Setting an old record straight

The University College will set an old record straight when a photograph of a student whom the college ousted way back in 1883, will be unveiled at its hall of fame on Monday.

G. Parameswaran Pillai, who had a close association with Gandhiji, was no bad student. In fact, it was his writings which got him into trouble.

Fiery writer

As a student, he penned many an incisive column under pseudonyms in various newspapers against issues ranging from corruption to Brahmin supremacy.

The then Diwan of Travancore Vembaukum Ramiengar was unhappy at one of those writings, which appeared in the bi-weekly ‘Western star’ in 1883. The Diwan found out the identity of the writer and promptly shot off a letter to the college Principal John Rose asking him to throw out the student writer. The Principal, knowing his talent, refused to take action.

The Diwan then issued a special order, which ended Pillai’s stay at the University College. But the Principal gave him a recommendation letter, which got him a place in the Madras Presidency College, where he studied law.

After a stint in London, he came back and established the newspaper ‘Madras Standard.’ This newspaper became Gandhiji’s platform to write about the grievances of Indians in South Africa.

Gandhiji mentions Pillai in his autobiography: “The greatest help here came to me from G. Parameswaran Pillai, the editor of the ‘Madras Standard.’

Ties with Gandhiji

He had made a careful study of the issues of Indians in South Africa and he often invited me to his office and gave me guidance. Pillai placed the columns of the newspaper at my disposal and I freely availed myself of the offer.”

Pillai drafted the ‘Malayali Memorial,’ a memorandum to the then Maharaja of Travancore, seeking fair share of jobs in Travancore government for Malayali youth. He had a close association with social revolutionary P. Palpu and went on to inspire the ‘Ezhava Memorial’. He also played a key role in bringing the youth on the path of rebellion against the autocratic administration of the then Diwan of Travancore. He also became one of the secretaries of the Indian National Congress.

Pioneer of agitations

“G.P. Pillai used to write in a simple, but powerful language. He managed to bring burning issues into focus. He was a pioneer of political agitation in Kerala,” says Gopakumaran Nair, general secretary of Kerala History Congress, which is organising the photo unveiling event.

Mr. Pillai died when just 39.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the grandson of Gandhiji, will unveil the photograph. The event attains significance, as this is the 150th anniversary of the University College.

“Photographs of former President K.R. Narayanan and historian Elamkulam Krishnapillai will also be unveiled. Mr. Narayanan was never given a welcome here despite being a former student. We are setting that record straight too,” says Mr. Gopakumaran.