P.C. Mathew, one of the last surviving members of the Indian Civil Service, in which he had a distinguished career, passed away at his home here on Monday. He was 97.
Puthenveettil Chandapilla Mathew was born in Mavelikara in what is now Kerala in 1913. He had his early education at the CMS High School in Mavelikara. He was a brilliant student: he was the Travancore state topper in the school final examination. He did BSc (Honours) at the Maharajah's College in Trivandrum. He was later pursuing his higher education at the University of London when he was selected to the ICS.
He entered the ICS in 1936 and joined government service in the Madras Presidency. His first posting was as Assistant Collector in Cuddalore. He was subsequently posted in Tanjore, Coimbatore and Malabar.
He was the India government's Agent in Kandy during 1945-46. He held various senior positions in the Tamil Nadu government from 1946. In 1955, he became Chief Commissioner of Manipur at a time when the north-eastern region was being racked by multiple insurgencies.
He was then posted in New Delhi where he was Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home; Director, Central Statistical Organisation; Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat; Additional Secretary, Ministry of Economic and Defence Coordination; Special Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs; and Secretary, Ministry of Labour.
In 1969, he was posted to the International Labour Organisation in Bangkok.
Mr. Mathew retired from government service in October 1972 as Secretary, Works and Housing, ending a 36-year-long civil service career marked by a reputation for upstanding integrity and efficiency.
After retirement, he continued to lead an active life in Chennai. He was president of the Madras School of Social Work and a member of the Madras Christian College Association.
Mr. Mathew was married to Omana, eldest daughter of C.P. Matthen, a prominent banker. She and their three daughters, Eliamma Thomas, Annamma Philip and Mariamma Basu, and son Babu Mathew, survive him. The funeral will take place in Chennai on March 29 at the Kilpauk cemetery at 3 p.m.
