Alunkal Mathai Thomas (4 June 1912 – 27 April 2004) was an Indian politician from Kerala and an Indian National Congress leader. He served as Minister of State (Food and Agriculture) in Fourth Nehru ministry, First Nanda ministry and Lal Bahadur Shastri ministry.
A.M. Thomas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Union Minister of State for Defence, Government of India | |
| In office 24 January 1966 – 13 March 1967 | |
| Prime Minister | Indira Gandhi |
| Minister | Yashwantrao Chavan, Sardar Swaran Singh |
| Union Minister of State of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India | |
| In office 21 November 1963 – 27 May 1964 | |
| Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Minister | Swaran Singh |
| In office 27 May 1964 – 9 June 1964 | |
| Prime Minister | Gulzarilal Nanda (interim) |
| Minister | Swaran Singh |
| In office 9 June 1964 – 11 January 1966 | |
| Prime Minister | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| Minister | Chidambaram Subramaniam |
| Member of Parliament for Ernakulam | |
| In office 1952–1967 | |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | V.V Menon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 June 1912 Kurikad Village, Kingdom of Cochin |
| Died | April 27, 2004 (aged 91) Kochi |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Thankam |
| Children | 4 sons and 5 daughters |
| Parent |
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| Occupation |
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Early life
editA. M. Thomas was born on June 4, 1912, in the village of Kurikad[1] in Kingdom of Cochin. His father was Mathai of the Alunkal family. He was educated at St. Thomas College, Thrissur, Maharaja's College, Ernakulam and Law College, Trivandrum. He married Thankam in 1940 and they have four sons and five daughters. Mr. Thomas was a lawyer in Supreme Court. He served as Member of Cochin Legislative Council, Member of Standing Finance Committee. Member of Committee appointed by Cochin Government to enquire into disabilities of Pali tenants and Tenancy, Select Committees, Member of Travancore-Cochin Assembly between 1949 and 1952, Member of Executive Committee of Travancore-Cochin Assembly Congress Parliamentary Party and also Congress Whip from 1949 to 1951, and Speaker of Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly during 1951–52 at an age of 39.
Parliamentary career
editHe was elected from Ernakulam[2] to Lok Sabha[3] for three consecutive terms from 1952 to 1962. He Served in a number of important committees constituted by the Parliament and was also the Chairman of the Select Committee on the Rubber Bill. He was Union Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture from 1957 to 1963.He led Indian Delegation to the United Nations Sugar Conference held in Geneva in 1958 and 1961 and Delegation to Canada and the United States in 1960 as well.
Death
editThomas died at his residence in Kochi on the morning of 27 April 2004. He was 91.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Biodata, A.M Thomas. "A.M Thomas Biodata". entranceindia.com. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ MP, A.M Thomas. "A.M Thomas MP". loksabhaph.nic.in. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Debate, A.M Thomas. "A.M Thomas Debate". eparlib.nic.in. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Death, A.M Thomas. "A.M Thomas death". Zee News. Retrieved 15 September 2020.