George Joseph (Aged 51) born on June 5, 1887, was a prominent Syrian Christian lawyer and Indian independence activist. He was one of the earliest and most prominent individuals from Kerala to join the freedom struggle. Joseph spent his working life in Madurai and is remembered for his role in the Home Rule agitation and the Vaikom Satyagraha, as well as his editorship of Motilal Nehru’s The Independent and Mahatma Gandhi’s Young India.
Joseph was the eldest child of CI Joseph, born in Chengannur, a town in the Travancore State, now a part of Kerala. His younger brother, Pothan Joseph, became a famous journalist and editor of several newspapers. George attended Madras Christian College and later received an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh before studying law at the Middle Temple, London in 1908.
While studying in London, Joseph came into contact with many prominent Indian freedom fighters. Upon completing his studies, he returned to India in January 1909. Initially, he set up practice in Madras before shifting to Madurai. Joseph hosted several leaders of the freedom struggle at his house in Madurai, including Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari, Srinivasa Iyengar, and K. Kamaraj during their visits there. Subramania Bharati composed the well-known patriotic song “Viduthalai” while staying at Joseph’s residence.
In 1917, at the age of 29, Joseph was invited by Annie Besant to go to England along with her, Syed Hussain, and BV Narasimhan to talk about Home Rule. However, the British foiled this bid by arresting them when the ship Besant had chartered reached Gibraltar, subsequently deporting them back to India.
When P. Varadarajulu Naidu was arrested for making a speech at the Victoria Edward Hall, George Joseph assisted C. Rajagopalachari, who appeared for Naidu in the case. Joseph was the leader of the Rowlatt Satyagraha in Madurai, organizing meetings, fasts, and hartals during the Satyagraha. During the Non-Cooperation Movement, he relinquished his lucrative legal practice and joined the movement. He passed away on March 5, 1938.
George Joseph
(1887 – 1938) – (Tamilnadu)
George Joseph (Aged 51) born on June 5, 1887, was a prominent Syrian Christian lawyer and Indian independence activist. He was one of the earliest and most prominent individuals from Kerala to join the freedom struggle. Joseph spent his working life in Madurai and is remembered for his role in the Home Rule agitation and the Vaikom Satyagraha, as well as his editorship of Motilal Nehru’s The Independent and Mahatma Gandhi’s Young India.
Joseph was the eldest child of CI Joseph, born in Chengannur, a town in the Travancore State, now a part of Kerala. His younger brother, Pothan Joseph, became a famous journalist and editor of several newspapers. George attended Madras Christian College and later received an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh before studying law at the Middle Temple, London in 1908.
While studying in London, Joseph came into contact with many prominent Indian freedom fighters. Upon completing his studies, he returned to India in January 1909. Initially, he set up practice in Madras before shifting to Madurai. Joseph hosted several leaders of the freedom struggle at his house in Madurai, including Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari, Srinivasa Iyengar, and K. Kamaraj during their visits there. Subramania Bharati composed the well-known patriotic song “Viduthalai” while staying at Joseph’s residence.
In 1917, at the age of 29, Joseph was invited by Annie Besant to go to England along with her, Syed Hussain, and BV Narasimhan to talk about Home Rule. However, the British foiled this bid by arresting them when the ship Besant had chartered reached Gibraltar, subsequently deporting them back to India.
When P. Varadarajulu Naidu was arrested for making a speech at the Victoria Edward Hall, George Joseph assisted C. Rajagopalachari, who appeared for Naidu in the case. Joseph was the leader of the Rowlatt Satyagraha in Madurai, organizing meetings, fasts, and hartals during the Satyagraha. During the Non-Cooperation Movement, he relinquished his lucrative legal practice and joined the movement. He passed away on March 5, 1938.
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