The forthcoming biopic on legal luminary and freedom fighter Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, based on the book ‘The Case That Shook the Empire,’ promises to shine a spotlight on an Indian icon. Born in 1857 in Mankara, a village in Malabar’s Palakkad district, Nair was a fervent freedom fighter, a passionate advocate for social reform and a respected lawyer and judge.
Profile of Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair
Nair’s dedication to India’s self-determination was evident throughout his illustrious career. He played a key role in establishing the Indian National Congress (INC) after its formation in 1885. By 1897, at a relatively young age, he became the party’s president, the first from Kerala to achieve this feat.
Lord Curzon appointed him as a member of the Raleigh University Commission in 1902. Two years later, he received the Companion of the Indian Empire award from the King-Emperor, followed by knighthood in 1912. Nair was appointed as a permanent judge in the Madras High Court in 1908 and took charge of the education portfolio when he joined the Viceroy’s Council in 1915.
Nair’s Role in Freedom Movement
As an impassioned patriot, Nair was deeply involved in India’s struggle for independence. His contribution towards the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms in 1919 as part of the Viceroy’s Executive Council was significant, helping expand provisions that introduced a dyarchy system in provinces and enhanced the participation of Indians in administration.
However, after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919, Nair resigned from the Viceroy’s Council in protest. This act sent shockwaves through the British government, leading to the lifting of press censorship in Punjab, termination of martial law, and formation of a committee headed by Lord William Hunter to investigate the incident.
Criticism of Gandhian Methods
In his book ‘Gandhi and Anarchy,’ Nair penned his critiques of Mahatma Gandhi’s methods, arguing that non-violence, civil disobedience, and non-cooperation could inevitably lead to riots and bloodshed.
Legal Battle against Michael O’Dwyer
Nair accused Michael O’Dwyer, Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, in his book ‘Gandhi and Anarchy,’ of being responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. As a result, he faced a defamation trial filed by O’Dwyer in England. Despite losing the case, the trial profoundly affected the British empire in India by demonstrating a clear bias of the British government and an intention to defend those who had committed atrocities against Indians. Consequently, it bolstered nationalism in India and fortified the resolve for self-government.
Social Reforms and Judgments
Nair’s commitment to social reform was evident in some of his landmark judgments as a judge in the Madras High Court. In the Budasna v Fatima case (1914), his ruling favored the converted Hindus, stating that they could not be treated as outcastes. He also remained a potent voice in favour of inter-caste and inter-religious marriages.
Nair’s life and work, marked by intense patriotism, legal expertise, and a determination for social reform, serves as an inspiring model for modern India.
