Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (Aged 94) was born on December 10, 1878, in Thorapalli, Hosur Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India. He was a prominent Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and independence activist. Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji or C.R., was the last Governor-General of India before the country became a Republic in 1950. He was also the first Indian-born governor-general, as all previous holders of the post were British nationals.
Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party and was one of the first recipients of India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He was born in Thorapalli village, Hosur taluk in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, and received his education at Central College, Bangalore, and Presidency College, Madras. In the 1900s, he began his legal practice at the Salem court.
After entering politics, he became a member and later President of the Salem municipality. Rajagopalachari joined the Indian National Congress and participated in the agitations against the Rowlett Act, Non-Cooperation movement, Vaikom Satyagraha, and Civil Disobedience movement.
In 1930, he led the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha in response to the Dandi March, which put him at risk of imprisonment. He was elected Prime Minister of the Madras Presidency in 1937 and served until 1940 when he resigned due to Britain’s declaration of war on Germany. Later, he advocated cooperation over Britain’s war effort and opposed the Quit India Movement.
Rajagopalachari favored talks with both Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League and proposed what later came to be known as the C.R. formula. In 1959, he resigned from the Indian National Congress and founded the Swatantra Party, which fought against the Congress in the 1962, 1967, and 1971 elections.
He was instrumental in setting up a united Anti-Congress front in Madras state under C.N. Annadurai, which swept the 1967 elections. Rajagopalachari was an accomplished writer who made lasting contributions to Indian English literature and is also credited with the composition of the song “Kurai Onrum Illai” set to Carnatic music. He pioneered temperance and temple entry movements in India and advocated Dalit upliftment.
Rajagopalachari passed away on December 25, 1972, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
C. Rajagopalachari @ Rajaji
(1878 – 1972) – (Tamilnadu)
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (Aged 94) was born on December 10, 1878, in Thorapalli, Hosur Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India. He was a prominent Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and independence activist. Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji or C.R., was the last Governor-General of India before the country became a Republic in 1950. He was also the first Indian-born governor-general, as all previous holders of the post were British nationals.
Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party and was one of the first recipients of India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He was born in Thorapalli village, Hosur taluk in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, and received his education at Central College, Bangalore, and Presidency College, Madras. In the 1900s, he began his legal practice at the Salem court.
After entering politics, he became a member and later President of the Salem municipality. Rajagopalachari joined the Indian National Congress and participated in the agitations against the Rowlett Act, Non-Cooperation movement, Vaikom Satyagraha, and Civil Disobedience movement.
In 1930, he led the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha in response to the Dandi March, which put him at risk of imprisonment. He was elected Prime Minister of the Madras Presidency in 1937 and served until 1940 when he resigned due to Britain’s declaration of war on Germany. Later, he advocated cooperation over Britain’s war effort and opposed the Quit India Movement.
Rajagopalachari favored talks with both Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League and proposed what later came to be known as the C.R. formula. In 1959, he resigned from the Indian National Congress and founded the Swatantra Party, which fought against the Congress in the 1962, 1967, and 1971 elections.
He was instrumental in setting up a united Anti-Congress front in Madras state under C.N. Annadurai, which swept the 1967 elections. Rajagopalachari was an accomplished writer who made lasting contributions to Indian English literature and is also credited with the composition of the song “Kurai Onrum Illai” set to Carnatic music. He pioneered temperance and temple entry movements in India and advocated Dalit upliftment.
Rajagopalachari passed away on December 25, 1972, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
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