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R. Chidambara Bharathi

(1905 – 1987) – (Tamilnadu)

R. Chidambara Bharathi (Aged 82) a freedom fighter and nationalist, was born on June 5, 1905, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He spent 14 years in various prisons in Northern India and was a former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. Bharathi was arrested several times by the British police and tried by the British law.

After independence, he participated in national politics and was a close friend of K. Kamaraj. In the 1957 election, he was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as an Indian National Congress candidate from the Manamadurai constituency. After the Congress split, he joined the Syndicate Congress led by Nijalingappa. He received the Tamira Patra, the highest honor given to a freedom fighter in India. Bharathi passed away on April 30, 1987.

Bharathi joined the left-wing Congress led by Lokamanya Tilak and was declared wanted by the British police in many cases, particularly in the acid blast case in which he threw acid pots on the then Superintendent of Police of Madurai district, Theechatti Govindan Nayar. He spent a total of 14 years in many North Indian prisons.

After his release, he married his cousin Pitchai Ammal, and they had a daughter. Bharathi was a recipient of many awards, including the Tamira Patara award from the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the highest award given to an Indian freedom fighter. He served as the President of the Tamil Nadu Freedom Fighters Association until his death. He passed away on April 30, 1987, at his home in Arappalayam, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, survived by his daughter.