W. P. A. Soundarapandian Nadar
Encyclopedia
W. Pattiveeranpatti Ayya Soundarapandian Nadar (September 28, 1893 – February 22, 1953) was a leading figure in Nadar Mahajana Sangam
and became the first Nadar
member of the Madras Legislative Council
upon a recommendation by P.T. Rajan in 1920. He is known for his effort to associate the Nadar community with the Self-Respect Movement
founded by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
.He was known as the uncrowned king of the Nadar community.
. He was the principal leader of the Nadars from the 1920s to 1930's.
from 1920 to 1937. He represented the interests of the Nadar
community in the Justice Party as well as the council. He also served as the President of the Ramnad District board from 1928 to 1930 and Madura District Board from 1943 to 1947.
. Acknowledging the agitation's popular support, Lord Erskine, the then Governor of Madras wrote to Viceroy Linlithgow
in July 1938 that "Compulsory Hindi has been the cause of great trouble in this province and is certainly contrary to the wishes of the bulk of the population..."
and the rise of the Indian National Congress leader K. Kamaraj
within the ranks of the Nadar community triggered Soundarapandian Nadar's political decline. By the time, Kamaraj became the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in the early 1940s, most of the Nadar community leaders had shifted their allegiance to the Indian National Congress and supported the Indian Independence Movement
.
, Chennai
's principal shopping district is believed to have been named after Soundarapandian Nadar. A statue of the leader has been erected at the entrance of the bazaar and recently, a signboard was set up with the bazaar's name mentioned as "Soundarapandian Angadi". He was also active in setting up schools etc. for the Nadar community in his home town, Pattiveeranpatti
. He is also referred to as 'The Uncrowned King of the Nadar Community' in many books and papers related to the Self Respect Movement. He was also instrumental in setting up the coffee co operative curing works in Pattiveeranpatti
. His descendants continue to live in Pattiverranpatti.
Nadar Mahajana Sangam
Nadar Mahajana Sangam was first established ,due to the efforts of RaoBahadur Ratnasamy Nadar, in 1910. There are several schools and colleges under the control of Nadar Mahajana Sangam....
and became the first Nadar
Nadar (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...
member of 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...
upon a recommendation by P.T. Rajan in 1920. He is known for his effort to associate the Nadar community with the Self-Respect Movement
Self-Respect Movement
The Self-Respect Movement was founded in 1925 by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in Tamil Nadu, India. The movement has the aim of achieving a society where backward castes have equal human rights, and encouraging backward castes to have self-respect in the context of a caste based society that...
founded by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Erode Venkata Ramasamy , affectionately called by his followers as Periyar , Thanthai Periyar or E. V...
.He was known as the uncrowned king of the Nadar community.
Background
Nadar came from a prominent coffee planter family that owned estates near KodaikanalKodaikanal
-Climate:Kodaikanal has a monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate . The temperatures are cool throughout the year due to the high elevation of the city.-Economy:...
. He was the principal leader of the Nadars from the 1920s to 1930's.
Career
Nadar served as a member of the Madras Legislative CouncilMadras 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...
from 1920 to 1937. He represented the interests of the Nadar
Nadar (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 in the Justice Party as well as the council. He also served as the President of the Ramnad District board from 1928 to 1930 and Madura District Board from 1943 to 1947.
Social activism
Invoking the ideologies of Periyar, he urged Nadars to discard the sacred thread and boycott Brahmin priests (including for marriages) and to advocate Self-Respect marriages and inter-caste dining. He was selected by Periyar as the president of the first self-respect conference held in 1929. It is also rumoured that he had provided financial support for the Anti-Hindi agitation of 1937-40Anti-Hindi agitation of 1937-40
The Anti-Hindi agitation of 1937–40 is a series of protests that happened in Madras Presidency of the British Raj during 1937-40. It was launched in 1937 in opposition to the introduction of compulsory teaching of Hindi in the schools of the presidency by the Indian National Congress government led...
. Acknowledging the agitation's popular support, Lord Erskine, the then Governor of Madras wrote to Viceroy Linlithgow
Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow
Victor Alexander John Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow KG, KT, GCSI, GCIE, OBE, PC was a British statesman who served as Governor-General and Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943.-Early life and family:...
in July 1938 that "Compulsory Hindi has been the cause of great trouble in this province and is certainly contrary to the wishes of the bulk of the population..."
Social Reform
Nadar also worked for the upliftment of Dalits, Tiyyas and for other social causes. He succeeded in putting an end to the Kamudi punitive tax.Later life
The Justice Party government of the Raja of Bobbili (1932-36) was infamous throughout the province for its corruption and misgovernance . Hence, by the mid-1930s, despite Soundarapandian's personal charisma, the influence of the Justice Party began to wane. Moreover, the social reform measures such as the Temple Entry Authorization and Indemnity Act of 1939 introduced by the Indian National Congress government of C. RajagopalachariC. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India...
and the rise of the Indian National Congress leader 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...
within the ranks of the Nadar community triggered Soundarapandian Nadar's political decline. By the time, Kamaraj became the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in the early 1940s, most of the Nadar community leaders had shifted their allegiance to the Indian National Congress and supported the Indian Independence Movement
Indian 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...
.
Commemoration
Pondy BazaarPondy Bazaar
Pondy Bazaar , officially called Soundarapandian Angadi, is a market located in T. Nagar, Chennai. It is the principal shopping district of Chennai. Though the origin of its name remains unclear, the most widely believed theory is that the market was named after W. P. A...
, Chennai
Chennai
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...
's principal shopping district is believed to have been named after Soundarapandian Nadar. A statue of the leader has been erected at the entrance of the bazaar and recently, a signboard was set up with the bazaar's name mentioned as "Soundarapandian Angadi". He was also active in setting up schools etc. for the Nadar community in his home town, Pattiveeranpatti
Pattiveeranpatti
Pattiveeranpatti is a panchayat town in Dindigul district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Pattiveeranpatti had a population of 7744. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Pattiveeranpatti has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national...
. He is also referred to as 'The Uncrowned King of the Nadar Community' in many books and papers related to the Self Respect Movement. He was also instrumental in setting up the coffee co operative curing works in Pattiveeranpatti
Pattiveeranpatti
Pattiveeranpatti is a panchayat town in Dindigul district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Pattiveeranpatti had a population of 7744. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Pattiveeranpatti has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national...
. His descendants continue to live in Pattiverranpatti.