Freedom Fighters from Tamil Nadu Part – 09

Freedom Fighters from Tamil Nadu Part – 09

(இதன் தமிழ் வடிவத்திற்கு இங்கே சொடுக்கவும்)

42. V.S. Srinivasa Sastri

Early Life and Background

• Valangaiman Sankara Narayana Srinivasa Sastri was born on September 22, 1869, in Valangaiman Taluk of Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu.

Political Involvement

• He was a devoted follower of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, an influential Indian freedom fighter, and joined his association, the Servants of India Society.
• In 1908, Srinivasa Sastri became a member of the Indian National Congress.
• By 1911, he was appointed as the Secretary of the Madras District Congress Committee.
• His political influence grew when he was nominated to the Madras Legislative Council in 1913 and later to the Imperial Legislative Council of India in 1916.

Opposition to Rowlatt Act  

• Srinivasa Sastri was a strong critic of the Rowlatt Act.
• In 1919, he became a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Formation of the Liberal Party

• Disagreeing with the leaders of the Indian National Congress on the subject of non-cooperation, Sastri resigned from the party in 1922.
• He, along with Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, went on to found the Liberal Party of India and later served as the President of the Indian Liberal Federation.

Advocacy for Home Rule

• In 1924, Srinivasa Sastri travelled to England with Annie Besant to demand Home Rule for India.
• His contributions to the labor movement were also significant, as he became a member of the Royal Commission on Labour in India in 1930.

Participation in Round Table Conferences

• He actively participated in the Round Table Conferences held in London from 1930 to 1931, which aimed to discuss and shape the future of India.

Later Life and Legacy

• In his later years, Srinivasa Sastri served as the Vice Chancellor of Annamalai University.
• He passed away on April 17, 1946.

43. V.V.S. Iyer

Early Life and Background

• V.V.S. Iyer was born in 1881 in Varakaneri village, Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu.
• He pursued a law degree and practiced as a lawyer.

Political Activism

• While studying law in London, V.V.S. Iyer befriended Veer Savarkar and became involved in revolutionary activities.
• He played a key role in organizing protests across India and was instrumental in translating and circulating Savarkar’s “The Indian War of Independence - 1857” both in English and Tamil.

Contributions to Tamil Literature

• V.V.S. Iyer was a dedicated Tamil scholar and contributed significantly to Tamil literature and its growth.
• He was the editor of the Tamil magazine ‘Desabakthan’.

Shift to Non-Violence

• During Gandhi's visit to Pondicherry in 1917, V.V.S. Iyer converted to the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) and aligned himself with Gandhi’s ideals, although he was initially associated with extremist freedom fighters.

Later Life and Legacy

• V.V.S. Iyer returned to India, settled in Pondicherry, and continued his work with other freedom fighters like Subramania Bharathi and Mandayam Srinivasachari.
• Despite passing his barrister exam, he chose not to accept the degree.
• His contributions to both freedom movements and Tamil literature remain notable.

44. K.B. Sundarambal

Early Life and Background

• K.B. Sundarambal was born on October 11, 1908, in Kodumudi, the then Salem district, Tamil Nadu.
• Her early exposure to music and performance began at a young age.

Involvement in the Indian Independence Movement 

• Sundarambal, along with her husband S.G. Kittappa, was deeply influenced by the Indian independence movement.
• They became ardent supporters of the Indian National Congress, using their popularity and artistic talents to further the cause.

Contribution to the Independence Movement

• Sundarambal recorded several gramophone discs that highlighted the struggle and sacrifices of the independence movement.
• She made a conscious effort to wear khadi as a symbol of support for the movement and actively campaigned for Congress party candidates in various elections.
• K.B. Sundarambal entered the Legislative Council of Madras State in 1951 as a Congress nominee.
• Thus, she became the first film artist to enter an Indian legislature.
• K.B. Sundarambal died in September 1980.

45. M. Veeraraghavachariar

Early Life and Background

• M. Veeraraghavachariar was born in 1857 in Attur, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu.
• He completed his schooling and graduated from Madras.

Founding of The Hindu

• In 1878, Veera raghavachariar, along with G. Subramania Iyer, T.T. Rangachariar, P.V. Rangachariar, D. Kesava Rao Panthulu, and N. Subba Rao Panthulu are collectively known as The Triplicane Six founded the English-language newspaper ‘The Hindu’.
• This initiative was driven by the need for a platform to express organized public opinion against the British administration under Lord Lytton.

Role in the Mahajana Sabha

• On May 16, 1884, Veeraraghavachariar, together with two other associates, established the 'Mahajana Sabha.'
• This public organization aimed to address grievances against the British Indian Government.
• Veeraraghavachariar served as joint secretary of the Sabha for many years.

Involvement with the Indian National Congress

• Veeraraghavachariar was a delegate at the first session of the Indian National Congress held in Bombay.
• He also served as Joint Secretary during the Congress sessions held in Madras in 1887 and 1894.
• He was an active participant in addressing public meetings and advocating for reforms, including the nomination of Indian non-officials to the Legislative Council.

Contributions to Journalism and Politics

• As an editor of ‘The Hindu’, Veeraraghavachariar was deeply involved in movements aimed at advancing India's material and political interests.
• His editorial work and political activism were significant in shaping public opinion and advocating for Indian rights.

Later Life and Legacy

• Veeraraghavachariar continued to run ‘The Hindu’ until his health deteriorated, leading to his retirement in 1905.
• He sold the newspaper to Kasturi Ranga Ayyangar.
• Veeraraghavachariar passed away on October 6, 1906.

46. A. Rangaswami Iyengar

Early Life and Background

• Date of Birth: 1877.
• Place of Birth: Erukattur village, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.
• Family: Son of Narasimha Iyengar.
• Education: Rangaswami Iyengar received his early education in Nagapattinam, Coimbatore, and Madras, earning degrees in Arts and Law.

Career and Journalism

• Madras Secretariat: Initially joined the government service as a clerk in the Madras Secretariat but resigned in 1902 to set up a law practice in Thanjavur.
• The Hindu: He worked with The Hindu, leaving in 1915 when his request for partnership was declined.
• Swadesamitran: He took over Swadesamitran, becoming its editor and transforming it into a voice for independence.

Political Involvement

• Home Rule Movement: He actively participated in Mrs. Annie Besant’s Home Rule Movement from 1914 to 1918, serving as secretary of the Home Rule League.
• Congress Delegation to England: In 1919, travelled to England as part of a Congress delegation to demand full self-government for India.
• Round Table Conference: He attended the second Round Table Conference in 1931 as Gandhiji’s political secretary and constitutional adviser.

Death

• Date of Death: Passed away on February 5, 1934.

47. Panapakkam Anandacharlu

Early Life and Background

• Date of Birth: August 5, 1843.
• Place of Birth: Panapakkam, near Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.
• Migration to Madras: He moved to Madras at the age of 10, where he later pursued a career in law.

Political and Journalistic Contributions

• Journalism: He contributed to magazines like Native Public Opinion and The Madrasi.
• The Hindu: He helped to establish The Hindu in 1878 to voice public concerns against British rule.
• Triplicane Literary Society and Madras Mahajana Sabha: He founded these organizations to promote intellectual discourse and political advocacy.

Involvement with the Indian National Congress

• First Session of the Indian National Congress: He attended the first session in Bombay in 1885.
• Nagpur Session: He elected president of the Congress session in Nagpur in 1891.
• Congress Split of 1906: He sided with the Moderates during the split in 1906.

Honors and Legacy

• Rao Bahadur and CIE: He was honored with the titles of Rao Bahadur and Companion of the Indian Empire in 1897.
• Date of Death: He passed away on January 4, 1908.

48. Kamala Ramasamy

Early Life and Family Background

• Hometown: Originated from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
• Family: She was wife of Ramasamy, the grandson of the freedom fighter TSS Rajan.

Political Involvement and Activism

• She drawn into the Communist movement by the ideals of CPI leader K. Baladhandayutham.
• Quit India Movement (1942): She actively participated in the Quit India Movement and took part in a general strike in Trichy, being one of only four women involved in the strike.

Imprisonment and Struggles

• South Indian Railway Struggle (1946): She imprisoned for one year for her support of the South Indian Railway struggle.
• Defence Act of India (1947): She arrested again in January 1947 under the Defence Act of India, becoming the only woman in jail across India at that time.
• Her imprisonment during pregnancy caused national concern and led to her release in April 1947.

Post-Independence and Recognition

• Refusal of Pension: Kamala and her husband, Ramaswamy, were offered a freedom fighters pension but declined, stating that they considered their actions as a duty rather than seeking personal gain.

Death

• Death: Kamala Ramasamy passed away on June 9, 2019, at the age of 93.

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