Former Chief Minister of Travancore- Cochin state and prominent Congress Leader of the yesteryears who laid new avenues for the revolutionary changes in the social, cultural and political spheres of Kerala. Born on 23rd May 1891 at Mayyanad , a place near Kollam. Though he was not a bright student , he showed interest in Music and Acting. Completed high school education after experiencing many distresses.
Later enrolled atMaharaja’s College, Ernakulam for the Intermediate Course. Since he was not successful in the examination, he returned to his native place to take up a job as an English Teacher. The bitter experience faced by him in the name of caste during the days of education and teaching forced him to fight against the caste system. In 1920 he married and proceeded to Thiruvananthapuram for continuing his college education.
On the advice of Sri Narayanaguru, C.Kesavan took a degree in Law and opened legal practice in Kollam and Trivandrum courts. During Kesavan was attracted to National Freedom Struggle and began participating in the same. He planned to fight caste system on taking up the leadership of SNDP(Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana)Yogam. In 1933 he became the General Secretary of the SNDP Yogam. and along with this elevation he co-ordinated the activities of christians and muslims. In association with christians and muslims he formed the Joint Political Congress soon and started the historical ‘Nivarthana Prakshobhanam’(Liberation struggle of the weaker communities). In 1935 he was jailed on a charge of treason, misinterpreting his speech. But due to public fury Government changed its stand. Later Govt sanctioned representation in the Assembly on the basis of Adult Franchise, issued Temple Entry Proclamation and instituted Public Service Commission .Later he started a Newspaper called ‘Kaumudi’ utilising the funds collected from the public. Govt cancelled its licence due to severe criticism. He became a minister in the first Ministry of Travancore formed by Pattom Thanupillai. At the time of unification of Travancore and Cochin states Sri. Kesavan was the president of state congress(1949). In 1951 on the resignation of Sri. T. K. Narayana Pillai as Chief Minister of Travancore state in order to prevent a political crisis he was the acting Chief Minister from 2 Feb1951 to 12 March 1952. Subsequent to this he was president of the provincial congress committee. He eventually retracted from active politics. He always visualized a social system based firmly on universal brotherhood, equality and justice. He died in 1969.