Challiyal
John Matthai, born on 10 January 1886, was an
economist who served as India's first Railway Minister and subsequently as
India's Finance Minister, taking office shortly after the presentation of
India's first Budget, in 1948.
Matthai
was one of the architects of the Bombay Plan, which was hailed by the then –
Viceroy of India Lord Wavell as a solution to India’s economic problems.
Role
in India’s Independence Movement
Matthai did not play an active role in
the freedom struggle. Instead, he devoted himself to government service and
academia. He was a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, and later was
part of the interim government.
Contribution
to Constitution Making
Mathai
was elected to the Constituent Assembly from the United Provinces on a Congress
party ticket. He delivered important clarifications in the debates related to
taxing provisions. He supported fostering industrial development in the
country.
Later
Contributions
Post-Independence,
he served as India’s first Railway Minister. After the presentation of the
first budget in 1948, he was appointed as the Finance Minister. He presented
two budgets between the years 1949-51, post which he resigned following protests
regarding the vesting of huge powers in the hands of the erstwhile planning
commission.
After
his resignation, he was the chairman of two entities in succession: the
Taxation Enquiry Committee, and the newly constituted State Bank of India. He
then became the Vice Chancellor of Bombay University (1955-57), and later of
Kerala University (1957-59). As a result of his contributions to the field of
education and public service, he was conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 1959.
Key
Writings
As an academic, Mathai was a keen writer with a number of publications. His most well-known writings include Prisons of our mind and the Roads to freedom, Village Government of British India, and India and the War.
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