Sir C. (Chettur) Sankaran Nair

Born on 11 July 1857 in Malabar, Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair built a distinguished career in law and public service during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He rose through the Madras legal world to serve as Advocate-General of Madras and later as a judge of the Madras High Court, earning a reputation for intellect, independence, and sharp argument.

He was also active in Indian political life. Nair served as president of the Indian National Congress in 1897 and later joined the Viceroy's Executive Council, where he worked on education and public policy. He is often remembered for his willingness to challenge authority even while working within official institutions.

One of the most notable episodes of his later life came after the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, when he openly criticized British actions in Punjab. His book Gandhi and Anarchy led to a high-profile libel case brought by Michael O'Dwyer, helping secure his place in the history of India's constitutional and political struggles. He died on 24 April 1934.