Resurrecting the Legend of Vettath Mathai

He was the first Indian to defeat a European in an election to any legislative body

KOCHI:  Memories of Vettath J Mathai, the first Indian to defeat a European in an election to any legislative body, will come alive tomorrow when a road in the city will be named after this legendary figure.

Mathai, known by the title ‘Lion of Cochin State’, defeated his European opponent and got elected to the Kochi Legislative Council in 1938 and served in the Council till 1945. He is known for the yeomen services to the society, especially the downtrodden. He took the initiative to protect 4,500 temples and ensured funds are allotted for this purpose from the Cochin State.

Mathai sold his 300 acres of land in Neliyampathy and another 50 acres in Arakunnam to marry off women from the backward and financially weak families even while he pleaded for reservation for Latin Catholics.

The Kerala postal circle, Ernakulam, issued a Special Cover on Vettath Mathai in 2010 while  a portrait of Mathai was unveiled in the Legislative Museum in Thiruvanthapuram in February 2012.

N Eapen, vice president of Cochin Archeological and Heritage Association, said that Mathai was also instrumental in bringing rubber cultivation to Kerala when he brought the seeds from Malaysia to plant them on 110 acres in Arakunnam. He also tried cotton farming in 300 acres in Neliyampathy.

A good orator and debater in English, Mathai was also fluent in Sanskrit, French and German, said Eapen. It is said that EMS Nampoothiripad, Kerala’s first Chief Minister, would walk 5-8 kms just to hear Mathai speak. He was also one of the founders of Cochin Commercial Bank, which was later merged with the Canara Bank.

He was instrumental in bringing coal-run trains from Kolkata to ply between Kochi and  Thrissur and Cochin to Mulanthuruthy routes. “The train fare was one anna and the tickets used to be shaped stones. It is said people used to travel in train just to enjoy the ride,” said Eapen.

Barrister at Madras High Court V K John, who was the first Christian to join the Jan Sangh party, is Mathai’s brother. There’s a road in Chennai named after Barrister John.

Minister for Rural Development, Planning & Culture K  C Joseph will inaugurate Vettath J Mathai road at St Gregorious Nagar, Ponnurunni at a function at 3 pm.