C. Natesa Mudaliar
Encyclopedia
C. Natesa Mudaliar(1875–1937), also known as Natesan, was a politician
and activist of the Dravidian Movement from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party
along with Theagaroya Chetty
and Dr. T. M. Nair.
Natesa Mudaliar was born in a Vellalar
family of Triplicane
, Madras in 1875. He had his early schooling in Madras and graduated from Presidency College, Chennai
and Madras Medical College
before practising as a doctor. He founded the Madras United League in 1912 and was one of the founders of the South Indian Liberal Federation. He was elected to the Madras Legislative Council
in 1923 as a candidate of the Justice Party and served as legislator
till 1937. Natesa Mudaliar died in 1937 at the age of 62.
Natesan's admirers regard him as a kind-hearted gentleman. K.M. Balasubramaniam, a writer and supporter of the Dravidian Movement, compared him to Mahatma Gandhi
.
in 1875. He had his early schooling in Madras and graduated in arts from the University of Madras
. Natesan worked as a lecturer in Pithapuram Maharaja College and as an interpreter in the Gordon Woodrof Company. He graduated in medicine
from Madras Medical College and practised as a doctor
. In 1914, he started a hostel for non-Brahmin students in Madras Presidency
. This marked his entry in South Indian politics.
and Dr. T. M. Nair came together and resolved to put forth their efforts to form an organization representing the non-Brahmins of the Madras Presidency.
In November 1916, at a non-Brahmin conference presided over by Panaganti Ramarayaningar, the four important non-Brahmin organizations in the Presidency came together to form the South Indian Liberal Federation, more popularly known as the Justice Party. Theagaroya Chetty became the first President of the federation.
Natesa Mudaliar, along with Theagaroya Chetty
, was instrumental in negotiating an end to the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
stike of 1921, organized by V. Kalyanasundaram
.
took over as Chief Minister, Natesa Mudaliar praised Subbarayan and the Swarajists and appealed for the merger of the Justice Party with the Indian National Congress
. At the Non-Brahmin confederation in Coimbatore
in 1927, he led the split of the Justice Party into two camps: Ministerialists and Constitutionalists and functioned as the leader of the Constitutionalists till the two groups merged. In 1929, Natesan presided over the Justice Party conference in which a resolution was passed facilitating the admission of Brahmins in the party.
In 1933, Natesan expressed his support to C. P. Ramaswami Iyer when the latter spoke against casteism and proposed a temple entry law in order to remove restrictions on Dalits entering Hindu temples.
in his book South Indian Celebrities.
Natesan was also known for his dedication to the Justice Party. His oft repeated phrase was:
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and activist of the Dravidian Movement from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party
Justice Party (India)
The Justice Party , officially known as South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. The party was established in 1917 by T. M. Nair and Theagaroya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency...
along with Theagaroya Chetty
Theagaroya Chetty
Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty KCSI was an eminent lawyer, industrialist and a prominent political leader from the erstwhile Madras province. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party in 1916 along with C. Natesa Mudaliar, Dr. T. M. Nair...
and Dr. T. M. Nair.
Natesa Mudaliar was born in a Vellalar
Vellalar
Vellalars were, originally, an elite caste of Tamil agricultural landlords in Tamil Nadu, Kerala states in India and in neighbouring Sri Lanka; they were the nobility, aristocracy of the ancient Tamil order and had close relations with the different royal dynasties...
family of Triplicane
Triplicane
Triplicane also has the famous powerful Ellamman temple in SMV Koil street. A beautiful Sundaramurthy Vinayagar temple is right opposite to the Ellamman Temple....
, Madras in 1875. He had his early schooling in Madras and graduated from Presidency College, Chennai
Presidency College, Chennai
Presidency College is an arts, law and science college in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Established as the Madras Preparatory School on October 15, 1840 and later, upgraded to a high school and then, graduate college, the Presidency College is one of the oldest government arts colleges...
and Madras Medical College
Madras Medical College
The Madras Medical College is an educational institution located in Chennai, India. It was established on February 2, 1835. It is the oldest medical college in India, along with the Medical College Kolkata.-History:...
before practising as a doctor. He founded the Madras United League in 1912 and was one of the founders of the South Indian Liberal Federation. He was elected to the Madras Legislative Council
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
in 1923 as a candidate of the Justice Party and served as legislator
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
till 1937. Natesa Mudaliar died in 1937 at the age of 62.
Natesan's admirers regard him as a kind-hearted gentleman. K.M. Balasubramaniam, a writer and supporter of the Dravidian Movement, compared him to Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
.
Early life
Natesa Mudaliar was born in Triplicane, ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
in 1875. He had his early schooling in Madras and graduated in arts from the University of Madras
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
. Natesan worked as a lecturer in Pithapuram Maharaja College and as an interpreter in the Gordon Woodrof Company. He graduated in medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
from Madras Medical College and practised as a doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. In 1914, he started a hostel for non-Brahmin students in Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
. This marked his entry in South Indian politics.
Contribution in early Dravidian politics
In 1912, the Madras United League was formed. Natesa Mudaliar was one of the founders of the league and served as its Secretary. The league was largely composed of government employees and concentrated on improving the literacy of non-Brahmins by conducting adult education classes. In 1914, the Madras United League was renamed as the Madras Dravidian Association and Panaganti Ramarayaningar, later Raja of Panagal was elected President. As a part of its programme, the Madras Dravidian Association conducted a hostel called "Dravidian Home" for the benefit of non-Brahmin students. Natesan was the caretaker of this hostel.Formation of the South Indian Liberal Federation
Through the mediatory efforts of Mudaliar, political opponents Theagaroya ChettyTheagaroya Chetty
Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty KCSI was an eminent lawyer, industrialist and a prominent political leader from the erstwhile Madras province. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party in 1916 along with C. Natesa Mudaliar, Dr. T. M. Nair...
and Dr. T. M. Nair came together and resolved to put forth their efforts to form an organization representing the non-Brahmins of the Madras Presidency.
In November 1916, at a non-Brahmin conference presided over by Panaganti Ramarayaningar, the four important non-Brahmin organizations in the Presidency came together to form the South Indian Liberal Federation, more popularly known as the Justice Party. Theagaroya Chetty became the first President of the federation.
Natesa Mudaliar, along with Theagaroya Chetty
Theagaroya Chetty
Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty KCSI was an eminent lawyer, industrialist and a prominent political leader from the erstwhile Madras province. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party in 1916 along with C. Natesa Mudaliar, Dr. T. M. Nair...
, was instrumental in negotiating an end to the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
Buckingham and Carnatic Mills , popularly known as B & C Mills, were textile mills run by Binny and Co. in the city of Chennai, India. The mills were closed down in 1996 and the site is presently used as a container freight station and is a popular venue for film shootings.- History :Messrs Binny &...
stike of 1921, organized by V. Kalyanasundaram
V. Kalyanasundaram
Thiruvarur Viruttacala Kalyanasundaram, , better known by his Tamil initials Thiru Vi Ka , was a Tamil scholar, essayist and activist. He is esteemed for the strong humanism of his essays, the analytical depth of his commentaries on classical Tamil literature and philosophy, and the clear, fluid...
.
In the Legislative Council
Natesan did not participate in the first general elections in Madras Presidency held in 1920. However, in the 1923 assembly elections, Natesan was elected to the Madras Legislative Council. He had differences with ministers in the Raja of Panagal ministry and often criticized the government. When P. SubbarayanP. Subbarayan
Paramasiva Subbarayan was an Indian politician, freedom fighter and diplomat and was the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, India's ambassador to Indonesia and Union Minister of Transport and Communications in Jawaharlal Nehru's government. He is the father of General P. P...
took over as Chief Minister, Natesa Mudaliar praised Subbarayan and the Swarajists and appealed for the merger of the Justice Party with the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. At the Non-Brahmin confederation in Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
in 1927, he led the split of the Justice Party into two camps: Ministerialists and Constitutionalists and functioned as the leader of the Constitutionalists till the two groups merged. In 1929, Natesan presided over the Justice Party conference in which a resolution was passed facilitating the admission of Brahmins in the party.
In 1933, Natesan expressed his support to C. P. Ramaswami Iyer when the latter spoke against casteism and proposed a temple entry law in order to remove restrictions on Dalits entering Hindu temples.
Death
Natesan was expected to contest in the 1937 elections to the legislative assembly of Madras but he died all of a sudden in February 1937 at the age of 62.Legacy
Natesa Mudaliar was known to be a kind-hearted gentleman and was regarded as the "heart" of the Justice Party. K. M. Balasubramaniam compared him to Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
in his book South Indian Celebrities.
Natesan was also known for his dedication to the Justice Party. His oft repeated phrase was: