T.K. Divakaran
Shri. T.K.Divakaran was a freedom fighter, a veteran trade union leader, and a well-respected ex-Minister in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. He devoted his life to mobilizing and organizing labourers and became their voice fighting for their basic rights. He was an influential leader, a renowned orator and a visionary par excellence.
Shri. Divakaran was born on December 8, 1920, at Pattathanam in Kollam (Quilon) district to Shri. Krishnan and Smt.Nani. He had two siblings, elder brother T.K.Bhaskaran and younger sister T.K.Bhargavi. Immediately after his school education, he ventured into public service through trade union activities in Kollam. He affiliated himself with the United Trade Union Congress (U.T.U.C), the trade union wing of Revolutionary Socialist Party (R.S.P.), and rose through the ranks to become the President of U.T.U.C. He served as an active member of the Travancore state congress in 1940. He then became a founding member of the Kerala Socialist Party (K.S.P.) in 1947 and later joined R.S.P. in 1949 along with K.C Govindan, Shri. K. Janardhanan Nair, Shri. N Sreekantan Nair, and Shri. Baby John.
Shri. Divakaran participated in and led multiple protests, non-cooperation movements, and hunger strikes as part of the Freedom Struggle and the fight to uplift labourers. He was instrumental in labourers gaining access to minimum wages and better working conditions. These struggles led to multiple prison sentences, the first of which was at the tender age of 18 for organizing a Travancore State Congress protest in 1938. He underwent further imprisonment for extended periods (total of 57 months) in connection with the Freedom struggle (1942 Quit India Movement and 1944), Punnapra-Vayalar Struggle in 1946, and the Cotton Mill Strike in 1949.
In 1952, Shri. Divakaran won the Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly (TCLA) elections from Kollam constituency (against Shri. A.A Rahim) and served as the Deputy Leader of opposition parties. He was reelected to TCLA in 1954 (against former Kerala Chief Minister Shri. R Shankar) and served as the Chairman of the Estimates Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Coir Board. Later, he served as Kollam Municipal Chairman from 1962-1967.
Shri. Divakaran was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly (KLA) in 1967 (won against Shri. Henry Austin) and was part of Shri E.M.S Namboodiripad ministry from 1967-1969. He handled portfolios of Public Works, Municipalities-Corporation, Tourism, and Printing. He was also the Leader of the House in the first Shri. C Achutha Menon ministry in 1969. In 1970, he was reelected from Kollam (against Dr. P.K Sukumaran) to the KLA and was a member of Shri. C Achutha Menon ministry. He handled portfolios of Public Works and Irrigation till his demise in January 19, 1976.
He is survived by his wife, Smt. Devayani, and their five daughters and two sons. His eldest son, Shri. Babu Divakaran, served as the Minister for Labour and Employment in Shri. A.K. Antony and Shri. Oommen Chandy ministry (2001-2006).
Latest from Our Blog
DOWN THE MEMORY LANE
Dr. T.V. Swaminathan IAS (Rtd)
Former PWD Secretary to Government of Kerala
Of the countless persons encountered in the span of one’s life, it can be confidently and deservedly said of only very few “death, be not proud; for the eminent individual whose biological life you have sniffed out lies permanently in the memory of generations”. Sri T.K. Divakaran belongs to this microscopic minority for his commitment to the responsibilities fearlessly and faultlessly.
Read more
MY MEMORIES
R. Gopalaswamy IAS (Rtd)
Former PWD Secretary to Government of Kerala 1967-73
I met T.K.Divakaran for the first time when I was posted as Secretary, Public Works Department in 1967. Till 1973, when I left for Delhi to join as Joint Secretary to Government of India, I worked for six years in the Public Works Department and with him. I took him as he was, simple courteous, and sparse in words. I did not even enquire about his past. In fact, I never made enquiries about any of my Ministers’ background in general. I had to work with Ministers, whoever he or she was, and what mattered was our relationship with mutual regard and respect. I found in Divakaran this empathy. We worked together, each knowing our duties and limitations. I could not have asked for more. I used to hear that he had not studied much. It did not matter. He was a Minister and I was to assist him, guide him whenever necessary and say or write frankly what I felt about a matter. He understood me well. Together we did our best.
Read more
AN EXEMPLARY MAN
G. Bhaskaran Nair IAS (Rtd)
Former Chief Secretary and Advisor to the Governor
Mr. T.K. Divakaran with whom I was associated during my tenure as Secretary to Government for General Administration and Tourism is one of the unforgettable vcharacters I have met. His graceful manners and smiling face left an indelible impression in one’s mind. What impressed me most was his extraordinary ability to grasp the intricacies of service problems and suggest solutions. He also made significant contributions in the development of Tourism in the State, particularly in regard to the Resortsat Kovalam and Kumarakom. An able and good man.
Read more