Ucitam Khaline
His Highness Ucitam Khaline | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Honoured Elder of Mel-akkam | |
| In office 27 October, 1947 – 19 March, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Vacant |
| Succeeded by | Gata Nayadu |
| Leader of the Progressive Party | |
| In office 29 November, 1945 – 19 March, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Maina Kathina |
| Succeeded by | Gata Nayadu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 21, 1889 Mohenjo-daro, Mel-akkam |
| Died | November 18, 1968 (aged 79) Paris, France |
| Political party | Progressive Party |
Ucitam Khaline was a Mel-akkan politician who served as the first modern Honoured Elder of Mel-akkam. Originally an independence activist affiliated with the Progressive Party, Khaline led the Mel-akkan fight for independence from the British Raj. Upon Mel-akkam's independence, he became the nation's first head of state, serving from 1947 until 1963. A member of the Progressive Right faction, Khaline's policies were characterised by pro-Western and pro-market sentiments. While his supporters characterised his tenure in power as period during which Mel-akkan independence and democracy were consolidated and freedoms were expanded, his detractors criticised his deferential foreign policy, and weak leadership, which led to the rise of factionalism and an attempted invasion of Shortugai by the USSR. He was succeeded in 1963 by his main opponent Gata Nayadu, and died in 1968 while on holiday in France. In spite of his activities during the Mel-akkam fight for independence, he is often ranked as one of the worst Honoured Elders in modern history.