Who Is C Sankaran Nair Whose Biopic 'Kesari Chapter 2' Recalls Jallianwala Bagh And His Fight Against British

As Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is all set to bring the life of Chettur Sankaran Nair, known as C. Sankaran Nair, to the big screen through the movie, Kesari Chapter 2, not only the movie buffs but the entire nation is eager to watch the forgotten legacy of the pre-independence era legend. Commenting on the development, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday expressed his happiness over the project about one of the few Congress chiefs from the southern state, Kerala.

In a post on X, Tharoor reffered Nair as a “fearless patriot” and the “first Malayali President of the Indian National Congress” who took on the British after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

“His legacy deserves much greater recognition in modern Indian history,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP Noted. The biopic movie, Kesari Chapter 2, which is expected to hit the theatres on April 18, is reportedly based on the book ‘The Case That Shook The Empire,’ written by Raghu Palat, the great-grandson of C. Sankaran. 

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Who Is C. Sankaran Nair?

Known for fighting against the British Empire with existing legal measures under the foreign government, lawyer Sankaran Nair has been hailed as one who destroyed the reputation of the perpetrators of injustice, such as the Jallianwala Bagh, in the courts.

Born on 11 July 1857 in the Malabar region in Palakkad, Nair completed his early education at Provincial School at Calicut. After completing his arts degree from the Presidency College, Madras, in 1877, Nair secured a law degree from the Madras Law College, entering his professional journey as a lawyer in 1880 in the High Court of Madras.

At a very young age, Nair entered into the British government system and became a permanent judge in the High Court of Madras.  In the meantime, the Viceroy Lord Curzon had also appointed him Secretary to the Raleigh University Commission. Nair was awarded the title ‘Commander of the Indian Empire’ by the King-Emperor in 1904 for his exceptional service.

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While serving in the government, Nair played an active part in the Indian National Movement. In 1897, during anIndian National Congress conference at Amraoti, he was picked as the organization’s president. He continuously highlighted the high-handedness of foreign administration while demanding self-government for India with Dominion Status. While speaking at the event, he stressed the need for complete equality. “Inequality means race inferiority, national abasement. Acquisition, therefore, of all civil rights conferred on Englishmen, removal of all disabilities on Indians as such—these must be our aim,” Nair said.

Though an ardent nationalist, Nair was not a fanatic. While admiring the British democratic institutions, his life proved him to be a strong patriotist who often slammed the British government for weakening the Indian economy. A liberal and a moderate. Nair worked for the welfare of the people and advocated for progressive reforms on gender equality, caste discrimination, child marriage, free primary education, among others.

Chettur Sankaran Nair, His Fight Against The Britishers

A crucial figure who stood for the people’s cause in the pre-independence era, Nair resigned from the Viceroy’s Council after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. His strong stand against the British Empire, followed by his resignation, risking his career and future made a big impact on the issue, which the British tried to suppress. His selfless action spoke louder, pushing the Britishers into appointing the Hunter Commission, which included both Indian and British members, to investigate the Jalian walabagh massacre.

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Though the Dyer and O’Dwyer, the British officials responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, claimed that they took the action to crush a rebellion by the people, the commission ruled that “there was no rebellion that required to be crushed.” Nair unleashed a scathing attack against the British officers for their abuse of power in one of the books he wrote soon after the tragic event.

When O’Dwyer sued Nair, claiming the latter’s book tarnished his reputation in 1923, Nair faced biased trials as the case was placed for hearings at King’s Court London.

As the Hunter Commission had exposed his truth, the case has been observed as a tactic of the perpetrators of the massacre to save their face.

As part of the tactic, Nair was offered a different option by the British court that he could either apologise or pay a hefty fine (approximately Rs. 59.5 million in today’s rates), an amount that is too much for an Indian back then.

Despite being a huge financial burden, Nair chose to pay the amount rather than bowing to the cold-blooded murderers in the British army.

When the British reporters asked Nair if the court verdict damaged his reputation, he famously replied that ‘even if all the judges of the King’s Court got together and unanimously declared him guilty, it would not hurt his reputation one bit.’

Though he lost the case, the five weeks of court proceedings made the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre known to the whole world, affecting the credibility of the foreign governance.

With this, the British were pressured to give Indians more power of self-governance. Though lost in court, it was a moral victory for Nair, further boosting his image. He was welcomed with celebration on his return to Madras.

Died in 1934, Nair had at some point criticised Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement, claiming that it was an unconstitutional method that may lead to violence and anarchy. Notably, many have forgotten Nair and his contributions to the people of the country.

After losing respect, both the villains of the Jalianwala Bagh had miserable ends. While one died of sickness after living a secluded life following a series of strokes, the other was shot dead at an event in London by one of the victims of the British brutality.

The Indian man, Udham Singh, who gunned down O’Dwyer, did not flee the scene; instead, he stated it was his duty.

What happened in Jallianwala Bagh?

One of the darkest actions of the Britishers in India, the British Army opened fire at a large crowd of Indians gathered to peacefully protest against the British government at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on the 13th of April, 1919.

Nearly 400 people, including women and children, were brutally murdered. The Jallianwala Bagh was a closed space nearly completely enclosed by walls and had only one exit, which was sealed off by the soldiers, leaving people with no option to escape from the death.