CHPATER VII

ROLE OF TAMILNADU IN FREEDOM MOVEMENT

Tamil Nadu has the hoary tradition of fighting for justice, rights and fair-

play. True to tradition, the people of Tamil Nadu rose in revolt when their

cherished nights were threatened, throttled and violated by the English East India

Company. The Company’s excessive direct control over the Poligars provoked the

Poligar Rebellion.

The Poligar Rebellion was spearheaded by Jaga Vira Pandya

Kattabomman, Poligar of Panchalamkurichi 1. Kattabomman was a conscious,

God fearing, law-abiding subject with a strong sense of duty, dignity and

discipline. Stung by the harshness, rashness and ruthlessness of Collector

Jackson, he had a hiccup at an interview with the Collector at Ramanathapuram on

19 Sep. 1797 and escaped with the brother Oomathurai and his minister

Sivasubramania Pillai 2. Encouraged and supported by Maruthu Pandyan of

Sivaganga, Kattabomman extended his help to the latter to rise against the British 3.

The Madras Council viewed his move as a challenge to its authority. Once

instruction for Governor General Lord Wellesley, Major Banmerman mounted an

assault on Panchalamkurichi Fort on 5 Sep., pursued the rebel and betrayed by the

1
Rajayyan, K, History of Tamil Nadu 1565-1982, Madurai, 1982, P. 182.
2
Ibid., p. 185.
3
Ibid., p. 189.

264
Poligar of Pudukkottai, Kattabomman was captured, tried and hanged to death at

Kayattar on 17 Oct. 1799 4.

Learning a lesson from the fall of Kattabomman, the rebel leaders of

Sivaganga, Dindigal, Coimbatore, Malabar, Mysore and Maharashtra formed a

Coalition, conspired, hatched out a plan of action and rose in rebellion against the

British rule and regime under the leadership of Maruthu Pandyan of Sivaganga.

This South Indian Rebellion is claimed to be the First War of Indian

Independence5.

Undaunted by the suppression of the South Indian Rebellion the rebels had

shifted their theatre of revolt to Vellore. They regrouped themselves in strength,

established contact with the disgruntled sepoys, conspired against the English and

on 13 July 1806 revolted against the Company rule. The sepoys were particularly

incensed by the racist regulations. Hindus were prohibited from wearing religious

marks on their foreheads. Similarly, Muslims were required to shave their beard

and trim their moustache. At one stroke both Hindu and Muslim sepoys were

antagonized. Worse still, the revolting soldiers were sent to Fort St. George and

two of them were given 500 lashes each and forced to seek pardon for their

action. The physically and psychologically wounded sepoys were more than

willing to join the rebels to rise against the inhuman and insensitive alien rule.

Though the Vellore Rebellion was repressed, it is regarded as a rehearsal on a

small scale to the major Rebellion of 1857”,6 which is considered to the Second

War of Indian Independence.

4
Ibid., p. 192.
5
Revenue Sundries vol.26, p.448.
6
Secret Sundries 1801, vol. 303, p.344.

265
PRE-CONGRESS POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS

Thanks to its geographical location, its status as the Capital of the

Presidency and the initial impact of European Civilisation, the educated elite of

Madras played a prominent part in the formation of political associations in the

later half of the 19th Century. The Land Lords, rich merchants and service minded

savants of the Presidency, with their intellectual clout, social status and inclination

to articulate their interests and that of the people, came forward to form the

Madras Native Association (1852), the Theosophical Society (1882) and the

Madras Mahajana Sabha (1884) 7. Besides these major political formations, the

Muslims of Madras established the Madras branch of the Central National

Mohammedan Association of Bengal (1883). Similarly the Madras Christians

formed the National Church with a view to assert their identity, free from the

control of the European Missions 8.

Of the total 72 ‘honest, loyal and earnest people’ who attended the first

session of the Indian National Congress, held at the Hall of Gokuldas Tejpal,

Sanskrit College, Bombay on 28 Dec. 1885, under the presidentship of Womesh

Chandra Banarjee, 21 delegates were from the Madras Presidency; of the 21

representative 16 were from the Madras Mahajana Sabha.

THIRD CONGRESS SESSION AT MADRAS, 1887

The first session of the Indian National Congress was “a ramshackle set of

local linkages9. A contingent of 47 delegates from Tamil Nadu attended the

7
Dodwell, N., Report on Madras Records, p. 35.
8
Revenue consultations, March 1804, vol. 132, p. 805.
9
Report of the Indian National Congress, Madras, 1934, p. 18.

266
second session of the Congress held at Calcutta in 1886. Madras had the honour

of organizing the third session of the Congress in 1887. It was held at Makkis

Garden, now known as the Thousand Lights. 607 delegates attended the session.

Badruddin Tyopji persided over the meeting 10.

The third Congress session had several distinctions : 1) it was held in an

open thidal in a specially decorated pandal’ 2) out of the total 607delegates 62

were from the Madras Presidency ; 3) the expense of the Conference well largely

met out of the donations collected from the public. The Tamil booklet ‘Congress

: Questions and Answers’, written by M. Vijayaragavachariar of the Hindu and the

Secretary, Reception Committee, was sold in thousands at concessional price and

the proceedswere spent for the session; 4) Raja Sir T. Madhava Rao, President,

Reception Committee, made the Annual Session a grand success; 5) Rao

Mookkana Chari took the audience by surprise by delivering his speech in Tamil;

6) Lord Connemara, the Governor of Madras, graced the function by his presence

and hosted a dinner to the delegates. In short, the Madras Congress Session served

as a model for other annual meetings of the national organization. Subsequently,

the Indian National Congress met at Madras in 1894, 1898, 1903, 1908, 1914,

1923 and 192711.

THE MADRAS MODERATES

The followers of Gopala Krishna Gokhale were known as the Congress

Moderates. V.S.Srinivasa Sastri, P.S. Sivasamy Iyer, V. Krishnaswamy Iyer, T.R.

Venkatrama Sasthri, G.A. Natesan, author of Indian Review’, T.M. Madhava Rao,

10
Report of the Madras Provincial Conference, Madras, 1917, p. 39.
11
Natesan, G.A., The Indian National Congress Madras, 1917, p. 39.

267
S. Subramania Iyer, C. Vijayaragavachari, S.A. Saminatha Iyer were the

distinguished Moderates of Madras. Most of them were Brahman lawyers,

constitutionalists and supporters of the Government. Though they participated in

the administration and welcomed measures like Montford Reforms, they also

raised their voice against the draconian Rowlatt Bills12.

THE MADRAS EXTREMISTS

The supporters of BalGangadhar Tilak were considered as Extremists.

Selam Vijayaragavachary, C. Rajagopalachari, T.M. Nair, S. Kasthuriranga

Iyengar. A Ramaswamy Iyengar, T. Rangachari were the well known Tilakiets,

V.O. Chidambaram Pillai was called Tilak of Tamil Nadu. Mandayam

Srinivacharai, Surendranth Ethiraj, Triplicane Krishnamachari, Sarkarai Chettiar

and Subramania Siva were the other distinguished Extremists13.

SWADESHI MOVEMENT 1905 – 07

The fire of Swadeshi movement, started in Bengal, soon spread to Tamil

Nadu. Swadeshism captured the imagination of the Tamil Extremists. They

encouraged boycott of foreign cloth and products and supported Swadeshi goods.

The Industrial Association established warehouses to store and sell Swadeshi

products. The Swadeshi League carried the message of Swadeshism to the

masses. The Balabharath Association arranged popular discussion and debate in

support of the mass movement. Similarly Swadeshivastu Pracharini Sabha

popularized the sale of locally made goods. A National fund was raised in support

12
Freedom Movement Bundle Madras, Serial No. 64.
13
G.O. No. 258, Political Dept 1910-1920.

268
of the Movement14. Subramania Bharati’s patriotic sogns fanned the fire of

Swadeshi nationalism and his articles in ‘India’ demonstrated that the Swadeshi

Movement had struck deep roots in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Tirunelveli

District15. More important, the launching of Swadeshi Steam Navigation

Company by V.O. Chidambaram Pillai in 1906 challenged the maritime might of

the British imperialism and the company “Marked the Most spectacular

development in the history of the Movement16.

SURAT SESSION

The Tamil Nadu Congress leaders, particularly the extremists, evinced

continuous concern about the Indian National Congress. V.O. Chidambaram,

Kasthuriranga Ayengar and V. Ramalingam Pillai attended the Culcutta Congress

session (1906). In receiving a telegram from Aurobinda Ghosh the Tamil Nadu

extremists led by V.O. Chidambaram attended the Annual Session of Congress

held in Surat on 26 Dec. 1907 17. The meeting turned out to be a violent clash

between the Moderates and the Extremists on the election of the president of the

political convention. At the ensuing free-for-all pandemonium V.O.

Vhidambaram, along with Duraisamy Iyer, Surendramath Ethiraj, Triplicane

Krishnamachari, Baralliar, Srinivasachari and Sarkarai Chettiar served as a shield

to Tilak, the target of attack 18.

14
G.O.No. 164, Public Dept 1909-1919.
15
Rajayyan, K., op.cit., p. 306.
16
Arnold, david, The Congress in Tamil Nadu, New Delhi, Manohar, 1977.
17
Baker, C.J. The Politics of South India 1920-1937. Cambridge : Oxford University Press, 1976,
p. 37.
18
Chandra, Bipanm. Inidia's Struggle for Independence. New Delhi : Penguin Books India (P) Ltd.,
1989, p. 58.

269
 The Swadeshi Movement spread like wild fire in southern Tamil Nadu.

Sensing the danger of the Movement going out of control, the Government

decided to stem the tide. The shops suspected of dealing with Swadeshi goods

were raided. Meetings and demonstrations were prohibited. Newspapers were

prescribed. Sub-Collector Robert William Ashe fired into striking workers at

Tirunelveli (1908)19. V.O. Chidambaram organized a massive mass procession in

Tirunelveli to celebrate the release of Bipin Chandra Pal. He and Subramania

Siva spoke at a mammoth meeting held in front of the office of the District Munsif

and passionately praised Pal. Subsequently, V.O. Chidambaram, Subramania Siva

and Padmanabha Iyer were arrested by the Collector Vinch of Tirunrlveli on

charge of sedition20. They were tried and V.O. Chidambaram was sentenced to

40 years of imprisonment. He was imprisoned in Coimbatore prison. His appeal

against the court verdict was of no avail. However, the Privy Council in London

reduced the life imprisonment in rigorous sentence. He was then transferred to

Kannanur jail in Kerala 21. V.O. Chadambaram was treated as criminal in the

prisons. He was finally released on Dec. 1912 22.

Tamil Nadu was the home of Moderates, Extremists and Revolutionary

Terrorists. V.V.S. Iyer, T.S.S. Rajan and M.P.T. Acharya were trained in terrorist

tactics in London, Home Rule League and India House, the nerve centres of

19
Orient Longman , Nationalism and Colonialism in Modern India. New Delhi, 1984, p. 96.
20
Desai, A.R. Social Background to Indian Nationalism. New Delhi : Vikas, 1978., p. 39.
21
Eugene, Irschick. F. Politics and Social Conflicts in South India : The non-Brahmin Movement
and Tamil Separatism, 1916-1929. Berkeley : University of Chicago, 1964.
22
Tamil Revivalism in the 1930s. Madras : Cre – A, 1986. p. 66.

270
revolutionary terrorism abroad. Vanchinatha 23 Neelakanda Brahmachari,

Madasamy, Gurunadha Iyer and Dr. Shenbagaraman were the other committed

revolutionary terrorists. In censed by the brutal actions of the British, Particularly

at the firing order of sub. Collector, Vanchinathan on 17 June 1911 shot at end

killed R.W.Ashe, who was travelling with his wife from Tirunelveli to

Kodaikkanal, at Maniachi station. Then the assassin shot himself dead after

discharging his duty as an Indian. Though Vanchinathan’s impulsive action was

commended as ‘dastardly and diabolical’ be is still regarded as a patriot par

excellence by the people of Tamil Nadu 24.

ROWLATT SATYAGRAHA, 1919

Rowlatt Satyagraha had its genesis in Tamil Nadu. Even when the Rowlatt

Bills were discussed in the Central Legislature V. Srinivasachari warned that there

would be an upheaval in India if the Black Bills were to be enacted into law. On

17 March 1919, Gandhi visited Tamil Nadu and stayed at the residence of Kasthuri

Ranga Lyyangar to device the way to oppose the draconian Bills. Satyagraha

Sabha was formed with Gandhi as its President 25. Rowlat act was proclaimed

when Gandhi was touring Tamil Nadu. He announced that national hartal against

23
Grover, B.L. & S. Grover. A New look at Modern Indian History. New Delhi : S. Chand &
Company Ltd. 1955. p. 47.
24
Majumdar, R.C. H.C. Raychaudhri & Kalikinkar Datta, An Advanced History of India. New Delhi
: Mac Millan India Ltd., 2003., p. 28.
25
Mehrotra, S.R. The Emergence of the Indian National Congress, Reprint. New Delhi : Rupa,
2004., p. 18.

271
the Rowlatt Bills will be observed on 30 March 1919 and then postponed the date

to 6 April26.

On 6th April 1919 anti - Rowlatt Day was observed in Tamil Nadu Protest

demonstrations were held at several parts of the presidency. Processions from

many areas of the city converged in the Marina beach. In the evening a mammoth

public meeting was addressed by C.Rajagopalachari, Kasthuri Ranga Iyengar,

S.Satyamurthy and George joseph. A separate meeting of workers was addressed

by Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram, P.P.Wadia, V.O. Chidambaram and S. Dandapani

Pillai. Complete hertal was observed at Sowcarpet under the leadership of Ramji

Kalyanji. Several Muslim traders extended their support to the styagraha. Trams

ceased to run. Workers struck work satyagrahi was published defying the News

papers Registration Act 27. Proscribed books like sarvodaya, Indian Swaraj, V.D.

Savarkar,s Volcano were sold by satyagrahis. Though the satyagraha was mainly

concentrated in the cities and towns, its reverberations were felt in the muffussil

areas also. Thus, Tamil Nadu earned a niche place in the national Rowlatt

Satyagraha 28.

KHILAFAT AGITATION

Tamil Nadu did not lag behind in extending its enthusiastic support to the

Khilafat agitation. C. Rajagopalachari earned the esteem of the Muslims by his

active involvement in the agitation. In the provincial congress conference h moved

a resolution demanding the release of Ali brothers who had courted arrest for

26
Nimbi Arroran. Tamil Renaissance and Dravidian Nationalism. Madurai : Koodal Publishers,
1980. p. 41.
27
Pillay, K.K. Social History of the Tamils. Madras : University of Madras, 1975, p. 49.
28
Rajendran, N. National Movement in Tamil Nadu : Madras : Oxford University Press, 1994. p. 92.

272
spear- heading the Khilafat movement. He aslso mobilized the support of the

Hindus to observe the Khalafat dav on 17 oct 1919. Khilafat committees were

formed through out Tamil Nadu 29.

On 20 April 1920, Khilafat conference was held at Madras under the

presidentship of Maulana Shaukat Ali. C. Rajagopalachari, Kasthuri Ranga

Iyengar and T. Prakasam addressed the well attended Conference. Another such

Conference was held at Erode which was presided over by Ali brothers. Gandhi

toured Tamil Nadu in August 1920 seeking support to the Khilafat movement.

Vaniyambadi served as the nerve-centre of the agitation. Khilafat agitation was a

conspicuous success though the Justice party and the Liberal party had not

supported it30.

NON –CO-OPERATION MOVEMENT, 1920-1922

Non-cooperation Movement gained momentum in Tamil Nadu under the

dynamic leadership of C.Rajagopalachari. It turned to be a mass Movement.

People of Tamil Nadu hoisted National flag, installed photos of national leaders,

organized meetings, demonstrations and hartals. Several leaders like Madurai

advocate George Joseph, S. Srinivasa Iyengar, N.S. Varadachari, S.Ramanathan

and V.O. Chidambaram renounced their titles or resigned their posts and joined

the Movement. By the end of 1920 Tamil Nadu Congressmen boycotted the

legislature and the election. The workers of the Buckinham Mills struck work (27

June 1921). Toddy shops were boycotte 31. The visit of S. Satyamurthy to several

29
Sathianatha Aiyer. History of India vol. III, Madras : S. Viswananthan Pvt. Ltd., 1982., p. 76.
30
Seal, Anil. The Emergence of Indian Nationalism. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1968,
p. 69.
31
Subramanian. P. Social History of the Tamils. New Delhi : B. I. Publications, 1995., p. 94.

273
places including Rajapalayam roused the patriotic feelings of the people. I.P.

Arangasamy Raja laid a firm foundation to the historic Khadi Movement in the

town. Anti-Liquor Agitation was intensified by leaders like V.G. Vellingiri

Gounder, N.S. Ramaswami Iyangar and E. Ramaswamy Naicker. When the Prince

of Wales, the Duke of Connaught, visited Madras he was boycotted though he was

given a rousing reception by the justicites. There was spontaneous emotional

upsurge in Tamil nadu when Gandhi was arrested on 18 March 1922 32.

THE SWARAJISTS, 1923

When the Swaraj Party was launched by pro-change leaders like C.R. Das

and Motilal Nehru on 1 st Jan. 1923, like minded Congressmen Kasthuri Ranga

Iyengar, Srinivasa Iyengar, Vararajulu Naidu, Vijayaragavacharai, A.

Rengaswamy Iyengar joined the new party 33. In the election held on 13 Nov. 1923

for Central Legislature, Swarajists A. Ranga Samy Iyengar, R.K. Shanmugam

Chetty, N. Srinivasa Iyengar were elected from Tamil Nadu. Though the swarajists

won 41 seats in the election held for the effectively non- co operated with the

Legislature led by S.Satyamurthy, the silver – tongue orator. The Tamil Nadu

Swarjist Legislators offered uncompromising obstruction to all Government

sponsored laws. He strongly supported the motion of no confidence moved by

C.R. Reddy against the ruling justice party. By their consistent Legislature

conduct the Madras Swarajists rose up to the expectations of the Swaraj Party34.

32
Sumit, Sarkar. Modern India 1885 – 1947, Delhi : Mac Millan, 1983. P. 45.
33
Sundraralingam R. Politics and Nationalists Awakening in South India, 1852 – 1891. Arizona :
Arizona press 1974, p. 38.
34
Sadasivan, D., The Growth of Public Opinion in the Madras Presidency (1858 – 1909)., Madras,
1974, p. 18.

274
NEILL STATUE SATYAGRAHA, 1927

James Neil had served as the General of the Madras regiment. He ruthlessly

suppressed the rebellion of 1857. Neill wrought in human vengeance on those

whom he regarded as quality; they were either humiliated or executed 35. When the

British Government installed Neills state at a central place in Madras in honour of

his service to the Empire, the people of Tamil Nadu rose in revolt against the

symbol of shame. A Satyagraha Committee was constituted under the presidenship

of Nellai N. Somayajula. It was decided to remove the statue. Madurai

Srinivasantha Iyengar and his wife Padmasani Ammal, R. Chidambara Bharati, Dr.

P. Varadarajulu, lent enthusiastic support to the satyagraha. On 11 August 1927

the satyagrahis under the leadership of Subbarayalu Naidu and Muhammad Salia

damaged the statue. They were arrested and sentenced to 6 months rigorous

imprisonment. Nellai Somayajulu, Gudiatham Swaminatha Mudaliar, Panrutty

S.A. Devanayaga Ayya, who were Satyagraha started in August continued till

December 1927 and during this period volunteers from several districts came to

the city and participated in the agitation 36.

BOYCOTT OF SIMON COMMISSION, 1929-1930

The Congress at its Annual Session at Madras in 1927 resolved to boycott

the all white Simon Commission. When the Commission visited Madras on Feb.

1929, it was greeted with black-flag demonstrations. The boycott of the

Commission turned into a mass movement. Behind the façade of official welcome,

the Congressmen organized a massive mass agitation which resulted in police

35
Baliga. B.S., Studies in Madras Administration, Vol. I, P.3.
36
Rangaswami, A., Ramanathapuram District Gazetteer, Madras, 1977, p. 109.

275
firing killing three people. T. Prakasam, Muthuranga Mudaliar and M.

Bakthavasthalam were subjected to bural lathi charge 37 protest demonstrations

were held against unprovoked attack on unarmed agitators. The Simon

Commission and the Justice Party were condemned in the Marina meeting.

Ranganatha Mudaliyar and Arokyasamy Mudaliar resigned from the justice

Ministry in protest against Dr. P.Subbarayan who participated in the official

reception given to the Simon Commission. Despite official support to the

Commission, the boycott of Simon Commission in Tamil Nadu was a significant

success38.

POORNA SWARAJ DAY , 1930

At the congress session in Dec. 1927 at Madras, Nehru got through a snap

resolution on complete Independence. The seed sowed in the Madras Session

sprouted as Purna Swaraj resolution at the Calcutta Congress in 192739. C.

Rajagopalachari re-emerged as popular leader in Tamil Nadu politics, toured

across the Presidency to prepare the people for Complete Independence of India.

On 26 Jan. 1930 Purna Swaraj Day was observed in every city. town and village.

C. Rajagopalachari and Madurai A. Vaidyanatha Iyer actively participated in the

celebration. National Flag was hoisted at Madras. A mass meeting was held at

Triplicane Tilagar Ghat in which Purna Swaraj Oath was read and repeated by

thousands of people assembled there 40.

37
Sedition Committee Report, Madras, 1918, p. 165.
38
Srinivas, M.N., Social Change in Modern, India, Madras, 1985, p. 5.
39
Irschick E.P. Politics and Social Conflict in South India, Bombay, 1969, p. 58.
40
Spratt, P., DMK in Power, Bombay, 1970, p. 14.

276
SALT SATYAGRAHA, 1930

C. Rajagopalachari, the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee,

was nominated by the Congress High Command to lead the Salt Satyagraha in the

Presidency. He shifted the Congress Head Quarters from Madras to Trichi, which

served as the center of Civil Disobedience Movement41. He went to Madurai to

seek the support of N.M.R. Subbaraman, President of Madurai District Congress

Committee and A. Vaidyanatha Iyer, local leading lawyer. At the residence of

Ayer the final decision was taken to stage the Trichi Vedaranyam Salt March

similar to that of Dandi March 42.

On 13 March 1930, the day after Gandhi commenced his Dandi March, a

mammoth public meeting was held at Trichy. Then Trichy T S S Rajan and

Vedaranyam Sardar Vedararathnam Pillai were responsible for fixing the starting

place and closing point of the March 43. Both of them extended their untinted

support to the Satyagraha. Then the Salt March started from Trichi to Vedaranyam

via Tanjavur, Kumnakonam, Mannargudi and Tiruthuraipundi. C. Rajagopalachari

led the first batch of 98 volunters.The patriots with the National Flag in their

hands marched in rows of two chanting Bharatis songs and a song specially

composed by Namakkal V.Ramalingam Pillai for the occasion. Despite the

warning given by A.J. Dharn, the District Collector of Tanjore, the villagers

extended hospitality and welcome to the Satyagahis enroute. After 16 days of

March, they reached Vedaranyam on 26 April 1930. Thousands of people who had

already gathered there greeted them with thunderous cheers. Next day, the

41
Subba Rao, C.V., Life and Times of K.V. Reddi Naidu, Rajamundry, 1957, p. 50.
42
Report on the Administration of the Madras Presidency for the year 1928, p. 7.
43
report on the Administration of the Madras Presidency for the year 1929, p. 8.

277
volunteers observed fast and prayed. On 30 April 1930 C. Rajagopalachari with 16

chosen Satyagrahis defied the Salt Law and collected salt at Agasthian Pillai. They

were arrested and sentenced them to 6 month imprisonment in Trichi Jail 44. After

their arrest, S. Satyamurthi led the satyagraha. he and K.S. Santhanam, Mattaparai

Venkatrama Iyer, K. Subramania Iyer, G. Ramachandran led the satyagraha and

courted arrest. Vedaranyam salt satyagraha lasted for one and a half months 45.

Parallel to the Vedaranyam Salt March, Andra Kesari T. Prakasam, on 13

April 1930, led a Salt March to Tilakar Ghat, Triplicne, Madras, defied Salt Law,

distributed 'Liberty Salt' and courted arrest. Sankara Iyer and Munuswamy

Mudaliar produced salt at Solengapuram and Madras. Salt Satyagraha was staged

in Madurai. Tuticorin, Cuddalore, Erode, Tirunelveli and Trichy, and thousands of

volunteers were arrested. The Satyagraha rekindled patriotic feelings among the

people46.

As the Salt Satyagraha was gaining ground the provincial administration

unleashed repressive measures. On 11 march 1930 police opened fire at the

meeting of workers at Choolai, Madras. The volunteers who picketed the toddy

shops at Madurai (17 July) and Satygrahis at Madurai (6 Aug) were subjected to

police shooting, killing many people. On 11 Jan. 1932, the police resorted to la thi

charge to disperse a procession in which Tirupur kumaran was brutally attacked

and he died on the spot holding the National Flag high and singing patriotic

song47. Police entered the Madurai College Hostel and lathi charged the inmates.

44
Report on the Administration of Madras presidency for the year 1930, p. 9.
45
Fortnightly Report for the first half of April 1925.
46
Saraswathi., Dyarchy in Madras. Justice Party Souvenir, p. 20.
47
Madras Legislative Council 2 April 1921, Proceedings p. 1590.

278
The Congress meeting held at Town Hall Maridan, Coimbatore, was disrupted by

police action. The Valparai meeting was banned. The police brutality was widely

condemned48.

The Congress Working Committee met in 1935 and decided to contest

election and accept office under the Government of India Act of 1935. In the

election for Central Legislature held in 1937 the Tamil Nadu Congress candidates

won 11 out of 16 sets allotted to the Presidency. In the election for Madras

Legislature, Congress captured 159 out of 214 seats. Pasumpon Muthuramalinga

Thevar worked hard for Congress victory in the election. C. Rajapalachari was

elected from the Graduates Constituency and formed the First Congress Ministry

(1937-39). The Rajaji Government remained controversial from the beginning 49.

INDIVIDUAL SATYAGRAHA, 1940-41

Disappointed with the August offer of Lord Linlithgow (8 Aug. 1940)

Gandhiji preferred Individual Satagraha instead of Mass Disobedience Movement

to demonstrate the national disapproval in view of war situation. At the natio nal

level, Acharya Vinoba Bhave was chosen by Gandhiji as the First Satyagrahai50. In

Tamil Nadu, Dr. T.S. S. Raja was the First in dividual Satyagrahi to court arrest,

K.Kamaraj assumed charge of the Tamil Nadu Congress, toured across the

Presidency, prepared a list of Satyagrahis to lead the Movement in turn. He was

arrested at Goodur Railway Station on his way to meet Gandhiji to get his

approval of the official list he had prepared and lodged in Vellore Jail. Large

48
Gopala Menon, Non-Brahmin Movement and Justice Party, Justice Party Souvenir, P. 95.
49
Arnold, D.J., Nationalism and Regional Politics in Tamil Nadu, New Delhi 1920-1937. p. 341.
50
Andre Betillen, Caste and Political Group Formation in Tamil Nadu, Madras, 1970, p. 271.

279
number of influential persons from several districts actively involved themselves

in the individual satyagraha 51.

QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT, 1942

Following the failure of the Cripps Mission, Gandhiji came out with his

clarion call mantra of Do or Die 52. The Government arrested the top leaders of the

Congress and on 9th Aug. 1942 Gandhiji and other leading lights were arrested in

a single sweep and shifted to unknown destination. In Tamil Nadu, K. Kamaraj,

Vellore V.M. Ubayadulla, Thiruvannamalai N. Annamalai, C.N. Muthuranga

Mudaliar, M. Baktavatsalam, S. Satyamurthy were arrested when they

were returning to Madras after attending the Bombay meeting and sent to Vellore

Jail53.

The unexpected arrest of the National leaders provoked spontaneous

protests across the country. In Madras total hartal was observed. The workers of

the Buckinham and Carnatic Mills, the Madras port Trust, the Madras Corporation

and the Tramway struck work. Shops were closed. Educational institutions did not

function, Police resorted to lathi charge and firing, in which 9 died and several

wounded54.

The Quit India Movement spread fast like wild fire to the districts. In the

North and South Arcot Districts, the agitators went berserk and cut off telegraph

and telephone lines, burnt Government properties and derailed goods train. The

51
Majundar, R.C., Struggle for Freedom, Bombay, 1969, p. 624.
52
Pattabhi Sitaramayya. History of the Indian National Congress, Vol. I, P. 343.
53
District Calendar of the Civil Disobedience Movement, Secret, 1942-1943, p. 78.
54
District Calendar of Events of the Civil Disobedience Movement, secret, August 1942, p. 34.

280
students of Annamalai University plunged in the agitation 55. Tanjore district

witnessed several attempts at sabotage and surreptitious activities. Widespered

violence broke out in the Combatore district. Singanallur Mill workers defied law

and went on a procession. The Sulure Aerodrome was burnt and about 200 tanks

were damaged. About 30 agitators died in the police firing. In a neighboring

village all males were arrested and confined in a small place 56.

Total hartal was observed in the Madurai district. At several places young

agitators came into clash with the police. A. Vaidyanatha Iyer, B. Chidambara

Bharathi, K. Rajaram Naidu and others were arrested for making inflammatory

speeches. There was conformation between the public and the police at the Jhansi

Rani Park resulting in firing. Post office was burnt. Circle Inspector Visvanathan

was subjected to acid bomb attack. Since the situation went out of control, curfew

was clamped and the district handed over to the army 57.

In the Virudunagar district Rajapalayam played a conspicuous role in the

Quit India Movement. On 9 Aug. 1942 the youth of the town organized a

serpentine procession led by P.S. Vasanthan58. The town police station was

attacked. The status of George V near the police station was smarshed into

smithereens. The procession at the Golden Jubilee Hall, condemned the arrest of

their leaders and chalked out further cource of action. Women of the town joined

the agitation in strength 59.

55
Fortnightly Report (confidential) 19 oct. 1939.
56
G.O. 2152 public Dept July 1942.
57
Rudraiya Choudhari, G., A Political Study, Bombay, 1971, p. 165.
58
Fortnightly Report, Madras, 1921, p. 13.
59
Fortnightly Report for the year 1938, Govt. of Madras, 1938.

281
 Protest meetings were held at Sattur taluk. Hartal and picketing was

observed in Arupukottai taluk. During the second week of August the Movement

was intensified in many districts, resulting in violent activities in most parts of

Tamil Nadu. Conspiracy cases had been hoisted on Congress leaders and awarded

varied degree of sentences. Tamil Nadu agitators demonstrated by example that

they would not desist from violent and destructive activities in order to attain

freedom to their country60.

IMPACT OF INA TRIALS, 1945-1946

The INA trials and RIN revolt made a tremendous impact on Tamil Nadu.

There were demonstrations and agitation in Madras, Trichy and other towns

demanding the release of Rashid Ali, an INA officer who was awarded seven year

sentence (1945) Madras city was in the grip of violent protest when the ratings of

the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) went on strike (18 feb. 1946). More than 200

workers struck work in the Madras Airport. Students of Colleges paralysed the

city by staging demonstrations. Women participation in the agitation was

conspicuous. P. Jeevanandam, M. Kalyannasundaram, S. Krishnasamy Iyangar and

M.P. Srinivasan, student leader addressed a well attended meeting at Tilagar Ghat,

Triplicane, Madras 61.

INDEPENDENT INDIA, 1947

The agitation was resumed in Tamil Nadu when Gandhiji commenced his

21 day fast on 10 Feb 1943. In Madras, hartal was observed in front of the State

Secretariat and several activists were arrested. In towns like Trichy, and Madurai

60
Coupland, C.Y., Indian Politics, 1936-1942, Oxford, 1944, p. 290.
61
The Hindu, dated 24.09.1945.

282
the agitation was widespread and many courted arrest. On 9 Aug 1944 , the peopl e

of Tamil Nadu celebrated the Second Aniverary of the Quit India Movement62

Congress swept the polls in the Provincial election held in 1946 and on 30 April

1946 T. Prakasan formed the ministry. Political prisoners were released. T.

Prakasam was succeeded by O.P.Ramswamy Reddiar (23 March 1947) C.

Rajagopalachari was included in the Indian Government headed by Nehru. Of the

49 representatives sent from the Madras Presidency to the Constituent Assembly

22 were from Tamil Nadu63.

When India became Independent on the mid-night of 14-15 August 1947,

Tamil Nadu celebrated the event with geity, gust and happiness. The National Tri-

colour Flag with Ashok Chakra in the middle was hoisted in St. George Fort

replacing the Union Jack Flag64. The Madras Legislature formally adopted a

resolution welcoming the transfer of power of India. Tamil Nadu reverberated

with the Bharathi song Aduvome pallu paduvome, Ananda swathantiram

Adaintanvittom Enru 65.

62
Fortnightly Report 19, Oct, 1947.
63
G.O. No. 252, Public Dept Sept 1947.
64
Rudraya Choudhari, G., A Political Study, Madras, 1971, p. 165.
65
Baliga, B.S., Studies in Madras Administration Vol. I, P. 38.

283