Namakkal V. Ramalingam Pillai (1888–1972) was a prominent

freedom fighter A freedom fighter is a person engaged in a struggle to achieve political freedom, particularly against an established government. The term is typically reserved for those who are actively involved in armed or otherwise violent rebellion. Termi ...

from

Namakkal Namakkal () is a city and the headquarters of Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu. It is the first ISO 14001-2004 certified municipality in Asia for environmental management, specifically the provision and maintenance of water supply, solid wast ...

, a town known for its Anjaneya temple, situated between

Salem Salem may refer to: Places Canada * Salem, Ontario, various places Germany * Salem, Baden-Württemberg, a municipality in the Bodensee district ** Salem Abbey (Reichskloster Salem), a monastery * Salem, Schleswig-Holstein Israel * Salem (B ...

and

Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...

. Ramalingam was born into the

Chozhia Vellalar Chozhia Vellalar (also spelt as Sozhia Vellalar) is a high-ranking subcaste of the Vellalar caste. They are landlords and cultivators who formed the aristocracy of ancient Tamil society from the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Etymol ...

community. Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai 1989 stamp of India

Early life

His father, a senior officer in the British police service, was honored by the colonial government, which offered Ramalingam the position of sub-inspector. However, he declined this offer, choosing a different path.Inspired by

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 ...

, Leo Tolstoy, and Subramania Bharatiyar, Ramalingam became an active participant in Tamil Nadu's freedom movement, particularly in the areas of Namakkal and Karur.

Independence activism

He advocated for non-cooperation alongside leaders such as Sabhapati Mudaliyar and Nagaraja Iyengar. During the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha, he wrote a song with the refrain, "கத்தியின்றி ரத்தமின்றி யுத்தம் ஒன்று வருகுது" (translated as "without sword, without bloodshed, a war is coming") embodying the spirit of peaceful resistance. Throughout the independence struggle, from 1930 to 1947, Ramalingam was involved through his speeches, writings, and artwork. His pen drawings of nationalist leaders gained recognition in post-independence India, earning him several awards. is one of the most iconic lines written by Ramalingam Pillai during the

Indian independence movement The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events in South Asia with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British colonial rule. It lasted until 1947, when the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed. The first nationalistic ...

. Known for his patriotic fervor, Ramalingam Pillai used his poetry to inspire a

non-violent Nonviolence is the personal practice of not causing harm to others under any condition. It may come from the belief that hurting people, animals and/or the environment is unnecessary to achieve an outcome and it may refer to a general philosoph ...

struggle for freedom, aligning with Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of ahimsa (non-violence). This particular line captures the spirit of peaceful resistance, emphasizing that the fight for independence would be waged not with weapons or violence, but with the strength of resolve and unity. The lines "தமிழன் என்று சொல்லடா, தலை நிமிர்ந்து நில்லடா" (Say proudly you are a Tamilian, stand tall with pride) by Ramalingam also inspired patriotism and Tamil identity among the people." These iconic lines emphasize the cultural pride and unity of Tamilians, serving as a rallying cry for Tamil heritage. They are often quoted in speeches, songs, and movements to evoke a sense of belonging and pride in the Tamil language and identity. This verse is celebrated in

Tamil literature Tamil literature includes a collection of literary works that have come from a tradition spanning more than two thousand years. The oldest extant works show signs of maturity indicating an even longer period of evolution. Contributors to the T ...

as a symbol of the independence movement, resonating with the ethos of civil disobedience and peaceful protest that characterized India’s path to freedom. He also participated in the

Salt Satyagraha The Salt march, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, Dandi March, and the Dandi Satyagraha, was an act of non violent civil disobedience in colonial India, led by Mahatma Gandhi. The 24-day march lasted from 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930 as a di ...

against the British government in 1930 and went to jail for one year. He received the "

Padmabhushan The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January ...

" award in 1971 from the Indian government.Namakkal Kavignar
freeindia.orgAbout the College
Nkrgacw.org. Retrieved on 7 December 2018.

References

1888 births 1972 deaths Tamil-language writers 20th-century Indian poets Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education Tirukkural commentators Indian male poets Poets from Tamil Nadu 20th-century Indian male writers Indian independence activists from Tamil Nadu {{India-poet-stub