His Early Years
Dr. P.J. Thomas was born in Kuravilangadu, a very old and famous Catholic Centre on Feb. 25th 1895 in the district of Kottayam. He did his schooling from St.Ephraim's High School, Mannanam. After finishing his intermediate from C.M.S. College, Kottayam he joined St. Joseph's College, Trichy for B.A. (Hons.). He passed out from there in 1916, scoring first class and first rank in the university. After that he joined Maharajas College Trivandrum for teaching.
Life in Oxford
In 1920 he got admission in Balliol College Oxford for B.Lit., which was considered as a great privilege. On September 4th 1920 he went to England for his studies and his research topic for B.Lit. was the "Calico Trade and its influence on English History" based on British handloom weavers' action of burning Dacca Muslin sold by East India Company. Later P.S. King Publishers brought it out in the form of a book named " Mercantilism and East India trade".
He joined for D.Phil and continued his studies on Oxford. His work for thesis was on Indian Federal Finance and this was published as "Growth of federal Finance". His stay in England was very beneficial for him. He had close acquaintance with great English Catholic writers like Hillarie Bellock, G.K Chesterton and Rev. Ronald Nox. They met often and discussed in International Forums like "Pax Romana". He had classmates who were British parliament members. This created an opportunity to see the functioning of British Parliament from countries to understand the modernization plans used in their economic policies.
Dr. P.J. Thomas, the Professor
When he came back from England he took an assignment in Ceylon. He worked there from 1942-1927. He started Indian Economic Association and became the professor of Economics, Ceylon University College, Colombo. When he tried to join the Madras University, The Governor of Ceylon tried his best to convince him to stay back.
In 1927 Dr. Thomas joined as Economics Professor in Madras University. During his stay in Madras University based on the re-survey which Dr. P.J. Thomas made, the Madras University published two books namely " South Indian villages a Re-Survey" and "Indian Agricultural Statistics".
Contributions to the society
Dr. P.J. Thomas was a Gandhian at heart with a view that India lives in its villages. He sympathized with the villagers in their hardships and difficulties and kept his vision on the ordinary man in spite of himself living in big cities for many years. How to raise the standard of living of the ordinary Indian was his main focus while formulating economic policies.
In 1937 he presided over the Indian Economic Conference held in Hydrabad. Dr. P.J. Thomas argued that with the increase in production, it was absolutely necessary to have fair and equitable distribution. He reiterated his arguments in many economic journals too.
He worked for Gram Swaraj during the great depression of 1930s'. He came up with many remedial suggestions for the problems, which Indian faced. He strongly recommended in his book on "Rural Indebtedness" how to reduce the burden of debt on the poor farmers when price of products were falling. In 1937 when the Madras Legislative Council was formulated under the chief Ministership of C.Rajagopalachari, Dr. Thomas was nominated as a member of Legislative Council for 9 years. He became the chief Economic Adviser of Shri C. Rajagopalachari in Madras State. He introduced Prohibition. And to meet the loss of revenue to the exchequer, he introduced sales tax for the first time.
Economics Adviser to the Government of India
He was appointed as the Economic Adviser, department (later on Ministry) of finance, Government of India in 1942. His constant touch with the European Counterparts and the knowledge at the grass-root level by conducting various surveys himself, helped him to find a name as a great Economist of his time.
Government of India invited two experts from England to find ways to increase our national income. The government of India appointed Dr. Thomas as the co-worker along with them. He was a member of the (three member) Indian delegation to the Inaugural Session of the UNO at San Francisco in 1945 as the Economic Adviser.
In 1942 the Government of India as the Chairman of the Fact Committee, "Handloom and Mills" appointed him. The government accepted Dr. Thomas' valuable report. He strongly objected to the devaluation of Indian Rupee. Times of India and other newspapers supported and praised him. The renowned economist John Maynard Keynes appreciated his stand and wrote a letter of appreciation.
He also took strong stand on gold export taking in view, our nations safety. In 1944, the Commerce Ministry asked him to submit a report on the industrial progress made by our country during World War times. "Indian Basic Industries" was published on his findings. A book on stock market was also published on his findings. A book on stock market was also published by the government of India based on Dr. P.J.Thomas' report on Indian Stock Markets.
Dr.Thomas' Later Years
After coming back from Delhi in 1948 he tried to lead a quite life but still he was involved in many fields. He became a member and treasure of P.C.C Travancore-Cochin in 1952. He became the chairman of the Cottage industries Committee, 1950-51 as well as the Cottage industries Board, travancore-Cochin Government in 1952-53.
In 1955 he became a member of the Prohibition Committee appointed by the Planning Commission. He was also a member of Banking Enquiry Commission of Travancore-Cochin Government in 1956.
In 1957 he was nominated as a Rajyasabha member from Kerala. He made valuable contributions during this period by speaking his views openly in the Parliament. He emphasized the ways and means to increase food production. In this way he became one of the exponents of green revolution. He also spoke a number of times in the parliament about the necessity of expanding Indian Railways for the benefit of the population.
Other Good Works
The ancestral property, which he received from "Pakalomattam Family" where many Archdeacns of the Pakalomattam family were buried, was handed over to St. Mary's Forene Church Kuravilangad. He was a true Missionary at heart.Dr. Thomas wrote many articles on Mar Thomas Christians and Kerala Catholic Church. He had a special interest in the antiquities and culture of Kerala. He also served as the President of Kerala History Parishad.
In Marampilly next to his estate, he gave sufficient land to build a Parish Church and made it a self-sufficient parish and a full time Parish Priest was appointed. He built "Avilalayam" which was an institution for the handicapped women run by the sisters on a 10 acres of land making them self-sufficient. In Aluva town he gave a plot of land for the Cappuchins to build their Ashram. He donated large acres of land in Malabar for Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan Movement".
A true Missionary at heart
When St.Thomas Collage, Pala was established, the founder fathers appointed Dr.P.J.Thomas as the first Principal of the College. He served without accepting any salary. He took active part in 1952 in the century Celebrations of St.Thomas' arrival at Kerala Coast. He wrote the forward and three articles in the book St.Thomas the Apostle published during that time. Taking into consideration his eminent services to the Catholic Church, he was given the Prestigious Chevaliership of St.Gregory at St. Mary's Forene Church Kuravilangad in 1955.
Interest in Kerala Culture and History
Dr.Thomas wrote many articles on Mar Thomas Christians and Kerala Catholic Church. He had a special interest in the antiquities and culture of Kerala. He presided over the Sahitya Parishad meetings held at Kottayam and Madras. Maha Kavi Vallathol selected Dr. Thomas as one of the nine Parishad Committee members. He has also served as the president of Kerala History Parishad.
Some of the books in Malayalam are:
1. Dhanathatva Shastram
2. Nammude Pithavaya Mar Thomma Sleeha
3. Karshakande Kadabadyata
4. Suriyani Christiani Kalude Kallyana Pattukal
5. Malayala Sahityavum Christianikalum
Conclusion
Dr. Thomas led a simple life. Though he was a staunch Catholic he upheld secularism and treated everyone with fairness and justice. He passed away and went to his eternal rest on 26th July 1965. St. Thomas Collage, Pala opened a Centre for Social Science Research to honour Dr.P.J. Thomas the first Principal of the college.