Sir. C. P. Ramaswami Iyer

Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer served as the Dewan of Travancore from 1936 to 1947 and was a visionary social reformer whose contributions greatly shaped the social and administrative landscape of the region. He was the Founder President of the Vanchi Poor Fund, which established one of India’s first large-scale midday meal programs to improve nutrition and school attendance among underprivileged children. His reforms included introducing free and compulsory education, promoting public health schemes, and supporting community welfare initiatives. Iyer’s leadership balanced progressive development with respect for tradition, and his efforts laid the foundation for Kerala’s achievements in literacy and social progress.