A. J. John, Anaparambil

Who was A. J. John, Anaparambil?

Anaparambil Joseph John was a Travancorean freedom fighter, and statesman. He was Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin and Governor of Madras.

Born at Thalayolaparambu, near Vaikom, Kingdom of Travancore, he was a noted jurist.

He was elected to the Travancore Legislative Council from Vaikom. He was imprisoned in the cause of the freedom movement.

In 1947, the Travancore Constituent Assembly was declared by the Maharaja. The Assembly sat for the first time in 1948 with A. J. John as President. In 1949 he became the Finance and Revenue Minister in the Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai Ministry.

In the first general elections of 1951 held in India, he won for the Indian National Congress Party in the seat of Poonjar. A. J. John was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin, ruling the state from March 1952 up to March 1954.

In the last Ministry for the Travancore-Cochin State, he was the Home Minister. Later he was the Governor of Madras.