CM Oommen Chandy fetes centenarian ex-chief secretary

Thiruvananthapuram: It was a hectic day for C. Thomas, the oldest living chief secretary of the state, who celebrated his 100th birthday at his house at Kawdiar on Saturday. Among the dignitaries who called on him was Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Over 60 family members and another 30 people belonging to various strata of society visited him to wish him a healthy life. His younger daughter, Prof (Retd) Roshan Thomas, told DC that the CM and her dad discussed the current social issues. Mr Chandy was given a cup of green gram payasam.

“Today my dad could not take his siesta as lots of relatives and senior government officials, including the chief secretary, came home. Though non-vegetarian lunch was served to the family members, dad was content with his trademark vegetarian meals. He was happy to take a cat nap later in the evening” said Ms. Thomas.

He is one among the six IAS officers of the first batch of Travancore Civil Service in 1946. When Kerala state was formed in 1956, he became the first agriculture secretary and also held the post of forest, food and local administration secretaries. He was finance secretary during 1962-66 and the first member of board of revenue in 1973.

He had served as the first chairman and managing director of Kerala Development Corporation three years before he retired from service in 1973. In 1981, he was made the pay commission member and also held a six-year term as the director of State Bank of India for the southern region in charge of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. His three children, Dr. Ravi Thomas from Scotland, another daughter Yasmin Joshi and their family, cousins and extended family members were present in his house on Saturday.