C. P. Mathen

Chalakuzhy Paulose Mathen
Born	Template:Birth date Kavumbhagom, Travancore
Died	June 2, 1960(1960-06-02) (aged 70) Paris, France
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, politician, diplomat
Years active	Early 20th century – 1960
Known for	Founder of Quilon Bank; Managing Director of Travancore National and Quilon Bank; Member of 1st Lok Sabha from Thiruvalla; Ambassador to Sudan

Chalakuzhy Paulose Mathen (18 May 1890 – 2 June 1960) was an Indian entrepreneur and politician who represented the Thiruvalla constituency of Kerala in the inaugural Lok Sabha in 1952. Following his parliamentary tenure, he was designated as India's Ambassador to Sudan.

Before entering the political arena, Mathen engaged in various commercial ventures, including cashew processing, mineral extraction, insurance, plantation management, and banking. He established the Alleppey Chamber of Commerce and served as Managing Director of the Travancore National and Quilon Bank (TN&Q Bank). The bank eventually experienced a protracted financial crisis culminating in its closure, a situation reportedly exacerbated by C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer, then Diwan of Travancore, who sought to diminish Christian influence within the state's administration. Mathen was forcibly returned from the Madras Presidency and incarcerated in Trivandrum on allegations related to discrepancies in financial statements. Despite opportunities to secure his freedom through admission of guilt, he steadfastly denied all charges throughout more than three years of harsh imprisonment. His unwavering stance elevated him to folk-hero status. He was unexpectedly released on 22 January 1942 without any formal explanation and subsequently went back to Madras.

Early life

Born into the Chalakuzhy family in Kavumbhagom, central Travancore, C. P. Mathen was the son of C. M. Paulose. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in History at Madras Christian College (MCC) and also obtained a degree in law.

Insurance and Banking

At the age of 29, Mathen successfully raised Rs.56,000 as capital along with Rs.54,000 in deposits to establish Quilon Bank with its headquarters in Kollam (Quilon). The bank’s main office building was completed by 1935. Over a span of 15 years, its working capital expanded dramatically from Rs.1,56,000 to Rs.1,02,46,000.

Another influential businessman from Travancore was K. C. Mammen Mappillai, whose interests included banking—owning Travancore National Bank—journalism, and politics; he was also Chief Editor of the newspaper Malayala Manorama.

Together, Mammen and Mathen launched a successful insurance firm which led them to merge their respective banks in 1937. While the registered office remained at Quilon Bank’s headquarters, principal operations were relocated to Madras where many shareholders resided. This move was encouraged by Sir CP Ramaswami Iyer who pledged Rs 7,000,000 from Travancore’s treasury to support the merged bank; however, this commitment was never fulfilled.

The combined institution, TN&Q Bank, grew to become India’s fourth-largest bank and the largest in South India, operating 75 branches throughout British India—including Travancore, Cochin, Malabar, Coorg, Mysore—as well as in Ceylon. Major branch locations encompassed Bangalore, Bombay, Calcutta, Colombo, Madras (with multiple offices), Mysore, Trivandrum, among other significant commercial hubs across the region.

Imprisonment

Founded in 1937 with a new headquarters building in Quilon constructed by Mathen at an investment of Rs.1,40,000—a considerable sum at that time—TN&Q Bank operated under conditions shaped by government involvement. To retain business within Travancore State’s jurisdiction, Mathen and K. C. Mammen Mappillai agreed to situate the headquarters there; they permitted two directors appointed by the Dewan and accepted K. S. Ramanujam—a close associate of Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer—as General Manager.

Despite this official support, insolvency rumors surfaced within months, propagated by the Diwan himself and disseminated via Travancore’s Department of Publicity. By 1938 a bank run triggered insolvency proceedings; approximately 88% of depositors were repaid. Subsequently, Sir CP’s administration sought extradition of Mathen and Mammen Mappillai from the Madras Presidency on accusations of public fraudulence linked to alleged financial support for the Indian National Congress and independence activities. Appeals filed with the Madras High Court and Privy Council were rejected; three directors—including Mathen and members of Mammen Mappillai’s family—were forcibly transported under custody to Quilon for trial.

During proceedings held in Trivandrum, former General Manager K. S. Ramanujam provided false testimony against them resulting in eight-year sentences for four directors involved. The bank’s residual assets were liquidated predominantly benefiting associates connected to Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer; notably, the Quilon headquarters property sold for just Rs.15,000—a fraction of its original value.

Throughout imprisonment, Mammen Mappillai’s elder brother succumbed to despair caused by these events. Recognizing weaknesses in their case after Ramanujam fled abroad, Sir CP offered pardons contingent upon confessions of guilt; while Mammen Mappillai and his son acquiesced due to familial pressures, Mathen refused.

Despite intense coercion—including visits from Inspector General Abdul Karim urging a false confession—Mathen consistently upheld his innocence. On 22 January 1942 he was released unconditionally without admitting wrongdoing. Abdul Karim personally escorted him home where his family awaited his return from incarceration.

Political and Diplomatic Career

In 1953, he secured a seat in the inaugural Lok Sabha representing the Thiruvalla constituency within the State of Travancore–Cochin (present-day Kerala), achieving one of the most commanding victories in that election cycle.

Following the completion of his term in the Lok Sabha in 1957, he was designated as India's Ambassador to Sudan. However, he stepped down after a year due to health complications linked to the hardships endured during his imprisonment in Trivandrum.

Death

Matthen passed away on 2 June 1960 in Paris, France. His final resting place is in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India.

General references

• N. M. Mathew, History of the Mar Thoma Church (Malayalam), Vol. 3, 2008. page 75
• Chalakuzhy Kudumba Charitram, Thomas Mathew (ed.) 1987.

External links

• "The Calcutta Stock Exchange Yearbook 1938; Travancore National & Quilon Bank"