2409:4072:6E15:EA3F:0:0:6FCA:E204: /* Early life */

2022-01-02T17:41:46Z

Early life

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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = P. Kakkan
| honorific-suffix =
| image = P Kakkan 1999 stamp of India.jpg
| imagesize = 245px
| order1 = Minister for Home Affairs (Madras state)
| term_start1 = 3 October 1963
| term_end1 = 5 March 1967
| monarch1 =
| primeminister1 =
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| order2 = Minister of Agriculture (Madras state)
| term_start2 = 13 March 1962
| term_end2 = 3 October 1963
| monarch2 =
| primeminister2 =
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| order3 = Member of Madras Legislative Assembly for Samayanallur
| term_start3 = 1962
| term_end3 = 1967
| monarch3 =
| primeminister3 =
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| order4 = Minister of Public Works (Madras state)
| term_start4 = 13 April 1957
| term_end4 = 13 March 1962
| monarch4 =
| primeminister4 =
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 =
| order5 = Member of Madras Legislative Assembly for Melur
| term_start5 = 1957
| term_end5 = 1962
| monarch5 =
| primeminister5 =
| predecessor5 =
| successor5 =
| order6 = Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) for [[Madurai (Lok Sabha constituency)|Madurai]]
| term_start6 = 1951
| term_end6 = 1957
| monarch6 =
| primeminister6 = [[Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru]]
| predecessor6 = None
| successor6 = [[K. T. K. Thangamani]]
| order7 = Member of Constituent Assembly
| term_start7 = 1946
| term_end7 = 1950
| monarch7 = [[George VI of the United Kingdom]]
| primeminister7 = [[Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru]]
| predecessor7 = None
| successor7 = None
| birth_date = 18 June 1908
| birth_place = Thumbaipatti, Melur, [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1981|12|23|1908|6|18}}
| death_place = [[Madras]], [[India]]
| nationality = [[India]]n
| party = Congress

| alma_mater =
| profession = [[Politician]]
| spouse = Swarnam Parvathi Kakkan
}}

'''P. Kakkan''' (18 June 1908 – 23 December 1981) or fondly known as '''Kakkanji''', was an Indian politician and [[freedom fighter]] who served as a member of the [[Constituent Assembly of India]], [[Member of Parliament]], President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and in various ministerial posts in Congress governments in the erstwhile [[Madras state]] between 1957 and 1967.

== Early life ==
Kakkan was born into a Tamil [[Paraiyar]] family on 18 June 1908 in a village called Thumbaipatti in Melur Taluk, [[Madurai district]] of [[Madras Presidency]].<ref name="kakkanbio_dalitidentity_p124">{{cite book|title=Dalit Identity in the New Millennium|last=Chandra|pages=124|first=Ramesh|ISBN=978-81-7169-765-6|year=2003|publisher=Commonwealth Publishers|author2=Sangh Mittra}}</ref> His father Poosari Kakkan was a priest in the village shrine.<ref name="kakkanbio_dalitidentity_p125">{{cite book|title=Dalit Identity in the New Millennium|last=Chandra|pages=125|first=Ramesh|ISBN=978-81-7169-765-6|year=2003|publisher=Commonwealth Publishers|author2=Sangh Mittra}}</ref>

== Indian independence movement ==

Kakkan was drawn to the independence movement from an early stage in his life. While in school, he joined the [[Indian National Congress]]. When the state government brought forth the [[Temple Entry Proclamation|Temple Entry Authorisation and Indemnity Act]] in 1939, which removed restrictions on [[Paraiyar]] and [[Shanars]] entering temples, Kakkan led the temple entry at Madurai. He also participated in the [[Quit India Movement]] and was sent to [[Alipore jail]]. In 1946, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly.<ref name="kakkan_postagestamp">{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/l1299/r091299.html|title=24. SPECIAL POSTAGE STAMP ON FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND SOCIAL REFORMERS|access-date=29 October 2008|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|work=Latest PIB Releases}}</ref> and served from 1946 to 1950.

== Politics of Free India ==

Kakkan served as a member of the [[Lok Sabha]] from 1952 to 1957.<ref name="kakkan_resume">{{cite book | title=Who's who in India| year=1967| pages=64| publisher=Guide Publications}}</ref> When [[K. Kamaraj]] resigned as the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in order to take office as the Chief Minister of Madras state, Kakkan was elected as the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.<ref name="kakkan_tnccpres1">{{cite book | title=K. Kamaraj: A Socio-political Study| last=Muthuswamy| first=M. S.| year=1988| pages=101| publisher=Tamil Nadu Academy of Political Science}}</ref><ref name="kakkan_tnccpres2">{{cite book | title=Kamaraj: A Study| last=Narasimhan| first=V. K.| year=1967| pages=71| publisher=Manaktalas}}</ref><ref name="kakkan_tnccpres3_thehindu">{{cite news | title= Kakkan is TNCC chief | date=30 December 2004 | url =http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/30/stories/2004123000240902.htm | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20050115081147/http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/30/stories/2004123000240902.htm | url-status =dead | archive-date =15 January 2005 | work= [[The Hindu]] | access-date = 29 October 2008}}</ref> Following the 1957 elections when the Indian National Congress was re-elected to power in the Madras state, Kakkan was sworn in as the Minister for Public Works (excluding Electricity), Harijan Welfare, Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes on 13 April 1957.<ref name="kakkan_cabinet1957">{{Cite web|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/review_02assly/ch_4_5.pdf|format=PDF|title=The Cabinet|access-date=29 October 2008|publisher=Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|work=Madras Legislative Assembly 1957 – 1962}}</ref><ref name="kakkan_cabinet1957_portfolios">{{Cite web|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/review_02assly/table5.pdf|format=PDF|title=Allocation of Business Among Ministers|access-date=29 October 2008|publisher=Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|work=Madras Legislative Assembly 1957 – 1962}}</ref> From 13 March 1962 to 3 October 1963, Kakkan served as the Minister of Agriculture.<ref name="kakkan_resume" /> On 24 April 1962, he was appointed as a member of the Business Advisory Committee<ref name="kakkan_cabinet1962_businessadvisorycommittee">{{Cite web|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/03assly/03_01_1%20&%202.pdf|format=PDF|title=Resume of work done by the Madras Legislative Assembly from March 29 to May 7, 1962|access-date=29 October 2008|publisher=Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|work=Madras Legislative Assembly 1962 – 1967}}</ref> and as [[Minister for Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister]] on 3 October 1963<ref name="kakkan_resume" /> and served till 1967 when the Indian National Congress was defeated in the Assembly elections.<ref name="justicepartysouvenir">{{cite book | title=Justice Party Golden Jubilee Souvenir, 1968| year=1968| pages=68| publisher=Justice Party}}</ref>

== Later life and death ==
In the 1967 Assembly elections, Kakkan stood for elections from Melur (South) constituency and lost to [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] candidate O. P. Raman.<ref name="1967electionresults">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1967/Statistical%20Report%20Madras%201967.pdf|format=PDF|title=Statistical Report on General Election 1967 to the Legislative Assembly of Madras|access-date=30 October 2008|publisher=Election Commission of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527055149/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1967/Statistical%20Report%20Madras%201967.pdf|archive-date=27 May 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following his defeat in the 1967 elections, Kakkan retired from politics.

== Work ==

Some of Kakkan's achievements as Minister have been the construction of the [[Mettur]] and [[Vaigai]] reservoirs<ref name="kakkan_postagestamp" /> and the formation of the Harijan Seva Sangh for the upliftment and welfare of Scheduled Castes.<ref name="kakkan_postagestamp" /> As Minister of Agriculture, he established two Agriculture Universities in Madras state.<ref name="kakkan_postagestamp" /> In 1999, the [[Government of India]] released a [[postage stamp]] commemorating Kakkan and his contributions to the nation.<ref name="kakkan_postagestamp" />

== Family ==
Swarnam Parvathi Kakkan, his wife was a very simple person. She worked as a school teacher in Madurai. She was a great companion and supporter of his principles.

'''Children:'''
He had five sons and one daughter.
P K Padmanthan, his first son, served the Tamil Nadu Government as President and Registrar of Cooperative societies. He was married to Prof. V S Krishnakumari who is a paediatrician and worked as the Director of Institute of Child Health Egmore, Chennai (see [[Madras Medical College]]). His eldest granddaughter [[Meenakshi Vijayakumar]] is currently the Deputy Director in TN fire Services. She is one of the two woman fire officers recruited in Fire service in the country. His second granddaughter Shanthi Krishnan, works in the UK for the National Health Service.

His second son, P K Pakkiyanathan, worked for Simpson's Chennai.
His third son, P K Kasiviswanathan, was an IPS officer who worked as Assistant commissioner of Police in Madurai.
His fourth son, Dr. P K Sathyanathan served as Medical Officer in Tamil Nadu Municipal Service and retired. Dr. Sathyanathan's son
S Anand is involved in politics and is now serving as State Research Chairman in Tamil Nadu Youth Congress. His last son is P K Nadarajamoorthy. His daughter Kasthuri Sivasamy was involved in state politics. Her husband Sivasamy is a retired Chief Engineer at Port Blair Andaman. Their third daughter Rajeshwari is an IPS officer and DIG of police Tamil nadu

Kakkan's brother Viswanathan Kakkan,<ref name="viswanathankakkan">{{cite news | title =Minister should go: Swamy | date =19 February 2006 | work =The Hindu:National }}</ref><ref name="viswanathankakkan2">{{cite book | title=Race-Caste Untouchability RSS| last=Rao| first=K. Suryanarayana| year=2002| pages=22| publisher=Sakthi Pusthaga Nilayam }}</ref> an [[advocate]], was a former Vice-President of the [[Hindu Munnani]]<ref name="hindumunnanivp">{{cite book | title=Race-Caste Untouchability RSS| last=Rao| first=K. Suryanarayana| year=2002| pages=21| publisher=Sakthi Pusthaga Nilayam }}</ref> and a well-known devotee of the [[Shankaracharya]] of [[Kanchi matha|Kanchi]], [[Jayendra Saraswathi]].<ref name="jayendra_saraswathi_1">{{cite news | last=Das | first=Swati | title= Dalit group to protest Seer's arrest | date=23 December 2004 | url =http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/969168.cms | work =The Times of India | access-date = 29 October 2008}}</ref><ref name="Jayendrar_worships">{{cite news | last=Annamalai | first=S. | title=Kanchi Acharya worships at Dalit-run temple | date=12 November 2002 | url=http://www.hvk.org/articles/1102/78.html | work=The Hindu | access-date=29 October 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123090647/http://www.hvk.org/articles/1102/78.html | archive-date=23 January 2008 | url-status=dead }}</ref> He unsuccessfully contested the 2006 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu from [[Perambur]] as a candidate of the [[Janata Party]].<ref name="viswanathankakkan_janataparty">{{Cite web|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/election2006/pollupd/ac/candlwc/s22/s22jpacnst.htm|title=List of contestants of Janata Party in Tamil Nadu|access-date=29 October 2008|publisher=Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|work=State Elections 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080801135217/http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/election2006/pollupd/ac/candlwc/s22/s22jpacnst.htm  |archive-date = 1 August 2008}}</ref><ref name="viswanathankakkan_2006electionresults">{{Cite web|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/election2006/pollupd/ac/states/S22/Aconst05.htm |title=Results |access-date=29 October 2008 |publisher=Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly |work=State Elections 2006 Perambur – Tamil Nadu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009092149/http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/election2006/pollupd/ac/states/S22/Aconst05.htm |archive-date=9 October 2008 }}</ref>

== Notes ==

{{reflist|2}}

{{Indian independence movement|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kakkan, P.}}
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:1st Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu ministers]]
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]]
[[Category:People from Madurai district]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]
[[Category:Members of the 2nd Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Members of the 1st Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]

P. Kakkan - Revision history

2409:4072:6E15:EA3F:0:0:6FCA:E204: /* Early life */