Thandaaneth Mathai Varghese (1886–1961) was an Indian freedom fighter, lawyer, statesman, former minister and politician from Kerala.

He was born in a Mar Thoma Syrian Christian family and the eldest son of Mathai of Thandaaneth at Pallickal, (near Kayamkulam).

He was the foremost leader of the (Responsible government Struggle) struggle against C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer, the Dewan of Travancore State and Abstention movement or Nivarthana Prakshobham.

The family bought a piece of land near Kammankulam near Government Boys High School, Kollam.

[1] He was the founder member of the Travancore State Congress party.

This is known as the “Malayali Memorial Agitation.”[2] As a result of this, Maharaja of Travancore Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma issued a proclamation on 21 October 1932 to constitute a new State Assembly.

[3] Christians, Ezhavas and Muslims who were contributing to economy significantly and were demographically prominent were grossly underrepresented in terms of assembly seats.

Varghese representatives of Christians, Ezhava and Muslim communities met the Diwan.

Varghese proposed a resolution that “The election of the Travancore Legislative Assembly is not justifiable, the government officers have made unlawful influence in its formation, and it is against the wishes of Christian-Ezhava- Muslim people, it is requested that the government should immediately disband the present assembly and elect a new one.” On the last day there was a meeting of All Kerala Joint Political Meeting.

Because of all these, the government at last conceded their demands to a certain extent by introducing communal reservation in appointments to the public service.

In August 1936 a new constitution was promulgated and election for the Travancore State Assembly was held on April–May, 1937.

Varghese won the election as a candidate of the All Kerala Joint Political Party.

In the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly he was elected as Deputy Chairman.

Varghese said, “In the name of and on behalf of the 5.1 lakhs (5,10,000) of people of Travancore, I accord with pleasure, a hearty welcome to the most-self sacrificing individual C.

“There is no need of a Diwan, in between the 5.1 million people of Travancore and their Maharaja.” Pattom Thanu Pillai and K.T.

On that day after coming out of the Assembly hall, they formed the Travancore State Congress.

[8] Finally on 30 July 1947 Travancore decided to join Indian Union.

The government issued a proclamation on 4 September 1947 stating the formation of a “Responsible Government.”[9] He was instrumental in helping Kunchacko set up Udaya Pictures, the first prominent Kerala based film production company.