''Dewan Bahadur Sachivottama Sir'' Chetput Pattabhiraman Ramaswami Iyer (12 November 1879 – 26 September 1966), popularly known as Sir C. P., was an Indian lawyer,
administrator
Administrator or admin may refer to:
Job roles Computing and internet
* Database administrator, a person who is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database
* Forum administrator, one who oversees discussions on an Internet forum
* N ...
and politician who served as the Advocate-General of
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency or Madras Province, officially called the Presidency of Fort St. George until 1937, was an administrative subdivision (province) of British India and later the Dominion of India. At its greatest extent, the presidency i ...
from 1920 to 1923, Law member of the Executive council of the
Governor of Madras
This is a list of the governors, agents, and presidents of colonial Madras, initially of the English East India Company, up to the end of British colonial rule in 1947.
English Agents
In 1639, the grant of Madras to the English was finalized ...
from 1923 to 1928, Law member of the Executive Council of the
Viceroy of India
The governor-general of India (1833 to 1950, from 1858 to 1947 the viceroy and governor-general of India, commonly shortened to viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom in their capacity as the Emperor of ...
from 1931 to 1936 and the
Diwan of Travancore
The Diwan or Dewan of Travancore was the head of government of Travancore in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, serving at the pleasure of the Maharaja, corresponding to a prime minister, and consisting in the formal titles Valiya Sarvadhik ...
from 1936 to 1947. Ramaswami Iyer was born in 1879 in
Madras
Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...
city and studied at
Wesley College High School and
Presidency College, Madras
Presidency College is an art, commerce, and science college in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. On 16 October 1840, this school was established as the Madras Preparatory School before being repurposed as a high school, and then a gra ...
before qualifying as a lawyer from the Madras Law College. He practised as a lawyer in Madras and succeeded
S. Srinivasa Iyengar
Seshadri Srinivasa Iyengar CIE (11 September 1874 – 19 May 1941), also seen as Sreenivasa Iyengar and Srinivasa Ayyangar, was an Indian lawyer, freedom-fighter and politician from the Indian National Congress. Iyengar was the Advocate-Gener ...
as the Advocate-General of the Madras Presidency. He subsequently served as the Law member of the Governor of Madras and of the Viceroy of India before being appointed Diwan of Travancore in 1936.
Ramaswami Iyer served as Diwan from 1936 to 1947; during his tenure, many
social
Social organisms, including human(s), live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary or not.
Etymology
The word "social" derives fro ...
and administrative reforms were made. However, at the same time, he is also remembered for the ruthless suppression of the communist-organized
Punnapra-Vayalar revolt, and his controversial stand in favor of an independent Travancore. He resigned in 1947 following a failed assassination attempt. He served as a leader of the
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
in his early days. He was made a
Knight Commander of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:
#Knight Grand Commander (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire, ...
in 1926 and a
Knight Commander of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (GCSI)
# Knight Commander ( KCSI)
# Companion ( CSI)
No appointments ...
in 1941. He returned these titles when India attained independence in 1947. He was also a member of the 1926 and 1927 delegations to the
League of Nations
The League of Nations (LN or LoN; , SdN) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace ...
. In his later life he served in numerous international organisations and on the board of several Indian universities. Ramaswami Iyer died in 1966 at the age of 86 while on a visit to the United Kingdom.
Ancestry and origins
C.P. Ramaswami Iyer belonged to Tamil Brahmin Iyer family whose ancestral place was the town of
Chetput in the
North Arcot
North Arcot was a former district in Madras Presidency, acquired by the annexation of the Arcot State in 1855 when its Nawab died without issue. It had Chittoor as its headquarters (currently in Andhra pradesh). On 1 April 1911, the Chittoor d ...
of Tamil Nadu.
['' Sir C. P. Remembered'', p. 7]
Ramaswami Iyer's family originated from the group which inherited the village of Chetput.
C.P. was also related to Achan Dikshitar, brother of the famous
Advaitist savant
Appayya Dikshitar
Appayya Dikshita (IAST '), 1520–1593 CE, was a performer of yajñas as well as an expositor and practitioner of the Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy but with a focus on Shiva or Shiva Advaita.
Life
Appayya Dikshitar was bo ...
.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 8] C.P.'s grandfather, Chetput Ramaswami Iyer served the
British East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
as
Tehsildar
In Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, a tehsildar, talukdar, or mamlatdar is a land revenue officer accompanied by revenue inspectors. They are in charge of obtaining taxes from a tehsil with regard to land revenue. A tehsildar is also known as a ...
of
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum), or Kudanthai, is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the hea ...
.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 9] His family was deeply attached to the
Sringeri mutt
Dakṣiṇāmnāya Śrī Śāradā Pīṭham () or Śri Śṛṅgagiri Maṭha (); , ) is one amongst the four cardinal Matha, pīthams following the Daśanāmi Sampradaya - the ''peetham'' or ''matha'' is said to have been established by ach ...
.
Early life and education
Ramaswami Iyer was born in a Tamil-speaking Iyer Brahmin family on
Deepavali
Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual ...
day (13 November) 1879, to
C. R. Pattabhirama Iyer
Chetput Ramaswami Pattabhirama Iyer (c.1857 - September 29, 1902), surname alternately spelt Aiyar, originally surnamed Dikshitar, was an Indian lawyer and jurist, noted for having led the Tanjore Bar and served as the Tanjore public prosecutor, ...
(1857–1902), a prominent judge, and his wife, Seethalakshmi Ammal (also called Rangammal) in the town of
Wandiwash,
North Arcot
North Arcot was a former district in Madras Presidency, acquired by the annexation of the Arcot State in 1855 when its Nawab died without issue. It had Chittoor as its headquarters (currently in Andhra pradesh). On 1 April 1911, the Chittoor d ...
.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 6] Ramaswami had his schooling at the Wesley College High School in
Madras
Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...
.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 26] He had an extremely strict upbringing as a result of a prediction that the child would not pass a single exam in his life.
On completion of his schooling, Ramaswami enrolled at the
Presidency College, Madras
Presidency College is an art, commerce, and science college in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. On 16 October 1840, this school was established as the Madras Preparatory School before being repurposed as a high school, and then a gra ...
.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 28]
In college, C.P. Ramaswami Iyer won prizes in English, Sanskrit and Mathematics and the Elphinstone Prize for his paper on the Nebular theory.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 29] Ramaswami passed his degree with a gold medal and graduated with distinction from the Madras Law College.
Ramaswami had always desired to become an English professor. However, his father, Pattabhirama Iyer wished that his son become a lawyer and accordingly, Ramaswami chose a career in law. He spent his college vacations in the
Mysore kingdom
The Kingdom of Mysore was a geopolitical realm in South India, southern India founded in around 1399 in the vicinity of the modern-day city of Mysore and prevailed until 1950. The territorial boundaries and the form of government transmuted su ...
with the
Diwan,
Sir K. Seshadri Iyer whom he reportedly always claimed as his inspiration.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 35]
As a lawyer
In 1903, C.P. joined
V. Krishnaswamy Iyer
Venkatarama Krishnaswamy Iyer Order of the Star of India, CSI (15 June 1863 – 28 December 1911) was an Indian lawyer who served as a justice of the High Court of Madras and on the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras. He was also known ...
as an apprentice.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 37]Some Madras Leaders
Some may refer to:
*''some'', an English word used as a determiner and pronoun; see use of ''some''
*The term associated with the existential quantifier
*"Some", a song by Built to Spill from their 1994 album ''There's Nothing Wrong with Love''
*S ...
Just before the death of Pattabhirama Iyer the same year, he arranged for C.P.'s admission as a junior to
Sir V. Bhashyam Aiyangar
''Diwan Bahadur Sir'' Vembakkam Bhashyam Aiyangar Kt. (January 1844 – 18 November 1908) was a lawyer and jurist who served as the first Indian Advocate-General of the Madras Presidency and later, as a Justice of the High Court of Madr ...
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 38] but the latter was not able to accommodate him.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 39]
As a result, C.P. practised on his own and made a reputation as a lawyer, aided in part by inheriting the case-books of his father-in-law, C.V. Sundara Sastri, and his brothers-in-law, Sir
C.V. Kumaraswami Sastri
''Diwan Bahadur'' Sir Calamur Viravalli Kumaraswami Sastri Knight Bachelor, Kt. (19 July 1870 – 24 April 1934) was an Indian jurist, statesman, and Sanskrit scholar who was leader of the Madras Bar as a Vakil of the High Court, before being a ...
and
C.V. Viswanatha Sastri, who had themselves been recently elevated to justices of the High Court. He fought and won over 300 cases,
rapidly building a reputation for himself as India's foremost and highest-remunerated litigator. By 1910 his meteoric rise has led to his being acknowledged as the undisputed leader of the original bar at the Madras High Court, shortly after which he was selected as the President of the First All Indian Lawyers Conference held at Allahabad.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 40] ''Forty-two minutes, my Lord'', he once announced to a judge who asked him how much time he would need to finish a case; the next several years saw him win spectaculator victories in some of the highest-profile cases of the time,
including the Ashe murder trial
and the Besant Narayaniah case.,
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 48] as well as representing the
Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar and the
Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir
The Dogra dynasty of Dogras, Dogra Rajput, Rajputs from the Shivalik hills created Jammu and Kashmir (princely state), Jammu and Kashmir through the treaties with the East India Company following the First Anglo-Sikh war. Events led the Sikh E ...
, rapidly earning a considerable private fortune, and rising to become the most powerful man in the Madras presidency for decades.,
having cultured intimately close, even inappropriate friendships with
Lord and Lady Willingdon.
In 1920, then-Governor Lord Willingdon appointed him he the youngest-ever Advocate-General of Madras, during which tenure his income rose to an unprecedented 4,000 rupees, and in which capacity he would serve as premier state prosecutor for four years, until his subsequent promotion to the Governor's Executive Law Council, and, subsequently, the Viceregal Imperial War Council.
Sir. C.P. stint on the Executive Law Council was marked by an intense commitment to industrialization and lowering the levelized post of power, with C.P. championing initiatives ranging from the introduction of hydroelectricity to the Mettur, Pykara and Bhavani projects and for the development of the Cochin, Tuticorin and Vishakhapatanam ports. His superintending the completion of the hydreoelectric project at the high-altitude Pykara in until three years to completion, at an expenditure of less than 6.75 crores was particularly heralded. The more-expensive Mettur initiative, inccuring capital outlays of 385 lakh rupees, nonetheless rendered over 328,396 acres in Tanjore District fully irrigated, with excess electric power being made available downstream.
In 1920, C.P was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly from the Tanjore-Trichinopoly constituency in the vacancy caused by the resignation of A. Rangaswamy Iyenga. On 10 July 1930, which was the first meeting of the Assembly that C.P attended, the House was debating the Simon Commission Report on a cut motion. In 1928, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly and later to the Council of Imperial State State; further immediate distinctions followed in the form of further appointments of honour during this period included as the Indian envoy to the first and second
League of Nations
The League of Nations (LN or LoN; , SdN) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace ...
, and to the
Third Round Table Conference.
Formal decorations rapidly followed: Sir C.P. was made a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire in 1926, and a Knight Commander of the Star of India in 1941, continually buoyed by powerful support from the likes of the Willingdons and the
Junior Maharani of Travancore.
Sir C.P., at the request of his old friend the Junior Maharani of Travancore, also acceded to take on a further portfolio as the underage Maharaja's constitutional and legal adviser - a sum for which he was now earning 72,000 rupees a year.
Travancore
Indian Independence Movement
In his early days, C.P. was an admirer of
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Gopal Krishna Gokhale ( International Phonetic Alphabet, �ɡoːpaːl ˈkrɪʂɳə ˈɡoːkʰleː9 May 1866 – 19 February 1915) was an Indian political leader and a social reformer during the Indian independence movement, and political me ...
and desired to join the Servants of India society in Poona.
In 1912, he fought on behalf of Jiddu Narayaniah against
Annie Besant
Annie Besant (; Wood; 1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933) was an English socialist, Theosophy (Blavatskian), theosophist, freemason, women's rights and Home Rule activist, educationist and campaigner for Indian nationalism. She was an arden ...
for the custody of his sons
J. Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti ( ; 11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986) was an Indian philosopher, speaker, writer, and spiritual figure. Adopted by members of the Theosophical tradition as a child, he was raised to fill the advanced role of World Teacher ...
and Nityananda in the famous Besant Narayaniah trial and won.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 49] Besant, however, later got the verdict annulled by appealing to the Privy Council in England. C.P. developed an admiration for Annie Besant
and collaborated with her in organising the
Home Rule League
The Home Rule League (1873–1882), sometimes called the Home Rule Party, was an Irish political party which campaigned for home rule for Ireland within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, until it was replaced by the Irish Parliam ...
and served as its vice-president.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 51] In 1917, he became the Secretary of the
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
. He edited Besant's newspaper, ''New India'', during her incarceration.
at the same time, campaigning vigorously for her release.
C.P. later distanced himself from the Indian Independence after disagreeing with
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
over the
Swadeshi
The Swadeshi movement was a self-sufficiency movement that was part of the Indian independence movement and contributed to the development of Indian nationalism. Before the BML Government's decision for the partition of Bengal was made public in ...
and
Non-Cooperation movements.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 54]
As a member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras
In 1920, C.P. was nominated as the Advocate-General of
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency or Madras Province, officially called the Presidency of Fort St. George until 1937, was an administrative subdivision (province) of British India and later the Dominion of India. At its greatest extent, the presidency i ...
. He was responsible for the introduction of the City Municipalities Act and the Madras Local Boards Act. In 1923, he was nominated to the executive council of the
Governor of Madras
This is a list of the governors, agents, and presidents of colonial Madras, initially of the English East India Company, up to the end of British colonial rule in 1947.
English Agents
In 1639, the grant of Madras to the English was finalized ...
and was charged with the portfolios of law and order, police, Public Works Department, irrigation, ports and electricity.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 60]
As a member of the executive council, C. P. laid the foundation of the
Pykara Dam
The Pykara is a river from Ooty in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu with a village by the same name nearby. The Pykara River is considered very sacred by the Toda people, Todas. It rises at Mukurthi peak, flows northwards, and then turns to th ...
which was constructed between 1929 and 1932 at a cost of Rs. 67.5 million.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 63] He also started the construction of
Mettur Dam over the
Cauvery river
The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery) is a major river flowing across Southern India. It is the third largest river in the region after Godavari and Krishna.
The catchment area of the Kaveri basin is estimated to be and encompasses the states o ...
.
While the Pykara Hydro-electric project triggered the rapid industrialization of
Coimbatore
Coimbatore (Tamil: kōyamputtūr, ), also known as Kovai (), is one of the major Metropolitan cities of India, metropolitan cities in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Noyy ...
,
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 65] the Mettur project was used to irrigate vast areas of Tanjore and Trichy districts.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 64] As the member in charge of ports, C.P. was also responsible for the improvement of
Cochin
Kochi ( , ), formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. The city is also commonly referred to as Ernaku ...
,
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam (; List of renamed places in India, formerly known as Vizagapatam, and also referred to as Vizag, Visakha, and Waltair) is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in the States and union territories of India, Indian stat ...
and
Tuticorin
Thoothukudi (formerly called Tuticorin) is a port industrial city in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. The city is capital and headquarters of the district. ...
ports.
As law member, C.P. was instrumental in passing the ''
Devadasi Abolition Bill'' proposed by
Muthulakshmi Reddy
Muthulakshmi Reddy (also spelled Reddi in some British Indian sources; 30 July 1886 – 22 July 1968) was an Indian medical practitioner, social reformer and Padma Bhushan award recipient.
Muthulakshmi Reddy was appointed to the Madras Legisl ...
.
However, owing to strong protests from ''
devadasis
In India, a devadasi is a female artist who is dedicated to the worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. The dedication takes place in a ceremony that is somewhat similar to a marriage ceremony. In addition to taki ...
'' across Madras Presidency, C.P. suggested that the bill be introduced only as a private bill and not a government measure.
Between 1926 and 1927, he was the Indian Delegate at the
League of Nations
The League of Nations (LN or LoN; , SdN) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace ...
in Geneva.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 66] By 1931, he was a Law Member of the
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 69] and, in 1932, attended the Third
Round Table Conference
The three Round Table Conferences of 1930–1932 were a series of peace conferences, organized by the British Government and Indian political personalities to discuss constitutional reforms in India. These started in November 1930 and ended in De ...
at London.
In 1933, he was the sole Indian delegate to the
World Economic Conference and the next year he drafted a constitution for the state of
Kashmir
Kashmir ( or ) is the Northwestern Indian subcontinent, northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term ''Kashmir'' denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir P ...
.
Diwan of Travancore
File:ഭക്തി_വിലാസം._തിരുവിതാംകൂർ_ദിവാന്മാരുടെ_ഔദ്യോഗിക_വസതി._(1900).jpg, Bhakti Vilas - official palace Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer as Diwan
File:Bhaktivilas.jpg, Secondary view
File:Palace_of_Trivandrum.jpg, Kowdiar Palace - official residence of the Junior Maharani and her son, the underage monarch, as well as a frequent site for the Diwan to personally counsel the Maharani
In 1931, when
Chithira Thirunal
Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma , popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal (7 November 1912 – 20 July 1991), was the last ruling Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and ...
was barred from succeeding his deceased uncle as the Maharaja of Travancore, C.P. spoke on his behalf to the Viceroy of India.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 83] The Viceroy agreed to crown Chithira Thirunal but only on the condition that C.P. should function as adviser to the young monarch.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 84] C.P. agreed and served as Legal and Constitutional adviser and Regent to the prince from 1931 to 1936, drawing comensation of 72,000 rupees a year for his direct services.
In 1936, Maharajah Chithira Thirunal personally requested C.P. to be the
Diwan of Travancore
The Diwan or Dewan of Travancore was the head of government of Travancore in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, serving at the pleasure of the Maharaja, corresponding to a prime minister, and consisting in the formal titles Valiya Sarvadhik ...
. C.P. accepted the offer and served as Diwan for a period of ten years.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 85]
Travancore-Quilon Bank Collapse
Temple Entry Proclamation
On 12 November 1936, Maharajah
Chithira Thirunal
Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma , popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal (7 November 1912 – 20 July 1991), was the last ruling Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and ...
issued the revolutionary Temple Entry Proclamation which gave Hindus of all castes and classes, including
Dalit
Dalit ( from meaning "broken/scattered") is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. They are also called Harijans. Dalits were excluded from the fourfold var ...
s or untouchables, the right to enter Hindu temples in the state.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 77] This was bitterly opposed by conservative, yet influential upper-caste Hindus who posed a grave-threat to the life of the Diwan.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 80] This proclamation earned for the Maharajah and his Diwan the praise of
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
and other reformers.
Economic and industrial reforms
During C.P.'s tenure as Diwan, Travancore made rapid strides in industrial development. The Indian Aluminium Company was invited to set up a factory in the town of
Aluva
Aluva () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality and a northern suburb of the city of Kochi in Kerala. It is located about north of the city centre.
Aluva is known for the Aluva Sivarathri festival, Sivarathri festival, which is celebra ...
.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 94] The first fertiliser plant in India, the Fertilizers and Chemicals of Travancore Ltd. (FACT) was established by C. P. to manufacture
ammonium sulphate
Ammonium sulfate (American English and international scientific usage; ammonium sulphate in British English); (NH4)2SO4, is an inorganic salt with a number of commercial uses. The most common use is as a soil fertilizer. It contains 21% nitrogen a ...
.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', pp. 97–99] This was established with American collaboration in open defiance to the hostility of the Viceroy of India.
C.P. also established a plant to manufacture cement and another to manufacture
titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania , is the inorganic compound derived from titanium with the chemical formula . When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6 (PW6), or Colour Index Internationa ...
. The Travancore plywood factory at Punalur
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 95] The Travancore Rayons Limited was established in 1946 with a plant at
Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor () is a municipality in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. It is located north of the district collectorate in Thrikkakara and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Perumbavoor is part of the Kochi metrop ...
. The first plant to manufacture aluminium cables was opened at Kundara.
By the time, C.P. stepped down as Diwan in 1947, the revenues of the state had increased fourfold from the time he had assumed charge.
Irrigation works
C.P. wished to establish a hydroelectric power project on the
Periyar river. However, his efforts were opposed by the Government of Madras. C.P. argued as a lawyer on behalf of Travancore and won.
As a result, the Pallivasal hydro-electric power project was established on the Periyar river.
He initiated the Pechipara Hydro-electric Scheme (later, the Kodayar Hydroelectric Power Project in
Kanyakumari District), the
Periyar
Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (17 September 187924 December 1973), commonly known as Periyar, was an Indian social activist and politician. He was the organizer of the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam and is considered the architect o ...
Game Sanctuary, and other irrigation projects.
Other reforms
C.P. carried out a great deal of pioneering work for the
Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda () (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Vivekananda was a major figure in th ...
Rock at
Cape Comorin
Kanyakumari (Tamil; / kəɳjɑkʊmɑɾiː/; referring to Devi Kanya Kumari, officially known as Kanniyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin) is a town and a municipality in Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the ...
and built guest-houses at
Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari (Tamil; / kəɳjɑkʊmɑɾiː/; referring to Devi Kanya Kumari, officially known as Kanniyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin) is a town and a municipality in Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the ...
. He renovated the
Padmanabhapuram Palace
Padmanabhapuram Palace, also known as Kalkulam Palace, is a Travancore-era palace located in Padmanabhapuram in the Kanyakumari district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The palace is owned, controlled and maintained by the Kerala Governme ...
of
Marthanda Varma
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (Malayalam: ; 1706 – 7 July 1758) was the founding monarch of the southern Indian Kingdom of Travancore (previously Venadu) from 1729 until his death in 1758. He was succeeded by Rama Varma ("Dharma Raja") ...
's days (in present-day
Kanyakumari District) and expanded the
Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the largest and ...
Art Gallery.
In 1937, C.P. started the
University of Travancore
University of Kerala (formerly known as University of Travancore) is a state-run public university in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital of Kerala, India. It was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Chithira ...
with the Maharajah as Chancellor and himself as Vice Chancellor. In 1939, he was awarded an honorary L.L.D. Degree by the
University of Travancore
University of Kerala (formerly known as University of Travancore) is a state-run public university in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital of Kerala, India. It was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Chithira ...
In 1940 under his Dewanship
Travancore
The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...
became the first state to nationalise road transport in
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
.
The first cement highway in India was constructed between the capital Trivandrum and Kanniyakumari covering a distance of 88 kilometres. The same year
capital punishment
Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty and formerly called judicial homicide, is the state-sanctioned killing of a person as punishment for actual or supposed misconduct. The sentence (law), sentence ordering that an offender b ...
was abolished and
adult franchise introduced. He was also the first to appoint a lady as District Judge (Mrs.
Anna Chandy later became the first Indian woman High Court Judge). Iyer introduced for the first time the midday meal scheme to prompt poor children to attend school.
In 1941, the British conferred on him the title of Knight Commander of the Star of India (KCSI). When Indian Independence came into view
Travancore
The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...
and other
Princely States were given two options of either staying independent or merging with the dominions of
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
or
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
.
Punnapra-Vayalar revolt
A mass uprising broke out in the Alleppey region in October 1946. On 24 October Travancore police killed near about 200 people in Punnapra and the government ordered martial law in Alleppey and Cherthala. CP's police and army moved to Alleppey and on 27 October, Vayalar witnessed another mass uprising and 150 people were killed on the spot. On the same day, 130 people were killed in different locations of Alleppey in police shoot-outs. According to Prof. A Shreedhara Menon's ''Kerala History'', about 1,000 people died in the Punnapra Vayalar Agitation. Even though the agitation was a short-lived failure, it resulted in better administration of Travancore.
Declaration of independence
When, on 3 June 1947, the United Kingdom accepted demands for a partition and announced its intention to quit India within a short period, the Maharaja of Travancore desired to declare himself independent.
Dominique Lapierre
Dominique Lapierre (30 July 1931 – 2 December 2022) was a French author.
Life
Dominique Lapierre was born in Châtelaillon-Plage, Charente-Maritime, France. At the age of thirteen, he travelled to the U.S. with his father who was a diploma ...
, p. 260Dominique Lapierre
Dominique Lapierre (30 July 1931 – 2 December 2022) was a French author.
Life
Dominique Lapierre was born in Châtelaillon-Plage, Charente-Maritime, France. At the age of thirteen, he travelled to the U.S. with his father who was a diploma ...
, p. 261 Supported by the Diwan, C.P., Chithira Thirunal issued a declaration of independence on 18 June 1947.
As Travancore's declaration of independence was unacceptable to India, negotiations were started with the Diwan by the Government of India.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 111] Family sources indicate that C.P. himself was not in favour of independence but only greater autonomy, and that a favourable agreement had been reached between C.P. and the Indian representatives by 23 July 1947 but accession to the Indian Union could not be carried out only because it was pending approval by the Raja.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 112]['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 113]
On the other hand, noted historian
Ramachandra Guha
Ramachandra "Ram" Guha (born 29 April 1958) is an Indian historian, environmentalist, writer and public intellectual whose research interests include social, political, contemporary, environmental and cricket history. He is an important autho ...
has written about how C.P., egged on by
Mohammed Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah (born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 187611 September 1948) was a barrister, politician, and the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the inception of Pa ...
, had established secret ties with senior Ministers of the British Government, who encouraged him in the hope that he would give them privileged access to
monazite
Monazite is a primarily reddish-brown phosphate mineral that contains rare-earth elements. Due to variability in composition, monazite is considered a group of minerals. The most common species of the group is monazite-(Ce), that is, the cerium ...
, a material Travancore was rich in and which could give the British a lead in the
nuclear arms race
The nuclear arms race was an arms race competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare between the United States, the Soviet Union, and their respective allies during the Cold War. During this same period, in addition to the American and Soviet nuc ...
.
Nevertheless, an assassination attempt was made on C.P. on 25 July 1947 during a concert commemorating the anniversary of
Swati Thirunal
Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma III (16 April 1813 – 26 December 1846) was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore. He was a great musician and composer who has to his credit over 400 classical compositions in both Carnatic and Hindustani st ...
. C.P. survived with multiple stab wounds and hastened the accession of Travancore state to the Indian Union soon after his recovery.
Later years
After he resigned his Dewanship of
Travancore
The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...
, C. P. left for London. In the same year, he visited Brazil on the invitation of the Government of Brazil and Argentina, Peru and Mexico as a tourist.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 137] He also visited the United States, where he gave talks at the
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...
, and had discussions with important bank executives, journalists and US President
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. As the 34th vice president in 1945, he assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt that year. Subsequen ...
.
In 1949–50, he visited the United States again as a visiting professor of the
American Academy of Asian Studies
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, p ...
at California.
In 1952, he toured Australia and New Zealand as a guest of the respective governments and visited the United States again in 1953 on a lecture tour.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 138]
From 1 July 1954 to 2 July 1956, he served as the Vice Chancellor of
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University (BHU), formerly Benares Hindu University, is a collegiate, central, and research university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, and founded in 1916. The university incorporated the Central Hindu College, ...
. From 26 January 1955, C.P. also served as a Vice Chancellor of
Annamalai University
The Annamalai University (AU) is a public state university in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The sprawling campus offers courses of higher education in arts, science, engineering, management, humanities, agriculture, and physical education. ...
, thereby becoming the first Indian to function as Vice Chancellor of two universities at the same time.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 139]
In 1953, C.P. was appointed member of the Press Commission of India.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 143] Two years later, C.P. toured China as the leader of an Indian universities delegation.
C.P. served as a member of the University Grants Commission (1955),
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 145] the Punjab Commission (1961),
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 144] the National Integration Committee on Regionalism,
the Chairman of the Hindu Religious Endowments Commission from 1960 to 1962,
and President of the Inter-University board of India and Ceylon (1965).
Death
In September 1966, C.P. left for England to conduct research on a planned book titled "A History of My Times" at the
India Office
The India Office was a British government department in London established in 1858 to oversee the administration of the Provinces of India, through the British viceroy and other officials. The administered territories comprised most of the mo ...
library.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 147] At about 11:30 am, on 26 September 1966, he was in the
National Liberal Club
The National Liberal Club (NLC) is a London private members' club, open to both men and women. It was established by William Ewart Gladstone in 1882 to provide club facilities for Liberal Party campaigners among the newly enlarged electorate f ...
(where he had been a member for over 50 years), when he suddenly slumped on his armchair while speaking to a reporter and died instantly.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 3]['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 4] The following day, ''
The Times
''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' carried the news of his death:
Condolences were also offered by
C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (10 December 1878 – 25 December 1972), popularly known as Rajaji or C.R., also known as Mootharignar Rajaji (Rajaji'', the Scholar Emeritus''), was an Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and Indian independence ...
,
Zakir Husain
Zakir Husain Khan (8 February 1897 – 3 May 1969) was an Indian educationist and politician who served as the vice president of India from 1962 to 1967 and president of India from 13 May 1967 until his death on 3 May 1969.
Born in H ...
(then-President of India),
''
The Hindu
''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded as a weekly publication in 1878 by the Triplicane Six, becoming a daily in 1889. It is one of the India ...
'',
''
The Times of India
''The Times of India'' (''TOI'') is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by the Times Group. It is the List of newspapers in India by circulation, third-largest newspaper in India by circulation an ...
'',
Prime Minister of India
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Given name, ''née'' Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and stateswoman who served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 un ...
,
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 208] and
K. Kamaraj
Kumaraswami Kamaraj (15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975), popularly known as Kamarajar was an Indian independence activist and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Madras from 13 April 1954 to 2 October 1963. He also served as the pr ...
.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 210]
Legacy
C.P. was acknowledged for his talent as a lawyer, administrator and visionary.
Edwin Samuel Montagu
Edwin Samuel Montagu PC (6 February 1879 – 15 November 1924) was a British Liberal politician who served as Secretary of State for India between 1917 and 1922. Montagu was a "radical" Liberal and the third practising Jew (after Sir Herbe ...
, who served as the Secretary of State for India from 1917 to 1922, described him as "one of the cleverest men in India". He is credited with having transformed
Kanyakumari district into the rice-bowl of
Travancore
The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...
and is acclaimed for being the first person to envisage the industrialisation of Madras Presidency. He is also regarded as an
egalitarian
Egalitarianism (; also equalitarianism) is a school of thought within political philosophy that builds on the concept of social equality, prioritizing it for all people. Egalitarian doctrines are generally characterized by the idea that all h ...
and the first caste Hindu lawyer to admit a
Dalit
Dalit ( from meaning "broken/scattered") is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. They are also called Harijans. Dalits were excluded from the fourfold var ...
,
N. Sivaraj as his junior.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 74]
Under his leadership, Travancore became the first princely state to abolish capital punishment, first to introduce free and compulsory education and the first princely state to be connected to the rest of India by air.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 90] M. G. Ramachandran
Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987), popularly known by his initialism M.G.R. and as Makkal Thilagam/Puratchi Thalaivar, was an Indian actor, politician, and philanthropist who served as the chief minister of ...
, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu recollected at C.P.'s birth centenary celebrations in 1979 that C.P. was the first to introduce the midday meal scheme in the form of the Vanchi Poor Fund in Travancore.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 91] C. N. Annadurai
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai (15 September 19093 February 1969), also known as Perarignar, was an Indian politician who was the founder and first general-secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He served as the fourth and last chi ...
remarked at a speech in 1967 that C. P. was the first person in India to suggest a plan for interlinking the nation's rivers.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 67]
However, his greatest achievement is believed to be the
Temple Entry Proclamation
The Temple Entry Proclamation was issued by Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma on November 12, 1936. The Proclamation abolished the ban on the backward and marginalised communities, from entering Hindu temples in the Princely State of ...
which for the first time, permitted Dalits to enter Hindu temples which he introduced despite a severe threat to his life.
C.P. was known for his philanthropic activities and the institutions he helped establish.
After his death,
The C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation was established in his memory in order to promote traditional arts and crafts.
While serving as a law member of the executive council of the Governor of Madras, Ramaswami Iyer's agenda for social reform and opening the doors of Hindu temples for Dalits and low-caste Hindus were praised by
C. Natesa Mudaliar
Dr. C. Natesa Mudaliar (1875–1937), also known as Natesan, was an Indian politician and activist of the Dravidian Movement from what is now the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party, along with P. Theag ...
, one of the founders of the
South Indian Liberation Federation.
South Indian Celebrities
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...
, p. 51 C. P. was a patron of arts and music and was member of experts committee consisting of some of the leading musicians and scholars to advise the
Madras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy is one of the earliest established music academies in South India. Before the concept of infrastructure was introduced to India in the early 1920s, it was a gathering for elite musicians simply called (and is still more ...
.
C. P. was a friend of the English writer
Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...
who had a prolonged discussion with while on a visit to Trivandrum.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 163] Later, Maugham supplied a eulogy for the book, ''C.P. by his Contemporaries'':
Indian civil servant C. S. Venkatachar wrote that the Kashmir issue might have been resolved in favour of India had Jawaharlal Nehru chosen C. P. instead of Gopalaswami Ayyangar to present India's case at the United Nations.
The same view was also shared by
Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar.
['' Sir C.P. Remembered'', p. 46] While chairing the Indian Committee on National Integration, C.P. introduced the clause making it mandatory that newly elected member of Parliament and state assemblies should take an allegiance to the Indian Union.
It is believed that the introduction of this clause compelled the
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (; ; DMK) is an Indian political party based in the state of Tamil Nadu, where it is currently the ruling party, and the union territory of Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry, where it is currently the main ...
to give up its goal of secession from the Indian Union.
C.P. was an active
freemason
Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
and served as a member of the
Carnatic Lodge.
Criticism

While being hailed as a modernising reformer by many, C. P. is also criticised as a capitalist, authoritarian, imperialist, anti-Christian and anti-Communist by some.
C. P. has been sharply criticized for failing to rescue the deteriorating
Travancore National and Quilon Bank
The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananth ...
and for cracking down on the bank and its managing director, C. P. Mathen. It is believed that C.P., allegedly an anti-Christian framed the downfall of Quilon Bank, using his influence.
In 1946, Communist dissent over C. P.'s policies erupted in the form of the
Punnapra-Vayalar revolt which was crushed with a brutal hand by Travancore army and navy.
Communist hatred over C. P.'s policies finally culminated in an assassination attempt upon the Diwan.
However, despite deep antagonism between C. P. and Communists, he opposed the dismissal of the Communist government of Kerala headed by
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad (13 June 1909 – 19 March 1998), popularly known as E.M.S. Namboodiripad or simply by his initials E. M. S., was an Indian communist politician and theorist, who served as the first Chief Minister of ...
in 1959 by the Jawaharlal Nehru government as "unconstitutional".
[ Sir C. P. Remembered, p. 44] C. P. was also labelled as a "secessionist" due to his initial reluctance in merging Travancore with the Indian Union.
Jawaharlal Nehru said of his attitude towards imperialism:
His attempt to negotiate a trade agreement with Pakistan on behalf of Travancore was viewed as a betrayal by most Indians.
Family
In 1895, at the age of 16, C. P. was married to nine-year-old Seethamma (1886–1930), granddaughter of Indian polyglot and judge
C. V. Runganada Sastri
The Right Hon. ''Calamur Viravalli'' Runganada Sastri (c.15 February 1819/1820 – 5 July 1881) was an Indian interpreter, civil servant, jurist, civil servant, polyglot (person), polyglot, and Social reformers of India, social reformer, wh ...
[ Sir C. P. Remembered, p. 173] and sister to High Court justices ''Dewan Bahadur
Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as part ...
''
C. V. Kumaraswami Sastri and ''Dewan Bahadur'' C.V. Viswanatha Sastri, as well as cousin to ''Shankaracharya''
Bharati Krishna Tirtha Maharaj, pontiff of the
Dwaraka Math, and later supreme pontiff of
Smarta Hinduism at the
Govardhan Math
Purvamnaya Sri Govardhana Pitham or Govardhan Math (ଗୋବର୍ଦ୍ଧନ ମଠ) is one amongst the four cardinal pithams established by the philosopher-saint Adi Shankara to preserve and propagate Hinduism and Advaita Vedanta, the doc ...
, and to the Finance Secretary of the Madras Presidency and former
Tehsildar
In Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, a tehsildar, talukdar, or mamlatdar is a land revenue officer accompanied by revenue inspectors. They are in charge of obtaining taxes from a tehsil with regard to land revenue. A tehsildar is also known as a ...
''Dewan Bahadur'' V.S. Viswanatha Rao. She died in March 1930
[ Sir C. P. Remembered, p. 178][ Sir C. P. Remembered, p. 179] leaving behind three sons,
C. R. Pattabhiraman
Chetput Ramaswami Pattabhiraman (; 11 November 1906 – 19 June 2001) was an Indian lawyer and politician from the Indian National Congress. He was the eldest son of Indian statesman C. P. Ramaswami Iyer. He served as a Member of Indian Parliam ...
, C. R. Venkata Subban and C. R. Sundaram.
[ Sir C. P. Remembered, p. 181] Pattabhiraman participated in the Indian Independence Movement and was active in the Indian National Congress even after C. P.'s resignation from the party.
He was elected to the
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha, also known as the House of the People, is the lower house of Parliament of India which is Bicameralism, bicameral, where the upper house is Rajya Sabha. Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by a ...
from Kumbakonam in 1957 and 1962
and served as Deputy Minister and later, Minister of Industries from 1966 to 1967, and then Minister for Law.
[ Sir C. P. Remembered, p. 182] Pattabhiraman was also one of the founders of the Madras Cricket Club along with
P. Subbarayan
Paramasivan Subbarayan (11 September 1889 – 6 October 1962) was an Indian politician, freedom fighter and diplomat and was the First Minister of Madras Presidency, India's ambassador to Indonesia and Union Minister of Transport and Communic ...
.
C.P.'s nephew would later go on to marry the niece and heiress to
V.K. Krishna Menon.
In popular culture
*
Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...
named a character in his 1932 novel ''The Narrow Corner'' "Ramaswami Iyer" after C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, who he had met on a visit to India.
*
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (21 January 1908 – 5 July 1994), popularly referred to as the Beypore Sultan, was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, a humanist and an Indian independence activist. He was a novelist and short story writer not ...
wrote a collection of essays titled ''
Dharmarajyam
''Dharmarajyam'' is a collection of essays written by Malayalam, Malayalam language writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. These politically charged essays were written against the policies of the then Diwan (title), Diwan of Travancore Sir C. P. Ramas ...
'' against the policies of C. P. Ramaswami Iyer. The book was banned and it is said that Basheer himself got these essays printed and sold them at local shops and households, going on foot. Basheer was arrested and jailed for two years later.
* Veteran Tamil film actor
Nassar
Nassar (), is a given name and surname, commonly found in the Arabic language. Alternative spellings of this name, possibly due to transliteration include Naser, Nasser, Nasir, Naseer, or Nacer. People with the surname include:
People with th ...
played the role of C. P. Ramaswami Iyer in the 1998 Malayalam movie ''
Rakthasakshikal Sindabad
''Rakthasaakshikal Sindabad'' ( English: Long live the martyrs) is a 1998 Indian Malayalam-language historical political thriller movie directed by Venu Nagavalli, featuring Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Sukanya in the lead roles. The revolt scene ...
''.
Works
*
*
Notes
References
*
*
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*
*
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramaswami Iyer
1879 births
1966 deaths
Administrators in the princely states of India
Presidency College, Chennai alumni
Indian dewans
Indian Hindus
Diwans of Travancore
Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
Indian knights
People from British India
Indian National Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu
Vice-chancellors of Banaras Hindu University
Advocates general for Tamil Nadu
Academic staff of Annamalai University
University of Madras alumni
Indian Freemasons
Members of the Council of the Governor General of India