonys Public School started in 1988|url=http://saps.ac.in/|website=saps.ac.in/|publisher=SAPS}}</ref> St Antony's Public School and Junior College has since then grown to be one of the best schools in the State of Kerala. Kallampally was part of the Managing Council and played an intense role from selection of staff, laying down policies, aiding the principal in day-to-day administration challenges to spearheading the larger development initiatives of the school. In 1991, he founded St Antony's College along with few other volunteers in Kanjirappaly with an aim to provide better higher education to the people around Kanjirappally. It was a time when computers were unknown in the area. St Antony's College was the first institution in the central Travancore area to provide DOEACC recognized A Level courses in computer science. He served as the Principal of St Antony's College until his death.

==Personal life and family==
He married Thresikutty Mathew, a teacher by profession, on 26 September 1982 while he was an MLA. She retired as the principal of St. Dominic's Higher Secondary School in Kanjirapally. They have four sons - Subhash Chandra Jose, an engineer, working as head of Change Management, ING Spain; Mohan Roy Mathews, a lawyer, working with Housing Development Finance Corporation; Vivek Anand T Kallampally, an engineer, working with Microsoft, Bengaluru and Ashok T Kallampally, an architect who is running his own firm Habiqube Architecture Studio.

==Personality and image==
Kallampally had a frugal lifestyle and was a [[workaholic]]. In spite of his academic and political success, he lived an exceptionally simple life. He stayed away from controversies his whole lifetime. He had exemplary oratory skills and was known as the 'Roaring Lion of Kerala' due to his style of speech. He could speak for hours on any subject concerning the state of Kerala or even international matters of relevance. He was referred by the media as the most ego less politician in Kerala politics. Kallampally was easily accessible to the people, travelled in KSRTC buses, mingled freely with the poor and favored anyone in need above political affiliations, which earned him a unique position among the people of Kanjirappally.

==References==
'''Notes'''
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'''Citations'''
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{portal|Biography|India}}
* [http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m698.htm Thomas Kallampally Page in Niyamasabha.org]
* [http://www.indiavotes.com/ac/details/28/5180/35 1980 Kanjirappaly Election Results]
* [http://www.socialpulse.com/St_Antony_s_Public_School_Junior_College/profile/details SAPS and Kallampally from the Social Plus]
* [http://www.indiavotes.com/ac/allcabdidateparty?stateac=28&emid=35&party=87 Collected news and commentary at India Votes]
* [http://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/kanjirappally.html Collected news and commentary at Elections In]
* [http://factgrabber.com/index.php?q=Kanjirappalli&lcid=poGmuQaRhoGGGUbJZMlkmWbBJ5lkiYaBpskmscbBBhkG Collected news from FactGrabber]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kallampally, Thomas}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Indian Christians]]
[[Category:Members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:People from Kottayam district]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:Malayali politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Kerala]]

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Thomas Kallampally