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	Total population 5,090,000 and the total seats in the Assembly 70.<ref>Saroja Sundararajan [2002] ''Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar- a biography'', Page 293.</ref>		Total population 5,090,000 and the total seats in the Assembly 70.<ref>Saroja Sundararajan [2002] ''Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar- a biography'', Page 293.</ref>

	Christians, Ezhavas and Muslims who were contributing to economy significantly and were demographically prominent were grossly underrepresented in terms of assembly seats. So under the leadership of T.M. Varghese representatives of [[Christians]], [[Ezhava]] and [[Muslims\|Muslim]] communities met the Diwan. The meeting didn't yield any results. T.M. Varghese realized that a government with no responsibility to the people was an anachronism.A meeting of the leaders of the three communities including C Kesavan was called at the L.M.S. hall, ~~Thiruvanthapuram~~ on January 25, 1933. They decided to stay united under T.M. Varghese and abstain from the elections. This is known as ''Nivarthana Prakshobhanam (Abstention Movement)''.		Christians, Ezhavas and Muslims who were contributing to economy significantly and were demographically prominent were grossly underrepresented in terms of assembly seats. So under the leadership of T.M. Varghese representatives of [[Christians]], [[Ezhava]] and [[Muslims\|Muslim]] communities met the Diwan. The meeting didn't yield any results. T.M. Varghese realized that a government with no responsibility to the people was an anachronism.A meeting of the leaders of the three communities including C Kesavan was called at the L.M.S. hall, Thiruvananthapuram on January 25, 1933. They decided to stay united under T.M. Varghese and abstain from the elections. This is known as ''Nivarthana Prakshobhanam (Abstention Movement)''.

	=== Joint Political Party. ===		=== Joint Political Party. ===

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{{more footnotes|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}

'''T. M. Varghese''' (1886–1961) was an [[India freedom fighter]], lawyer, statesman, former minister and politician from Kerala.
[[File:Tm varghese.jpg|alt=Photo of T.M. Varghese|thumb|Photo of T.M. Varghese]]
{{Infobox person |birth_date =}}
He was born in a [[Mar Thoma Syrian Church|Mar Thoma Syrian Christian]] family and the eldest son of Mathai Thandaaneth at [[Pallickal, Mavelikkara|Pallickal]], (near [[Kayamkulam]]). His education was at [[Mavelikkara]] and [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. After graduating from the Law College, he began practicing at [[Kollam]].

There he actively started political activities. He was the foremost leader of the ('''Responsible government Struggle''') struggle against [[C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer]], the Dewan of Travancore State and '''Abstention movement''' or '''Nivarthana Prakshobham'''.

== Family life ==
At the age of 16 he married from [[Mavelikkara]]. His bride was only 9 years old. T. M. Varghese had 11 children. T.M. Varghese's education was paid for by his paternal uncle P.T. John, a very wealthy prominent lawyer of his time. The family bought a piece of land near Kammankulam near Government Boys High School, [[Kollam]]. The lake near this land has interesting connections with [[Kallumala Samaram]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sudhish|first=Navamy|date=2019-12-14|title=A pond etched in Dalit history in ruins|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/a-pond-etched-in-dalit-history-in-ruins/article30307613.ece|access-date=2021-03-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Political career ==
He was the founder member of the [[Travancore State Congress]] party. He was a prominent figure in struggles towards [[democratization]] of [[Travancore]].

=== Abstention Movement. ===
Soon after Sir [[C. P. Ramaswami Iyer]] popularly known as Sir C.P. was appointed as Dewan of Travancore, he appointed non native, [[Tamil Brahmin]] to all the top posts of Government. Against this the [[Nair]]s joined together and agitated. This is known as the “'''Malayali Memorial Agitation'''.”<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nair|first=C. Gouridasan|date=2014-02-25|title=Malayali who found a place in Gandhi's heart, biography|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/malayali-who-found-a-place-in-gandhis-heart-biography/article5723418.ece|access-date=2021-03-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> As a result of this, Maharaja of Travancore [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]] issued a proclamation on October 21, 1932 to constitute a new State Assembly. This came into effect on January 1, 1933. As per this order, the seats were divided among the community as given below:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Community
!Population
!Seats
|-
|Christians
|1,60,400
|10
|-
|Ezhavas
|89,900
|3
|-
|Nairs
|86,800
|36
|-
|Other Hindus
|47,900
|15
|-
|Muslims
|35,300
|3
|-
|Lower castes
|91,700
|1
|-
|Europeans
|578
|2
|}
Total population 5,090,000 and the total seats in the Assembly 70.<ref>Saroja Sundararajan [2002] ''Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar- a biography'', Page 293.</ref>

Christians, Ezhavas and Muslims who were contributing to economy significantly and were demographically prominent were grossly underrepresented in terms of assembly seats. So under the leadership of T.M. Varghese representatives of [[Christians]], [[Ezhava]] and [[Muslims|Muslim]] communities met the Diwan. The meeting didn't yield any results. T.M. Varghese realized that a government with no responsibility to the people was an anachronism.A meeting of the leaders of the three communities including C Kesavan was called at the L.M.S. hall, Thiruvanthapuram on January 25, 1933. They decided to stay united under T.M. Varghese and abstain from the elections. This is known as ''Nivarthana Prakshobhanam (Abstention Movement)''.

=== Joint Political Party. ===
The [[Christianity in Kerala|Christians of Travancore]] met together at [[Thiruvananthapuram]] on November 21, 1932 and formed All Kerala Christian Union (Kerala Kristava Maha Sabha). A general meeting of this Union was held at [[Kozhencherry]] from May 9 to 11, 1935.

On the first day T.M. Varghese proposed a resolution that, ''“The election of the Travancore Legislative Assembly is not justifiable, the government officers have made unlawful influence in its formation, and it is against the wishes of Christian-Ezhava- Muslim people, it is requested that the government should immediately disband the present assembly and elect a new one.”''

On the last day there was a meeting of All Kerala Joint Political Meeting. C. Kesavan one of the speakers said, ''“I am talking about C.P. ([[C. P. Ramaswami Iyer]]). We don’t require this pest. Travancore got a bad name after his arrival. This country will be gone to the dogs unless this man leaves.”'' (this is now known as [[Kozhencherry|C. Kesavan's Kozhencherry Address]]).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kunhikrishnan|first=K.|date=2011-03-15|title=Rebel extraordinaire|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/Rebel-extraordinaire/article14948379.ece|access-date=2021-03-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> This angered the Diwan Sir C.P. and [[C. Kesavan]] was arrested on June 7, 1935 and was sentenced to two years jail.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Downtrodden yet to be uplifted'|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2010/may/13/downtrodden-yet-to-be-uplifted-154483.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> Three lawyers T.M. Varghese, K.T.Thomas and Barrister George Joseph appeared for C.Kesavan.

All Kerala Joint Political Party (Samuktha Party) was formed and elected T.M. Varghese as Chairman and K.T.Thomas as Secretary. Because of all these, the government at last conceded their demands to a certain extent by introducing communal reservation in appointments to the public service. On August 1936 a new constitution was promulgated and election for the Travancore State Assembly was held on April–May, 1937. T.M. Varghese won the election as a candidate of the All Kerala Joint Political Party. In the [[Sree Moolam Popular Assembly]] he was elected as Deputy Chairman.

C. Kesavan who was put in jail in 1935 was released in 1937. Welcoming Kesavan at Kollam and Alapuzha, T.M. Varghese said, “In the name of and on behalf of the 5.1 lakhs (5,10,000) of people of Travancore, I accord with pleasure, a hearty welcome to the most-self sacrificing individual C. Kesavan."<ref>Saroja Sundararajan [2002]. ''Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Aiyar- a biography'', Page 147.</ref> Diwan was furious. As per his suggestion a no confidence motion was moved against the Deputy speaker. In the voting that followed 42 supported the motion, 24 was against and 2 abstained. Thus T.M. Varghese was removed from his post as deputy speaker.

=== State Congress. ===
In February 1938, T.M. Varghese tabled a motion to discuss the point “'''''Responsible Government,” (Utharavaditha Bharanam - Government responsible to the people)'''''. Sir C.P. allowed this motion to be discussed. In the Assembly, T.M. Varghese declared. “''There is no need of a Diwan, in between the 5.1 million people of Travancore and their Maharaja.”'' [[Pattom Thanu Pillai]] and K.T. Thomas spoke supporting the motion. On that day after coming out of the Assembly hall, they formed the Travancore State Congress.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Haridas|first=P. T.|title=Genesis of the Travancore State Congress|date=1977|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44139095|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=38|pages=398–404|jstor=44139095|issn=2249-1937}}</ref>

Arrests followed. Banks and newspapers were closed. Agitation spread. In 1938, a number of leaders and newspaper editors were assaulted. There was no enquiry on this. For discussion, T.M. Varghese brought a resolution in the Assembly but Sir C.P. did not accept it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=NOORANI|first=A. G.|title=C.P. and independent Travancore|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/books/article30217602.ece|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Frontline|language=en}}</ref>

Finally on July 30, 1947 [[Travancore]] decided to join Indian Union. On August 15, India attained freedom. On 19, Sir C.P. resigned. The government issued a proclamation on September 4, 1947 stating the formation of a “Responsible Government.”<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reminding Sir CP of July 25, 1947|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2011/apr/12/reminding-sir-cp-of-july-25-1947-243989.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

=== Minister. ===
In the first general election to the Travancore legislative assembly after Travancore and Cochin were unified, T.M. Varghese was elected from [[Pathanapuram (State Assembly constituency)]] and became minister of education. On October 17, 1948 the ministry resigned.

In 1949, T.M. Varghese was elected as the Speaker of the Assembly.

Again in 1952 T.M. Varghese became Home Minister in [[A. J. John|A. J. John's]] short lived ministry.

== Arts ==
He was instrumental in helping [[Kunchacko]] set up [[Udaya Pictures]], the first prominent Kerala based film production company. He provided legal assistance to set up the company and also became a shareholder in it.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chelangad|first=Saju|date=2014-04-20|title=How Udaya Productions came to be|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/how-udaya-productions-came-to-be/article5928834.ece|access-date=2021-03-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Death and memorials ==
He died on 31st December 1961. The body was cremated at [[Mar Thoma Syrian Church|Marthoma Church]] [[Kollam]].

There is a park constructed in [[Kollam]] in memory of him and is maintained by [[Kollam Municipal Corporation]]. There is also a library in his name maintained by municipality situated near [[Ammachiveedu Muhurthi|Ammachiveedu]].<ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=2018-09-25|title=Mission Kollam for district's growth|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mission-kollam-for-districts-growth/article25040213.ece|access-date=2021-03-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[C. Kesavan]]
*[[Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

* Kovoor, E. M. [1965]. ''T. M. Varghese'', Current Books, Kerala.
* Mathew, N. M. [2007]. ''Malankara Mar Thoma sabha charitram'', (History of the Mar Thoma church), Volume 2. Pub.: E. J. Institute, Thiruvalla, Kerala.
* Mathew, N. M. [2008]. ''Malankara Mar Thoma sabha charitram'', (History of the Mar Thoma church), Volume 3. Pub.: E. J. Institute, Thiruvalla, Kerala.
* Menon, A. Sreedhara [1967]. ''A survey of Kerala history'', S. Viswanathan Printers & Publishers, Chennai.

==External links==
*[http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/ginfo_2.htm History of Kerala legislature]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varghese, T. M.}}
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1961 deaths]]
[[Category:Mar Thoma Syrian Church]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kollam]]
[[Category:People from Kollam]]
[[Category:People of the Kingdom of Travancore]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayali politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly]]

T. M. Varghese - Revision history

->Neconnaitpoint: Minor spelling fix.

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