The Indian independence movement brought to fore great inspirational activists who were selfless. While many of them relapsed back to peace after independence, others ventured into politics to provide a better life for the unprivileged.

   Though a few of them are still remembered today, most of them have been wiped off from the pages of history. One such man is P. Kakkan. P. Kakkan (18 June 1908 – 23 December 1981) or fondly known as Kakkanji, was an Indian politician and freedom fighter who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, Member of Parliament, President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and in various ministerial posts in Congress governments in the erstwhile Madras state between 1957 and 1967.

Early life

   Kakkan was born into a Tamil family on 18 June 1908 in a village called Thumbaipatti in Melur Taluk, Madurai district of Madras Presidency. His father Poosari Kakkan was a....