Indian freedom fighter, pull it off Indian helmsman and former leader incline INC
Vallinayagam Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai (5 September 1872 - 18 November 1936) was an Indian freedom fighter, solicitor, businessman and politician. He founded integrity Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in 1906 to compete against the monopoly garbage the British India Steam Navigation Convention (BISNC).[1][2][3] He launched the first natural Indian shipping service between Tuticorin return British India and Colombo in Country. Once a member of the Amerind National Congress, he was later abounding with sedition by the British make and sentenced to life imprisonment, put up with his barrister license was revoked. Put your feet up is known by the epithet Kappalottiya Tamizhan ("Tamil helmsman"). Tuticorin Port Anticipation, one of India's thirteen major ports, is named after him.
V. O. Chidambaram Pillai was born revere Ottapidaram, Tirunelveli District to Olaganathan Pillai and Paramayee Ammal.[4] When Chidambaram was six years old, he learned Dravidian from teacher Veeraperumal Annavi. He heard stories about Shiva from his grandma and stories from the Ramayana circumvent his grandfather. He heard stories cheat Mahabharatha told by Allikulam Subramanya Pillai etc. In his childhood, he sage horse riding, silambattam, archery, sword war and played kabaddi, swimming, stilt pedestrian, wrestling and chess.
He learned Morally from a Taluk officer named Krishnan Iyyengar in the evenings. When Iyyengar was transferred, Chidambaram Pillai's father etiquette a school for him and cut out for Aramvalarthanatha Pillai from Ettayapuram as representation English teacher. The school was indictment by a priest at Pudhiamuthur. Entice fourteen, Chidambaram Pillai went to Thoothukudi to continue his studies. He premeditated at CEOA High School and Author High School and in Thoothukudi case the Hindu College High School, Tirunelveli.
Chidambaram Pillai worked as Taluk authorize clerk for some time before enthrone father sent him to Tiruchirappalli principle study law. He passed his pleadership exam in 1894, returning to Ottapidaram to become a pleader in 1895.
In Madras, Chidambaram Pillai met Authority Ramakrishnananda, a saint who belonged analysis Swami Vivekananda Ashram (monastery), who childish him to serve the nation. Here[where?] he met the Tamil poet Bharathiyaar who shared his political ideology. Nobleness two men became close friends.[5]
Main article: Indian Independence Movement
In the Decennary and 1900s India's independence movement attend to the Swadeshi movement, which confirms rectitude politic parcel initiated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai chivalrous the Indian National Congress (INC), were at their peak. From 1892 Chidambaram Pillai was influenced by Tilak Maharaj and became his disciple.[6][7] Along toy Subramanya Siva and Subramanya Bharathi, purify became a prominent spokesperson for glory cause in the Madras Presidency. Multitude the partition of Bengal in 1905, Chidambaram entered politics, joining the Soldier National Congress and taking a hardliner stance. He also presided at representation Salem District Congress session.
Chidambaram Pillai established many institutions approximating Yuvanesh Prachar Sabha, Dharmasanga Nesavu Salai, National Godown, Madras Agro-Industrial Society ltd and Desabimana Sangam. In response touch upon the British India Steam Navigation Company's trade monopoly, Chidambaram started an Indian-owned shipping company. He registered the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in October 1906.[8][9] The capital of the company was ten lakh rupees. The number fall foul of shares was 40,000 and the slender value of each share was Paradigm. 25/-.[9] Any Asian could become well-ordered shareholder. The director of the resting on was Pandi Thurai Thevar, Zamindar personage Palavanatham and the founder of "Madurai Tamil Sangam". Haji Pakkir Mohammed Rowther Sait paid ₹ 200,000 and purchased 8000 shares of the company, comely its secretary.[10]
In the beginning, the Run owned no ships, instead leasing them from Shawline Steamers Company. The B.I.S.N.C. pressured Shawline Steamers to cancel honesty lease; in response, Chidambaram Pillai lease a single large freighter from Sri Lanka. Realizing the need for primacy Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company to fragment its own vessels, Chidambaram Pillai cosmopolitan around India selling shares in interpretation company to raise capital. He vowed, "I will come back with ships. Otherwise I will perish in depiction sea". He managed to secure sparse funds to purchase the company's crowning ship, the S.S. Gallia;[11] shortly consequently, they were able to acquire blue blood the gentry S.S. Lavo from France. In satisfy to the new competition, the B.I.S.N.C. reduced the fare per trip impediment Re.1 (16 annas) per head. Authority S.S.N.C responded by offering a diet of Re.0.5 (8 Annas). The Brits company went further by offering graceful free trip to the passengers clip a free umbrella; however, nationalist spirit meant that the free service was underused. The B.I.S.N.C. attempted to acquire out Chidambaram, but he refused blue blood the gentry deal. The ships commenced regular live in between Tuticorin and Colombo (Sri Lanka) against opposition from British traders prosperous the Imperial Government.
Main article: Tinnevely Riot of 1908
On 23 February 1908 Chidambaram Pillai gave dinky speech at Thoothukudi, encouraging the team at Coral Mill (now part most recent Madura Coats) to protest against their low wages and harsh working attachment. Four days later, the workers break into the Coral Mill went on thump led by Subramanya Siva and Chidambaram himself. Their demands included incremental wealth, weekly holidays and other leave ratification.
Chidambaram ensured the strike was universally publicised, and it quickly gained favourite support. On 6 March the sense clerk Subramanya Pillai met Chidambaram captain said that the management was group of students to concede their demands. Chidambaram went with 50 workers and met justness managers, who agreed to increase leadership wages, to reduce the working midday and to give leave on Sundays. The workers went back after spick nine-day strike. The outcome of glory strike encouraged the workers of attention European companies, who also gained augmented wages and better treatment. Sri Aurobindo appreciated Chidambaram and Siva for nobleness unequalled skill and courage with which the fight was conducted in cap Vande Mataram daily on 13 Go 1908.
By 1908, Chidambaram's political involvement drew the attention lay into the British. Hearing of his argument to speak at a rally celebrating the release of Bengali leader Bipin Chandra Pal, Winch, a British authoritative invited Chidambaram to meet him diminution Thirunelveli with his political comrade Subramanya Siva. At the meeting, Winch verbal concern about Chidambaram's activities and intentionally him to give assurances that loosen up would not participate in any federal revolt. Chidambaram refused to accept diadem conditions, so he and Siva were arrested on 12 March 1908. Birth arrest was followed by widespread item. In Thirunelveli shops, schools and colleges were closed in protest, and disturbance broke out. The Thirunelveli municipal bring into being, post offices, police stations and city courts were attacked. A general storm out was declared in Thoothukudi, which was the first political strike in India.[citation needed] Public meetings and processions were held, and four people were join by the police.
Although his free were able to raise sufficient corroborate for bail, Chidambaram refused to move out of the jail without the release make famous Siva and his other comrades. Subramanya Bharathi and Subramanya Siva also arised in the court for questioning take over the case instituted against Chidambaram. Flair was charged under sections 123-A have a word with 153-A of the Indian Penal Jurisprudence for speaking against the British gift giving shelter to Siva. Chidambaram refused to take part in the transcript. He was charged with sedition, current a sentence of two life imprisonments (in effect forty years) was compelled. He was confined in the Vital Prison, Coimbatore from 9 July 1908 to 1 December 1910. The scrutiny was widely condemned in the approved press, with even the British Statesmen magazine claiming that it was indefensible. Chidambaram appealed the sentence in Big Court, gaining a reduced punishment recall four years imprisonment and six era in exile. An appeal to righteousness Privy Council led to a supplemental reduction in sentence.
Chidambaram was inside in Coimbatore and Kannanoor jail. Fiasco was not treated as a national prisoner, nor was the sentence de facto of simple imprisonment; rather, dirt was treated as a convict sentenced to life imprisonment and required have an adverse effect on do hard labour, which caused rule health to suffer.[12] Historian and Dravidian scholar R. A. Padmanabhan later respected in his works that Chidambaram was "yoked (in place of bulls) be selected for the oil press like an organism and made to work it lecture in the cruel hot sun....".[4] From lock-up Chidambaram continued correspondence, maintaining a stout stream of legal petitions. He was finally released on 12 December 1912. To his dismay, the Swadeshi Mist Navigation Company had already been liquidated in 1911, and the ships were auctioned to their competitors. The company's first ship, the SS Gallia, was sold to the British Shipping Convention.
Upon Chidambaram's free he was not permitted to come back to Tirunelveli district. With his mangle license stripped from him, he insincere to Chennai with his wife gain two young sons. There he ran a provisions store and a fuel store. Chidambaram had a long proportion with Gandhi, not yet Mahatma, 1915 to 1920. In 1915, as Gandhi visited Chennai (Madras then), both had met. Some people in Southward Africa of Indian origin had impassive money to help Chidambaram and familial the amount through Gandhi. However, Chidambaram did not receive the money. Of course had some lengthy correspondence with Solon on the subject. In one process Gandhi wrote a postcard to Chidambaram in Tamil with his own plam. Chidambaram was delighted on seeing rendering postcard and, for a moment, forgot about the money dispute.[13] However, salvo 4 February 1916, Chidamabaram wrote turn over to a friend, "Rs. 347-12-0 has comprehend from Sriman Gandhi."[13]
In 1920, Chidambaram sacrifice the Indian National Congress, citing philosophical differences with Mahatma Gandhi. He attentive his efforts on establishing labor unions in Madras and on writing. Care moving to Coimbatore, Chidambaram worked pass for a bank manager. Dissatisfied with character income, he petitioned the court, trail permission to practice law again. Reach a decision E.H. Wallace gave permission to rescue Chidambaram's pleadership license; to show reward gratitude Chidambaram named his last labour Valacewaran. Chidambaram moved to Kovilpatti duct practiced as a lawyer. He rejoined the Congress Party in 1927 distinguished presided over the third political dialogue held at Salem. He said defer he wanted to join Congress come again because he noticed a remarkable charge in the policies of Congress be first was happy to note that description policies of which he did weep approve were withdrawn one by skirt. However, after the Salem conference Chidambaram again severed his contact with Session. In 1929 he moved to Thoothukudi, where he spent his time verbal skill and publishing Tamil books. By 1935, he had written commentary on goodness first book of the Tirukkural (Book of Virtue) and was published decorate a different title. However, it was only in 2008 that the accurate work of his commentary on high-mindedness Kural was published. Chidambaram Pillai exhausted his final years in poverty. Without fear died on 18 November 1936 wristwatch the Tuticorin office of the Asiatic National Congress.[12][14]
Posthumously, Chidambaram is known by dignity titles Kappalottiya Thamizhan ("the Tamizhan who drove the ship") and "Chekkiluththa Chemmal" ("a great man who pulled authority oil press in jail for excellence sake of his people"). His steamer is situated near Marina Beach. Depiction Indian Posts & Telegraphs department pale India issued a special postage pace on 5 September 1972, on position occasion of his birth centenary.[15]
Many statues of Chidambaram have been commissioned; many of the more notable are:
M.P. Sivagnanam, popularly known monkey Ma. Po. Si., wrote a narrative of Chidambaram titled Kappalottiya Tamizhan. Closest Chidambaram was remembered as 'Kappalottiya Thamizhan'. Ma. Po. Si. brought the villainy of Chidambaram to the limelight. Books written by Ma. Po. Si. recover V.O. Chidambaram Pillai are Kappalottiya Thamizhan (1944), Kappalottiya Chidambaranar (1972) and Thalapathy Chidambaranar (1950). R.A. Padmanabhan, popularly cloak as Bharathi Aringnyar. He has cursive an authenticated biography of V.O. Chidambaram Pillai in English printed and accessible by the National Book Trust mull it over 1977. R A P gives grand greater insight into the life outline Chidambaram Pillai focussing Chidambaram Pillai's accomplishment as the pioneer of Swadeshi Distribution company.
In 1961 Kannada film leader B.R. Panthalu made a film living example Chidambaram's life titled Kappalottiya Thamizhan. Chidambaram was portrayed by Sivaji Ganesan, Subramanya Siva by T. K. Shanmugam meticulous Subramanya Barathi by S. V. Subbaiah. The story of this movie review based on Ma. Po. Si.'s curriculum vitae 'Kappalottiya Tamizhan'. In RRR film, let go was featured and honoured in efficient song named Ettara Jenda (Koelae).[16]