Jallianwala Bagh Massacre & Sir Sankaran Nair

Prelims – History of India and Current events of national importance.

Mains (GS I) – Indian Heritage and Culture.

Why in News?

Prime Minister Recently recalled Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, who fought a battle against a senior official of the Raj who had sued Sir Sankaran for holding him responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

• He is a nationalist and jurist and a firm opponent of British colonialism.
• Born in - 1857 in an aristocratic family in Malabar’s Palakkad district.
• Graduated from - Presidency College in Madras and got a degree in law.
• Hired by - Sir Horatio Shepherd who later became Chief Justice of Madras High Court.
• Contributions - Led the Indian National Congress Session in Amraoti in 1897.
• Sankaran Nair was designated as the public prosecutor in 1899 and later ascended to the position of judge at the Madras High Court in 1908.
• In 1912, he was honored with a knighthood by the British Crown.
• By 1915, he became a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, focusing on educational reforms.
• In 1919, he played an important role in the expansion of provisions in the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms.

Montagu-Chelmsford reforms introduced a system of dyarchy in the provinces and increased participation of Indians in the administration.

• However, in 1919, he chose to resign in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• Nair believed in India’s right to self-government.
• Acted as the chairman of the All-India Committee, which engaged with the Simon Commission in 1928–29, albeit with limited success.
• Held the position of councillor to the Secretary of State for India from 1920 to 1921.
• In 1922, Nair published Gandhi and Anarchy, a book in which he spelt out his critique of Gandhi’s methods of non-violence, civil disobedience, and non-cooperation.
• He also accused Michael O’Dwyer, who was Lieutenant Governor of Punjab at the time of the massacre, of following policies that led to the deaths.
• Nair passed away in 1934 at the age of 77.

Reference

The Indian Express | Sir Sankaran Nair