Tiruppur Subrahmanya Avinashilingam Chettiar (Aged 88) was born on May 5, 1903, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India. He was an Indian lawyer, politician, freedom fighter, and Gandhian who graduated from Pachaiyappa’s College, Madras in 1923, and later studied law at Madras Law College.
In 1926, he began his career as an assistant to his uncle, Ramalingam Chettiar, before entering the Indian independence movement. Avinashilingam served as the Education Minister of Madras Presidency from 1946 to 1949 and was responsible for introducing Tamil as the medium of instruction. He is also credited with commissioning the creation of the first Tamil encyclopedia.
Avinashilingam participated in the Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements as a member of the Indian Independence Movement. He also served as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council and later as the Education Minister of Madras, introducing reforms in Indian society. A devout Gandhian, he strongly adhered to Gandhian economics, was a renowned social reformer, and followed the Ramakrishna Mission. He is also considered the father of the library movement in Tamil Nadu.
When Gandhi visited South India in 1934 to collect money for the Harijan Welfare Fund, Avinashilingam assisted him by collecting and donating rupees two and a half lakhs to the fund. He also bore the expenses for the entire tour. Avinashilingam was arrested four times, in 1930, 1932, 1941, and 1942, for his involvement in the Indian Independence Movement.
Avinashilingam received several awards and honors for his contributions to education and literature, including the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, in 1970. He was also the recipient of the G. D. Birla award and the 1985 Jamnalal Bajaj Award. In 1957, he established the Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women, which later became the Avinashilingam University for Women in June 1988. He passed away on November 21, 1991, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
T. S. Avinashilingam
(1903 – 1991) – (Tamilnadu)
Tiruppur Subrahmanya Avinashilingam Chettiar (Aged 88) was born on May 5, 1903, in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India. He was an Indian lawyer, politician, freedom fighter, and Gandhian who graduated from Pachaiyappa’s College, Madras in 1923, and later studied law at Madras Law College.
In 1926, he began his career as an assistant to his uncle, Ramalingam Chettiar, before entering the Indian independence movement. Avinashilingam served as the Education Minister of Madras Presidency from 1946 to 1949 and was responsible for introducing Tamil as the medium of instruction. He is also credited with commissioning the creation of the first Tamil encyclopedia.
Avinashilingam participated in the Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements as a member of the Indian Independence Movement. He also served as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council and later as the Education Minister of Madras, introducing reforms in Indian society. A devout Gandhian, he strongly adhered to Gandhian economics, was a renowned social reformer, and followed the Ramakrishna Mission. He is also considered the father of the library movement in Tamil Nadu.
When Gandhi visited South India in 1934 to collect money for the Harijan Welfare Fund, Avinashilingam assisted him by collecting and donating rupees two and a half lakhs to the fund. He also bore the expenses for the entire tour. Avinashilingam was arrested four times, in 1930, 1932, 1941, and 1942, for his involvement in the Indian Independence Movement.
Avinashilingam received several awards and honors for his contributions to education and literature, including the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, in 1970. He was also the recipient of the G. D. Birla award and the 1985 Jamnalal Bajaj Award. In 1957, he established the Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women, which later became the Avinashilingam University for Women in June 1988. He passed away on November 21, 1991, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
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