C. Karunakara Menon

Diwan Bahadur Cozhisseri Karunakara Menon (1863–1922) was an Indian journalist and politician from the erstwhile Madras Presidency. He was the second editor of The Hindu after G. Subramania Iyer and the founder of the Indian Patriot.

Karunakara Menon was born at Parappanangadi, Malabar district (Cozhisseri Tharavadu, Neduva) and had his higher education in Madras. He served as a sub-editor of The Hindu till 1898 and as editor from 1898 to 1905. In 1905, he started the Indian Patriot which was closed in 1924. He was a prominent public man and took part in the political events of his time.

Menon died in 1922 in his residence 'Cozhisseri' at Parappanangadi, Kerala State due to complications following a stroke. He was highly regarded by V. Krishnaswamy Iyer, Veeraraghavachariar, G. Subramania Iyer and Governor of Madras, Sir Arthur Lawley.

Early life

Karunakara Menon was born in a Nair family (Cozhisseri Tharavadu) of Parappanangadi, Malabar district, Madras Presidency. He graduated in law from the University of Madras and joined The Hindu as a sub-editor.

On graduation, he plunged into public life in 1890 when he opposed the Malabar Marriage Bill of T. Muthuswamy Iyer. Menon's opposition to the bill impressed Muthuswamy Iyer to such an extent that a close friendship developed between the two.

When Veeraraghavachariar took over The Hindu in October 1898, he appointed Karunakara Menon as the editor. Menon edited The Hindu till 1905 when he founded The Indian Patriot.

In 1903, Veeraraghavachariar said of Karunakara Menon:

I have every reason to be proud that he has maintained the prestige of the paper unimpaired, coming as he did after Mr. G. Subramania Aiyer It strongly opposed the perpetuators of the Alipore bomb case and claimed to stand on the side of law and order.

Death

Menon died in 1922 at his residence Cozhissery House in Parappanangadi due to complications of stroke.

As a statesman

V. Krishnaswamy Iyer had a very high opinion of Menon's abilities. He felt that Menon was a statesman of good calibre and that he was wasting his time in the journalism profession. He is believed to have remarked once:

You are a statesman. You cannot run a newspaper without sensationalism nowadays. You must go elsewhere.

Ideology

Menon supported the Home Rule Movement in Madras Presidency. Even while he opposed the political ambitions of the non-Brahmin movement he still supported their social reform activities.