The Diplomatic Standoff and Legacy of Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy: Insights by Former IAS Officer K. Jayakumar

# K. Jayakumar 20 July 2023, 12:23 PM IST

Former IAS officer K. Jayakumar writes condolence on the demise of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Oommen Chandy, K. Jayakumar

KNo diplomacy by Italy’s ambassador in India to get the sailors accused in the Talcola case released from jail did not succeed in front of the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Former Chief Secretary K. said that Oommen Chandy, who is not generally a hard worker, followed the path of law. Jayakumar remembers.

The Italian ambassador requested to meet the chief minister alone when the talks for the release of the sailors arrested by the police in the case of sea murder broke down.

Oommen Chandy said that it is not possible, there is no need for a discussion alone, do not exclude those who came with you and I will have the Chief Secretary with me. The ambassador brought up the matter in praise of Oommen Chandy, saying that he had heard that he was a merciful ruler, but he did not relent. ‘We will proceed according to Indian law’ – was the reply. The diplomatic representative, who thought that he could influence the Chief Minister, returned disappointed.

Oommenchandy’s intervention also gave Malayalam the status of a superior language which it would not have received. The expert committee had rejected Kerala’s demand saying that it was outdated. The Central Sahitya Akademi was ready to renegotiate after Oommen Chandy, who was the Chief Minister, intervened. With the formation of an expert committee including representatives of the state, Malayalam was recommended for the status of a superior language.

No matter how busy Oommen Chandy would identify those who needed his help. He was reluctant to conclude that there was nothing he could do about the complaints coming in the ‘Transparent Kerala’ programme. K. said that he would not have been satisfied if he did not provide some help from the Chief Minister’s relief fund considering their plight. Jayakumar said.

His intervention also saved the distressed families due to the freezing of the transfer of land earmarked for the development of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. He intervened in 15 families and got back the right to buy and sell land.

2023-07-20 06:53:19
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