Pillai stood against autocratic governance in Travancore and promoted civil rights and equal opportunity among all classes.

During his education at the University College Trivandrum, he used to write on columns of various newspapers under pseudonyms about corruption and against Brahmin supremacy.

After gaining a law degree at the Madras Presidency College[2] he was admitted to the Middle Temple in London in 1898.

Mahatma Gandhi acknowledged the help and guidance given to him by Pillai in the South African Indian issue and also in the temperance movement.

He played key role in inspiring the youth to rebel against the autocratic administration of the Diwan of Travancore.

[6] In 1896, he took a letter from Swami Vivekananda to Sister Nivedita seeking her help to present the backwardness of the Thiyyas of Malabar before the British Parliament.

According to Eardley Norton, "with him [Pillai] died a brave unselfish spirit, not lightly to be deterred from the sense of public duty by threats of social ostracism or the loss of official favour".