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Salem C. Vijayaraghavachariar (born June 18, 1852) |
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''Mayuram'' '''Vedanagam Pillai''' |
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==Early years== |
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Vijayaraghavachariar was popularly known, was born on June 18, 1852 into a Vaishnavite Brahmin family at Pon Vilaindha Kalathur, Chingleput district, Tamil Nadu. His father, Sadagoparchariar was a Hindu purohit and hence being deeply religious was eager to bring up his son as an orthodox Hindu. At a very early age, Vijayaraghavachariar was sent to a local Vedic school in his village where he learnt Sanskrit Vedas. His English education began when he was twelve when he joined the Madras Pachaiyappa High School which he passed out in 1870. He later joined Madras Presidency College in 1871 and graduated in 1875. Soon after his graduation he was appointed a Lecturer in the Madras Presidency College in 1875. Later, he was transferred to the Government College, Mangalore. However, after three years of service, he resigned his post. Subsequently he joined the Salem Municipal College as a Lecturer in English and mathematics. |
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==Career as lawyer== |
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During his time in Salem Municipal College Vijayaraghavachariar took Law examinations privately without attending formal classes and commenced practicing law in 1881. |
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==Salem riot== |
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In 1882, a short time after he set up practice an Hindu-Muslim riot broke out at Salem. Vijayaraghavachariar was implicated in the riot and charges were framed against him []. He uncompromisingly fought the charges in the Court of Law and finally came out unscathed. Fighting the case for those implicated in the Salem riots of 1882 made Vijayaraghavachariar famous overnight. Subsequently through his efficiency in advocacy he successfully pleaded for others who were sentenced for the riots to be released from Andaman Prison. Besides, he took objection to his being disqualified from the membership of the Municipal Council, Salem, of which he a member during the period of the riot. As a result of his appeal, he was not only reinstated in the Municipal Council, but was able to obtain from the Secretary of State for India a sum of RS. 100/- as a nominal damage for removing him from the Municipal Council during the period of the riot. The Salem riots of 1882 made Vijayaraghavachariar famous overnight. The Salem riot case was highly publicised in the Indian national media and newspapers hailed him as a great champion of civil liberties. Thus came to be called “The Lion of South India.’ And "The Hero of Salem".[] |
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==Entry into politics== |
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His entry into the public life began with his membership of the Salem Municipal Council in 1882. in 1895 he was elected to the Madras Legislative Council which body he served for 6 years, till 1901. |
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Indian National Congress |
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When the Indian National Congress was started in 1885 he was one of the special invitees. He was a close associate of A. O. Hume, the founder of the Indian National Congress. Even prior to December 1885, Vijayaraghavachariar had written to Hume that a national organization like the Indian National Congress which he was proposing to create should be political in outlook and at the same time should look into the economic and social needs of the masses. He felt that only then the influence of such a body could spread wide all over the country. He attended the Bombay session of the Congress and in 1887 he was one of the members of the committee which drafted the constitution of the Indian National Congress. From then on Vijayaraghavachariar became an ardent freedom fighter.[] He held high influence in the Congress that most of the early names in Congress history were either his friends or co-worker. His counsels and leadership were much sought after by the Congressmen of the early days. In 1899 (fifteenth session of the Congress, Lucknow) he was made a member of the Indian Congress Propaganda Committee. The Propaganda Committee commanded a wide national influence and played a very key role in spreading the message of the Congress throughout the length and breadth of the country. It was as a result of their work that multitudes were brought within the fold of the Congress. Vijayaraghavachariar played a key and very catalytic role as a member of this Propaganda Committee. |
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==Relationship with other Congress leaders== |
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Vijayaraghavachariar’s close associates in the Congress included Dadabhai Naoroji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dr. Ansari, Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Lala Lajpat Rai, C. Rajagopalachari and Motilal Nehru. With the advent of Mahatma Gandhi, there was a rift in the Congress ranks between the old moderates and the new radicals. Vijiaraghavachariar was a Nationalist and the Moderate Congress policy did not appeal to his judgement. He, therefore, stood aloof from the Congress after the Surat split. Nevertheless, later joined with redoubled vigour to carry the message of Gandhi []. The climax of his political career came when in 1920 he was elected to preside over the Indian National Congress Session at Nagpur, where Gandhiji's advocacy of 'Poorna Swaraj' through non-violent non-cooperation was debated and accepted. He, with his powerful oratory, gave many a wordy battle to C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru on the question of the Council Entry Programme drawn up by them.[] He was also in the vanguard of the opposition to the Simon Commission that toured the country in 1929. He took an active part in the Committee that met under Motilal Nehru to frame the Constitution for Congress. He appealed to the League of Nations to intervene and arbitrate in the Indian deadlock that proceeded after the Simon Commission. |
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==Constitution for Indian National Congress== |
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Earlier in 1913 he was elected to the Imperial Legislative Council with which he was associated till 1916. At Delhi he worked in close co-operation with great leaders like Madan Mohan Malaviya, Surendranath Banerjea and Gopala Krishna Gokhale. In the third session of the Congress was held at Madras in December 1887 which was presided over by Badruddin Tyabji (1844-1906) a historic decision was taken to draw up the Constitution of the Indian National Congress. Vijayaraghavachariar was the leading member of this Committee. It was he who drafted the Constitution of the Congress which became the Swaraj Constitution for India. He performed this task with great care and ability and won the universal esteem of all his colleagues. From then on, Vijayaraghavachariar became an ardent freedom fighter. |
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“It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of a written constitution. Almost all modem countries possessed of a constitutional government have written constitutions. England seems to be the only exception but only a partial exception, for her constitution is made up as well of charters and statutes as of traditions and usages preserved as common law by the line of great judges who contributed to the national freedom of England no less than her great statesmen and soldiers. I venture to submit that it is too late to think of an unwritten constitution.” |
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From the Presidential Address-C. Vijayaraghavachariar |
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I.N.C. Session, 1920, Nagpur |
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==Social outlook== |
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In many aspects, Vijayaraghavachariar was much ahead of his time. He advocated post-puberty marriage for women and also the right of a daughter to have a share in her father's property. He advocated the much needed change in the Hindu law at a time when any talk about it was a taboo. He was a champion of the Depressed Classes. He rendered great assistance to Swami Sharathananda in his work connected with the Anti-Untouchability League. His multisided personality also found expression in his participation in the organization of the Hindu Mahasabha. He presided over the All India Hindu Mahasabha Sessions at Akola in 1931. He was one of the two Vice Presidents of the Madras' Branch of the Passive Resistance Movement. Mahatma Gandhi was its President; the other Vice-President was G. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar, Editor of the Hindu.[] His powerful advocacy of the cause of labour and the non Brahmins bear ample testimony to the largeness of his heart. He was also munificent in his donations to causes dear to him. The Anti-Untouchability League and the Congress Propaganda Organization in England in its early days received liberal financial support from him. His long life is a crowded period of relentless struggle against Imperialism and economic and social distress. Though an anti-imperialist, he had life-long friendship with some of the representatives of Imperialism in India, viz., Governors and Viceroys. Lord Ripon, Lord Curzon, Lord Pentland, Lord and Lady Hardinge, Sir Conran Smith and Sir William Meyer were his friends from the Imperialistic Bloc, while Eardly Norton, the great Advocate, who argued his Salem Riots Case and saved him from transportation to the Andamans, was his intimate friend. With other friends of India, C.F. Andrews, A.O. Hume, Mrs. Annie Besant and Charles Bradlaugh, he was on intimate terms. |
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==Last years== |
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He lived to the ripe old age of ninety-two. Though the diadem of leadership in South India, passed on from his hands to C. Rajagopalachari, he contented himself with giving periodic advice on matters of public importance through his regular contributions to the Madras journals. His long life had been a period of relentless struggle against Imperialism and economic and social distress. Though an anti-imperialist, he had life-long friendship with some of its representatives in India, viz., Governors and Viceroys, Lord Ripon, Lord Curzon, Lord and Lady Hardinge. The voice of the Lion of South India was stilled when he passed away on April 19, 1944. After his death, his valuable collections were treasured in the Memorial Library and Lecture Halls specially constructed and named after him. |
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==References== |
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http://www.congresssandesh.com/AICC/history/presidents/c_vijayaraghavachariar.htm |
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http://www.vandemataram.com/biographies/patriots/vijayrag.htm |
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http://www.newstodaynet.com/printer.php?id=17190 |
Revision as of 13:02, 5 November 2009
Salem C. Vijayaraghavachariar (born June 18, 1852)
Early years
Vijayaraghavachariar was popularly known, was born on June 18, 1852 into a Vaishnavite Brahmin family at Pon Vilaindha Kalathur, Chingleput district, Tamil Nadu. His father, Sadagoparchariar was a Hindu purohit and hence being deeply religious was eager to bring up his son as an orthodox Hindu. At a very early age, Vijayaraghavachariar was sent to a local Vedic school in his village where he learnt Sanskrit Vedas. His English education began when he was twelve when he joined the Madras Pachaiyappa High School which he passed out in 1870. He later joined Madras Presidency College in 1871 and graduated in 1875. Soon after his graduation he was appointed a Lecturer in the Madras Presidency College in 1875. Later, he was transferred to the Government College, Mangalore. However, after three years of service, he resigned his post. Subsequently he joined the Salem Municipal College as a Lecturer in English and mathematics.
Career as lawyer
During his time in Salem Municipal College Vijayaraghavachariar took Law examinations privately without attending formal classes and commenced practicing law in 1881.
Salem riot
In 1882, a short time after he set up practice an Hindu-Muslim riot broke out at Salem. Vijayaraghavachariar was implicated in the riot and charges were framed against him []. He uncompromisingly fought the charges in the Court of Law and finally came out unscathed. Fighting the case for those implicated in the Salem riots of 1882 made Vijayaraghavachariar famous overnight. Subsequently through his efficiency in advocacy he successfully pleaded for others who were sentenced for the riots to be released from Andaman Prison. Besides, he took objection to his being disqualified from the membership of the Municipal Council, Salem, of which he a member during the period of the riot. As a result of his appeal, he was not only reinstated in the Municipal Council, but was able to obtain from the Secretary of State for India a sum of RS. 100/- as a nominal damage for removing him from the Municipal Council during the period of the riot. The Salem riots of 1882 made Vijayaraghavachariar famous overnight. The Salem riot case was highly publicised in the Indian national media and newspapers hailed him as a great champion of civil liberties. Thus came to be called “The Lion of South India.’ And "The Hero of Salem".[]
Entry into politics
His entry into the public life began with his membership of the Salem Municipal Council in 1882. in 1895 he was elected to the Madras Legislative Council which body he served for 6 years, till 1901. Indian National Congress When the Indian National Congress was started in 1885 he was one of the special invitees. He was a close associate of A. O. Hume, the founder of the Indian National Congress. Even prior to December 1885, Vijayaraghavachariar had written to Hume that a national organization like the Indian National Congress which he was proposing to create should be political in outlook and at the same time should look into the economic and social needs of the masses. He felt that only then the influence of such a body could spread wide all over the country. He attended the Bombay session of the Congress and in 1887 he was one of the members of the committee which drafted the constitution of the Indian National Congress. From then on Vijayaraghavachariar became an ardent freedom fighter.[] He held high influence in the Congress that most of the early names in Congress history were either his friends or co-worker. His counsels and leadership were much sought after by the Congressmen of the early days. In 1899 (fifteenth session of the Congress, Lucknow) he was made a member of the Indian Congress Propaganda Committee. The Propaganda Committee commanded a wide national influence and played a very key role in spreading the message of the Congress throughout the length and breadth of the country. It was as a result of their work that multitudes were brought within the fold of the Congress. Vijayaraghavachariar played a key and very catalytic role as a member of this Propaganda Committee.
Relationship with other Congress leaders
Vijayaraghavachariar’s close associates in the Congress included Dadabhai Naoroji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dr. Ansari, Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Lala Lajpat Rai, C. Rajagopalachari and Motilal Nehru. With the advent of Mahatma Gandhi, there was a rift in the Congress ranks between the old moderates and the new radicals. Vijiaraghavachariar was a Nationalist and the Moderate Congress policy did not appeal to his judgement. He, therefore, stood aloof from the Congress after the Surat split. Nevertheless, later joined with redoubled vigour to carry the message of Gandhi []. The climax of his political career came when in 1920 he was elected to preside over the Indian National Congress Session at Nagpur, where Gandhiji's advocacy of 'Poorna Swaraj' through non-violent non-cooperation was debated and accepted. He, with his powerful oratory, gave many a wordy battle to C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru on the question of the Council Entry Programme drawn up by them.[] He was also in the vanguard of the opposition to the Simon Commission that toured the country in 1929. He took an active part in the Committee that met under Motilal Nehru to frame the Constitution for Congress. He appealed to the League of Nations to intervene and arbitrate in the Indian deadlock that proceeded after the Simon Commission.
Constitution for Indian National Congress
Earlier in 1913 he was elected to the Imperial Legislative Council with which he was associated till 1916. At Delhi he worked in close co-operation with great leaders like Madan Mohan Malaviya, Surendranath Banerjea and Gopala Krishna Gokhale. In the third session of the Congress was held at Madras in December 1887 which was presided over by Badruddin Tyabji (1844-1906) a historic decision was taken to draw up the Constitution of the Indian National Congress. Vijayaraghavachariar was the leading member of this Committee. It was he who drafted the Constitution of the Congress which became the Swaraj Constitution for India. He performed this task with great care and ability and won the universal esteem of all his colleagues. From then on, Vijayaraghavachariar became an ardent freedom fighter. “It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of a written constitution. Almost all modem countries possessed of a constitutional government have written constitutions. England seems to be the only exception but only a partial exception, for her constitution is made up as well of charters and statutes as of traditions and usages preserved as common law by the line of great judges who contributed to the national freedom of England no less than her great statesmen and soldiers. I venture to submit that it is too late to think of an unwritten constitution.” From the Presidential Address-C. Vijayaraghavachariar I.N.C. Session, 1920, Nagpur
Social outlook
In many aspects, Vijayaraghavachariar was much ahead of his time. He advocated post-puberty marriage for women and also the right of a daughter to have a share in her father's property. He advocated the much needed change in the Hindu law at a time when any talk about it was a taboo. He was a champion of the Depressed Classes. He rendered great assistance to Swami Sharathananda in his work connected with the Anti-Untouchability League. His multisided personality also found expression in his participation in the organization of the Hindu Mahasabha. He presided over the All India Hindu Mahasabha Sessions at Akola in 1931. He was one of the two Vice Presidents of the Madras' Branch of the Passive Resistance Movement. Mahatma Gandhi was its President; the other Vice-President was G. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar, Editor of the Hindu.[] His powerful advocacy of the cause of labour and the non Brahmins bear ample testimony to the largeness of his heart. He was also munificent in his donations to causes dear to him. The Anti-Untouchability League and the Congress Propaganda Organization in England in its early days received liberal financial support from him. His long life is a crowded period of relentless struggle against Imperialism and economic and social distress. Though an anti-imperialist, he had life-long friendship with some of the representatives of Imperialism in India, viz., Governors and Viceroys. Lord Ripon, Lord Curzon, Lord Pentland, Lord and Lady Hardinge, Sir Conran Smith and Sir William Meyer were his friends from the Imperialistic Bloc, while Eardly Norton, the great Advocate, who argued his Salem Riots Case and saved him from transportation to the Andamans, was his intimate friend. With other friends of India, C.F. Andrews, A.O. Hume, Mrs. Annie Besant and Charles Bradlaugh, he was on intimate terms.
Last years
He lived to the ripe old age of ninety-two. Though the diadem of leadership in South India, passed on from his hands to C. Rajagopalachari, he contented himself with giving periodic advice on matters of public importance through his regular contributions to the Madras journals. His long life had been a period of relentless struggle against Imperialism and economic and social distress. Though an anti-imperialist, he had life-long friendship with some of its representatives in India, viz., Governors and Viceroys, Lord Ripon, Lord Curzon, Lord and Lady Hardinge. The voice of the Lion of South India was stilled when he passed away on April 19, 1944. After his death, his valuable collections were treasured in the Memorial Library and Lecture Halls specially constructed and named after him.
References
http://www.congresssandesh.com/AICC/history/presidents/c_vijayaraghavachariar.htm http://www.vandemataram.com/biographies/patriots/vijayrag.htm http://www.newstodaynet.com/printer.php?id=17190