Kailash Nath Katju | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 3rd Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh | |
| In office 31 January 1957 – 11 March 1962 | |
| Preceded by | Bhagwantrao Mandloi |
| Succeeded by | Bhagwantrao Mandloi |
| 4thMinister of Defence | |
| In office 10 January 1955 – 30 January 1957 | |
| Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Preceded by | Baldev Singh |
| Succeeded by | V. K. Krishna Menon |
| 4thMinister of Home Affairs | |
| In office 5 November 1951 – 10 January 1955 | |
| Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Preceded by | C. Rajagopalachari |
| Succeeded by | Govind Ballabh Pant |
| 2nd Governor of West Bengal | |
| In office 21 June 1948 – 1 November 1951 | |
| Chief Minister | Bidhan Chandra Roy |
| Preceded by | C. Rajagopalachari |
| Succeeded by | Harendra Coomar Mookerjee |
| 1st Governor of Odisha | |
| In office 15 August 1947 – 20 June 1948 | |
| Chief Minister | Harekrushna Mahatab |
| Preceded by | Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi |
| Succeeded by | Asaf Ali |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1887-06-17)17 June 1887 |
| Died | 17 February 1968(1968-02-17) (aged 80) |
| Party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Rup Kishori |
| Children | 5; includingShiva Nath Katju |
| Alma mater | Allahabad University |
| Occupation |
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Kailash Nath Katju (17 June 1887 – 17 February 1968)[citation needed] was an Indian politician who served as Governor ofOdisha andWest Bengal, Chief Minister ofMadhya Pradesh, Union Home Minister and Union Defence Minister. He was also one of India's most prominent lawyers. He was part of some of the most notable cases of his times, including theIndian National Army trials. Katju joined theIndian independence movement early on and spent several years incarcerated with fellow independence activists for his activities.
Kailash Nath Katju was born in theprincely state ofJaora (in present-dayMadhya Pradesh) on 17 June 1887. His family wereKashmiri Pandits who had settled in Jaora. His father Tribhuwan Nath Katju was a formerdewan of the state.[1][2] Kailash Nath was educated at the Barr High School in Jaora, when he was sent toLahore to study at theRang Mahal School. He passed his matriculation examination fromPanjab University the following year before completing his graduation fromForman Christian College, Lahore, in March 1905.[3] In July that year, he joined theMuir Central College inAllahabad. In September 1907, he received adegree in laws from theAllahabad University, standing second in the province. In 1908, he received amaster's degree in history from the same university. He began legal profession that year inKanpur before moving to Allahabad in 1914.[1] He completed hisdoctorate in law (LL.D.) from Allahabad University in 1919, joining theAllahabad High Court as an advocate in 1921.[3]
Katju defended the accused in theMeerut Conspiracy Case in Allahabad High Court in 1933 and later the military officers accused at theIndian National Army trials at theRed Fort in Delhi. On 17 July 1937, he became the Minister of Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of theUnited Provinces in theGovind Ballabh Pant's cabinet. He was elected to the legislature from the constituency of Allahabad district (Doaba).[4] The ministry resigned on 2 November 1939 and soon Katju was imprisoned for 18 months. He was again imprisoned in 1942. He also served in theConstituent Assembly of India. Between 1935 and 1937, he served as the chairman of theAllahabad Municipal Board, and later as chancellor of Prayag Mahila Vidyapith, Allahabad.[3]
Following the independence of India, Katju held many high political positions. Initially he was made theGovernor of Orissa from 15 August 1947 to 20 June 1948. He became theGovernor of West Bengal on 21 June 1948 and was in office till 31 October 1951. In 1951 he was elected to theLok Sabha from theMandsaur constituency, joining the cabinet ofJawaharlal Nehru as Law Minister in 1951. In November 1951 he succeededC. Rajagopalachari as the country's thirdHome Minister. In 1955 he was made theDefence Minister. He became the Chief Minister ofMadhya Pradesh on 31 January 1957, remaining in office till 11 March 1962. He also held the portfolios for general administration, home, publicity, planning and development, co-ordination and anti-corruption.[5]
Katju and his wife Rup Kishori had five children together: three sons and two daughters.[3][1] The eldest son,Shiva Nath Katju, served as a judge at theAllahabad High Court, and after retirement, took up politics and was elected a member of theUttar Pradesh legislature. Another son,Brahma Nath Katju, rose to serve as chief justice of the sameAllahabad High Court.[6]
One of his daughters was Saroj Mukherjee. Katju's grandsons have also achieved distinction. His grandsonMarkandey (son of Shiv Nath) served as a judge in theSupreme Court of India. Another grandson is Vivek Katju,IFS, a retired diplomat who served in several sensitive positions. Tilottama Mukherji, a professor atNew York University and first wife of politician and former diplomatShashi Tharoor, is Katju's grand-daughter (daughter's daughter).
Katju had recovered from akidney ailment he had suffered in the summer of 1967. After his condition deteriorated in early February 1968, he died at 7:55 p.m. (IST) on 17 February 1968 at his residence inAllahabad.[2] The last rites were performed by son Shiva Nath on the bank ofthe Ganges the following day.[7]
Dr Kailash Nath Katju wrote many books, some of which are the following:[citation needed]:
He also wrote many articles and delivered many memorable speeches, including the following:
He was one of the founders of Associated Journals Ltd. and one of the seven original subscribers of the Memorandum of Association of the company which publishedNational Herald and two other newspapers.[10] His shares were taken over by a company formed and closely held by Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi and two others in 2012. There is a legal case of criminal conspiracy in this regard against them in a court of law in Delhi.
| Historical |  | |
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| Indian Independence League (IIL) | ||
| Subhas Chandra Bose | ||
| Indian National Army |
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| Red Fort trials | ||
| Related topics | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
