P. Thanulinga Nadar
Encyclopedia
Paramarthalinga Thanulinga Nadar (b. February 17, 1915 - d.November 2, 1988), also known simply as Thanulingam, was an Indian politician, freedom-fighter and a right-wing activist. He served as a Member of the Indian Parliament from the Indian National Congress. In his later life, he served as the State President of the Hindu Munnani
and played an active role in popularizing the right-wing Hindutva
ideology in Tamil Nadu in the 1980s.
community of southern Tamil Nadu. His father fought against British rule.
Thanulingam graduated in arts and law before becoming involved with politics.
at an early age. He was a close associate of K. Kamaraj
and was one of the prominent leaders of the Indian National Congress
in Travancore state.
He participated in the 1948 assembly elections of the newly formed Travancore-Cochin
state and was elected to the assembly. He did not contest the 1951 elections, the first held as a part of the Republic of India. However, he contested the 1954 elections from Agastisvaram and was elected by a margin of 6721 votes. He served as a member of assembly till 1956 when southern Kanyakumari district became a part of Madras state
.
In 1957, Thanulingam was elected to the Lok Sabha
from Nagercoil. He served as a Member of Parliament till 1962. He did not participate in the 1962 elections.
Thanulingam was elected to the Rajya Sabha
in 1964 and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from July 9, 1964 to April 2, 1968.
who was a Christian Nadar. The differences led to the birth of two different factions in the state in the early 1950s which required the intervention of K. Kamaraj, the then President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
When large-scale Christian conversions took place in Kanyakumari district, Thanulingam identified with the Hindu cause and strongly opposed the conversions.In the early 1980s, he joined the Hindu nationalist organisation Hindu Munnani and soon became its State President. The Hindu Munnani played an active role during the Mandaikkadu riots between the Hindus and Christians. Thanulingam was arrested along with other top Hindu Munnani leaders on February 12, 1983 as a pre-emptive measure to prevent Hindu-Christian clashes.
Hindu Munnani
Hindu Munnani is a religious and cultural organization based in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu which was formed to defend the Hinduism and protect Hindu religious monuments.-History:...
and played an active role in popularizing the right-wing Hindutva
Hindutva
Hindutva is the term used to describe movements advocating Hindu nationalism. Members of the movement are called Hindutvavādis.In India, an umbrella organization called the Sangh Parivar champions the concept of Hindutva...
ideology in Tamil Nadu in the 1980s.
Early life
Thanulinga Nadar was born on February 17, 1915 to M. Paramarthalinga Nadar in Nagercoil district of the Travancore kingdom. His parents belonged to the NadarNadar (caste)
Nadar is one of the prominent castes of Tamil Nadu, South India. The term, Nadar, in Tamil literally means one who rules the land. The Nadars are also commonly called as Annachi . Nadars are an entrepreneurial south Indian caste and constitute 12% of Tamil Nadu's population...
community of southern Tamil Nadu. His father fought against British rule.
Thanulingam graduated in arts and law before becoming involved with politics.
Political career
Thanulinga Nadar joined the Indian Independence movementIndian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
at an early age. He was a close associate of K. Kamaraj
K. Kamaraj
Kumarasami Kamaraj better known as K. Kamaraj was an Indian politician from Tamil Nadu widely acknowledged as the "Kingmaker" in Indian politics during the 1960s. He was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu during 1954-1963 and a Member of Parliament during 1952-1954 and 1969-1975...
and was one of the prominent leaders of 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...
in Travancore state.
He participated in the 1948 assembly elections of the newly formed Travancore-Cochin
Travancore-Cochin
Travancore-Cochin or Thiru-Kochi is a former state of India . It was created on 1 July 1949 by the merger of two former princely states, the kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin....
state and was elected to the assembly. He did not contest the 1951 elections, the first held as a part of the Republic of India. However, he contested the 1954 elections from Agastisvaram and was elected by a margin of 6721 votes. He served as a member of assembly till 1956 when southern Kanyakumari district became a part of Madras state
Madras State
Madras State was the name by which the Indian districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Northern Kerala, Bellary and Dakshina Kannada were collectively known as from 1950 to 1953....
.
In 1957, Thanulingam was elected to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
from Nagercoil. He served as a Member of Parliament till 1962. He did not participate in the 1962 elections.
Thanulingam was elected to the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
in 1964 and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from July 9, 1964 to April 2, 1968.
Association with the Hindu Munnani
Thanulinga Nadar was a devout Hindu. Even during the 1940s and 1950s, he bitterly differed with fellow Congressman from Kanyakumari district, A. NesamonyA. Nesamony
A. Nesamony , sometimes known as Marshal Nesamony, was a political leader from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, India. He was the second son of Kesavan Appavu Nadar, born on 12 June 1895 at Nesarpuram in Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari district. He graduated from Maharaja's College in...
who was a Christian Nadar. The differences led to the birth of two different factions in the state in the early 1950s which required the intervention of K. Kamaraj, the then President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
When large-scale Christian conversions took place in Kanyakumari district, Thanulingam identified with the Hindu cause and strongly opposed the conversions.In the early 1980s, he joined the Hindu nationalist organisation Hindu Munnani and soon became its State President. The Hindu Munnani played an active role during the Mandaikkadu riots between the Hindus and Christians. Thanulingam was arrested along with other top Hindu Munnani leaders on February 12, 1983 as a pre-emptive measure to prevent Hindu-Christian clashes.