The freedom fighter and Gandhian from erstwhile unified Salem district was 101
T.M. Kalliannan Gounder, the last surviving former member of the Indian Constituent Assembly, died at the age of 101 at Thiruchengode in western Tamil Nadu on Friday.
Kalliannan Gounder was born on January10, 1921 at Akaraipatti village in Namakkal. He joined the Indian National Congress at the age of 19 and participated in the Quit India movement. He was elected to the Indian Constituent Assembly while he was 28-years-old. He was reportedly the youngest member in the Constituent Assembly then and also a member of India’s first provisional parliament.
Mr. Gounder served as a Member of Legislative Council in Tamil Nadu and also as and MLA thrice, between 1952 and 1967, his family members said.