The third Chief Minister of Karnataka or Mysore State as it was known then, was Kadidal Manjappa. Born in 1908, Manjappa was a freedom fighter who chose to live by Gandhi’s ideals. Kadidal Manjappa served as Mysore state’s Chief Minister from 19th of August 1956 to 31st October 1956. S. Nijalingappa succeeded Manjappa as Chief Minister.
Personal Life of Kadidal Manjappa
Hailing from a small village, Harogolige of Shivamogga (Shimoga) district, Manjappa rose far above the village as a freedom fighter. He graduated from the Maharaja College in Mysore and also has a law degree from Poona Law College.
Manjappa was a thinker who had a way with words. Besides being a freedom fighter and a politician, he was an author. He is the author of three novels and an autobiography titled “Nanasagada Kanasu” (An unfulfilled dream).
Political Life of Kadidal Manjappa
Kadidal Manjappa was a man with a vision and a mission to achieve the vision. Coming from humble beginnings did not deter him from thinking big. His determination and courage have always inspired politicians and civilians to take the road less travelled.
Although his term as Chief Minister of Mysore was short-lived, he brought about changes in government policies that far outlived his career. He served in various offices across the State and Central government as a minister. He is remembered today as the politician responsible for initiating land reforms during the early fifties.
Reforms and Contributions
Manjappa introduced laws related to the recognition of the rights of the cultivators and the abolition of absentee landlordism. The tenancy act and the Inam abolition act are credited to Manjappa and his forward thinking. He strongly and vociferously disapproved the excesses of the emergency declared in 1976. He was finally the leader of the “Congress for democracy” Karnataka State Unit, a movement started by Jagjivan Ram.
His contribution to society is not only as Chief Minister but also as the revenue and public works minister. He is remembered for all the reforms and the tireless, selfless work that he has put in over a span of 32 years. The numerous reforms that he pioneered showed his genuine concern for the welfare and happiness of the people. His autobiography and other books and his way of life speak of a legacy that has so far never been replicated.
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