K.M. Panikkar

Early Life

Kavalam Madhava Panikkar was born on 13 May 1894 in the village of Kavalam, in the Kuttanad region of Kerala. He came from a family traditionally involved in temple management.

He completed his early education in Kerala and pursued higher studies in Madras before going to Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied history. He also read for the Bar at the Middle Temple in London, gaining formal legal training. During his years in England, he was influenced by Western intellectual traditions and developed a lasting interest in writing and political thought. His participation in the Oxford Majlis, a debating society of Indian students, exposed him to future Indian leaders and shaped his ideas on nationalism, race, and international relations.

After returning to India, Panikkar taught at Aligarh Muslim University and later at the University of Calcutta (now Kolkata). In 1925, he turned to journalism and became the first editor of the Hindustan Times, where he wrote on politics, history, and the role of the princely states in India’s future. Soon after, he entered political life in the service of the Indian princes, becoming Secretary to the Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes, the representative body of India’s princely rulers.

Role in India’s Independence Movement

Panikkar’s contribution to India’s freedom movement was distinct. Rather than participating in mass politics, he worked to align the interests of the Indian Princely States with those of the national movement.

His formal political career began in 1924, when Mahatma Gandhi appointed him as a Congress emissary to Punjab during the Akali movement. Panikkar’s most sustained engagement, however, came through his service in the Princely States. He served as Adviser to the Maharaja of Kashmir (1928), Foreign Minister of Patiala (1936–1939), and later as Foreign and Political Minister of Bikaner (1939–1944), where he also oversaw health and education. From 1944 to 1947, he was Prime Minister of Bikaner.

Panikkar also played an important role at the all-India level, serving as Secretary to the Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes and as Secretary to the Indian States’ delegation at the Round Table Conferences (1930–1933). In these roles, he consistently pressed for federal integration and democratic reform within the princely system.

A committed nationalist, Panikkar was among the earliest to urge the Princes to join a federal India, warning against “Balkanisation” and rejecting separatist schemes like the proposed “third India.” His defence of the right to fly the national flag during the Bikaner Flag episode underscored his allegiance to the national cause.

Before stepping down as Prime Minister of Bikaner, Panikkar introduced significant constitutional reforms, including the creation of a responsible government and a bicameral legislature—early steps toward democratization and integration with the Indian Union.

Contribution to Constitution Making

Panikkar entered the Constituent Assembly as the representative of the State of Bikaner, signing the Assembly Register on 28 April 1947. He welcomed the participation of the princely representatives as a historic moment, noting that for the first time they were voluntarily joining the process of framing a constitution for a united India. He observed that the princely states represented over twenty million people—a significant share of the population under princely rule—and this inclusion was, in large part, the result of his own efforts as a member of the Assembly’s Negotiating Committee, which engaged with the states on their accession to the Union.

During the discussion on the Union Powers Committee Report, Panikkar intervened on the issue of international agreements (Item 14). He argued that decisions emerging from international conferences should be ratified by the Union Parliament only if they fell within its legislative competence. Supporting an amendment proposed by Sir V. T. Krishnamachari, he emphasized that the Provinces and Federated States must give prior consent in such cases, thereby upholding the federal balance envisioned in the Constitution.

Panikkar also served on the Subcommittee on Fundamental Rights. In his correspondence with the Union Constitution Committee, he cautioned against excessive federalism in India’s unique political context, warning that a weak centre could undermine national unity. His writings and speeches outside the Assembly reinforced this view, consistently arguing for a strong and cohesive central authority.

Although K. M. Panikkar’s participation in the Constituent Assembly debates was limited—his interventions taking place only in 1947—his contributions were substantive and carefully considered. His absence from later sessions was not due to a lack of engagement, but to his appointment, at Jawaharlal Nehru’s request, as India’s Ambassador to China. India was the first non-socialist country to recognise the People’s Republic of China, and Nehru’s decision to send Panikkar reflected the high degree of confidence he placed in his diplomatic ability. Panikkar, who would have preferred to continue contributing to the work of the Assembly, accepted the posting only after Nehru’s firm insistence that he take up the critical assignment.

Later Contributions

After independence, K. M. Panikkar joined India’s diplomatic service at Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s request, who valued his understanding of politics and world affairs. Between 1948 and 1959, he held several key positions: as a member of India’s first delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (1948), Ambassador to China during the Chinese Revolution, and later Ambassador to France during an important phase of post-war diplomacy.

Panikkar played a central role in shaping India’s early foreign policy and is widely regarded as the chief architect of India–China relations. His balanced and pragmatic approach helped define India’s stance on major international issues, favouring negotiation and neutrality over confrontation.

In 1953, he served on the States Reorganisation Commission, contributing to the redrawing of India’s internal boundaries on linguistic lines—an important step toward political stability. He also participated in UNESCO’s international project to write a Scientific and Cultural History of Mankind, reflecting his global intellectual reputation.

Returning to academia, Panikkar became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu and Kashmir (1961) and later of the University of Mysore, where he served until his death on 11 December 1963. He is also credited with conceiving the idea of the historic midnight session of Parliament on 14–15 August 1947, which marked India’s independence.

Panikkar wrote extensively  on topics ranging from geopolitics and foreign policy to nationalism and Indian history. Some of his notable include  Asia and Western Dominance: A Survey of the Vasco Da Gama Epoch of Asian History, Indian Nationalism – Its Origin, History and Ideals, and India and the Indian Ocean.