G. P. Pillai

Govindan Paramaswaran Pillai was born in Alathoor in Kerala, India, in an aristocratic nair family.

After gaining a B.A. at the University of Madras he was admitted to the Middle Temple in London in 1898, where he was called to the bar in 1902. He later established the first English language newspaper in South India: the Madras Standard.

Participation in Indian Freedom Struggle

By the end of 19th century, people of Kerala began to take interest in the affairs of the country as they felt a new hope of liberation, with the advent of the Indian National Congress in 1885. The earliest leader of the organisation from Kerala was G.P. Pillai, the well-known Editor of "Madras Standard" who had initiated agitations for civil rights in Travancore State. A forceful writer and orator, he had wide contacts in India and Great Britain and became General Secretary of the Indian National Congress twice. Gandhiji who was then emerging as a leader, had acknowledged the help and guidance given to him by G.P. Pillai in the South African Indian issue and also in the Temperance Movement His grandson is Raghu Pillai (Prohibition).

References

• Middle Temple Admission Register, vol 2 (London 1949)

• http://www.wikilivres.ca/wiki/The_Story_of_My_Experiments_with_Truth/Part_II/Poona_and_Madras