Xavier Arakkal

Xavier Arakkal was born on April 16, 1935, the youngest of Manjummal Arakkal Varghese's six children.[1] He studied at St. Albert's College, Ernakulam, St. Joseph's College, Thrissur and Thevara Secred Hearts College.[1] He then studied in the United States with the help of Archbishop Joseph Attipetti of Verapuzha.[1] He also held a Master of Science in International Relations degree from the University of Chicago, a master's degree from Loyola University and a law degree from the University of London.[1] Xavier stayed in the US and UK till 1970 and returned to India.[2]

After return, Xavier worked as government pleader in Kerala High Court during 1974–77.[2] He held several other positions including convenor of National Forum of Lawyers and Legal Aid and chairman of Kerala Weightlifting Association.[2]

Winning the 1977 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, Xavier Arakkal represented Paravur Assembly constituency in 5th Kerala Legislative Assembly as an Indian National Congress candidate.[2] After that he was elected to the Indian parliament (Lok Sabha) in 1980 in Congress ticket.[3] In the 1984 elections after the martyrdom of Indira Gandhi, on the instructions of the then Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, Xavier Arakkal was dropped and K. V. Thomas, a lecturer at Thevara College, was nominated.[4][3] Rajiv Gandhi directly called back Xavier, who was about to contest as a rebel candidate.[4]

In 1995 Xavier left Congress and became a follower of left wing politics.[1] In 1996 he was again elected to the Lok Sabha as an independent candidate with the support from Left Democratic Front.[3] He died in 1997, before completing his term as an MP.[3]