K. P. Kesava Menon

Who was K. P. Kesava Menon?

Kizhakke Potta Kesava Menon was a patriot, idealist and Indian independence activist. He had born in Tharoor village of Palakkad as the grandson of the Maharajah of Palghat and as the son of Bhiman Achan. He graduated in Arts from Madras University and Bar-at-law from Middle Temple. He joined the Indian National Congress in 1915 and served as the secretary of the Malabar branch of the Home Rule League after setting up practice in Calicut. He was a member of the Home Rule League under Annie Besant which proceeded to London to present a memorandum to the Secretary of State in 1917. He also wrote a dozen of books and collections of essays. Menon was the founder of Mathrubhumi, a popular daily newspaper which earned the second place in circulation in Kerala.

Kesava Menon married Akathethara Manikyamelidam Laxmi Nethyaramma. Palakkatsseri Valiyaraja Manikyamelidam Shekhari Varma is the second of his five children. The other four children are: Chellamma, Thankam, Padmini and Leela.