Last updated on July 25th, 2023 at 05:06 pm
C. Rajagopalachari also known as Rajaji was an Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and independence activist who was the last Governor-General of India. As all previous holders of the post were British nationals, he was also the first Indian-born Governor-General. He served as leader of the Indian National Congress, Premier of the Madras Presidency, Governor of West Bengal, Minister for Home Affairs of the Indian Union, and Chief Minister of Madras state.
The Swatantra Party was founded by Rajagopalachari, who was one of the first recipients of India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He was a strong advocate against the use of nuclear weapons and instead promoted world peace and disarmament. He was nicknamed ‘Mango of Salem’ during his lifetime.
Some Facts About Rajagopalachari That You May Not Know:-
Chakravarti Venkatarya Iyengar and his wife Singaramma gave birth to Rajagopalachari on 10 December 1878 in Thorapalli village on the outskirts of Hosur, in Dharmapuri taluk, Salem district, Madras Presidency, British India.
His interest in public affairs and politics began when he commenced his legal practice in Salem in 1900.
He joined the Indian National Congress and participated as a delegate in the 1906 Calcutta session at the age of 28.
He later became a member of the Salem municipality in 1911, inspired by Indian independence activist Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He was elected chairman of the municipality in 1917 and served from 1917 to 1919 during which time he was responsible for the election of the first Dalit member of the Salem municipality.
He defended Indian independence activist P. Varadarajulu Naidu against charges of sedition in 1917 and participated in the agitations against the Rowlatt Act two years later. V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, the founder of the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, was a close friend of Rajagopalachari, who was greatly admired by Indian independence activists Annie Besant, Subramania Bharati, and C. Vijayaraghavachariar.
Rajagopalachari became one of Mahatma Gandhi’s followers after joining the Indian independence movement in 1919.
The province of Bengal was partitioned into two when India and Pakistan attained independence, with West Bengal becoming part of India and East Bengal part of Pakistan. Rajagopalachari was appointed as the first Governor of West Bengal at that time.
From Madras, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly of India. He was on the Advisory Committee and Sub-Committee on Minorities. He debated issues relating to the rights of religious denominations.
He wrote an abridged retelling of the Mahabharata in English in 1951, followed by one of the Ramayana in 1957. He translated Kambar’s Tamil Ramayana into English in 1961. He translated the Thirukkural into English in 1965 and also wrote books on the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads in English as well as works on Socrates and Marcus Aurelius in Tamil.
Rajagopalachari often regarded his literary works as the best service he could have rendered to the people. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for works in the Tamil language in 1958 for his retelling of the Ramayana – Chakravarti Thirumagan.
Rajagopalachari also composed a devotional song Kurai Onrum Illai devoted to Lord Venkateswara, a song set to music and a regular at Carnatic concerts, apart from his literary works. M. S. Subbulakshmi sang a benediction hymn composed by Rajagopalachari at the United Nations General Assembly in 1967.
