T. S. Avinashilingam
Tiruppur Subrahmanya Avinashilingam Chettiar | |
---|---|
Tiruppur | |
In office 1952–1957 | |
Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
Minister of Education (Madras Presidency) | |
In office 1946–1949 | |
Premier | Tanguturi Prakasam, O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar |
Member of the Imperial Legislative Council of India | |
In office 1934–1945 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Tiruppur, Madras Presidency | 5 May 1903
Died | 21 November 1991 Coimbatore | (aged 88)
Nationality | Indian |
Political party | Indian National Congress |
Alma mater | Pachaiyappa's College, Madras Madras Law College |
Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Tiruppur Subrahmanya Avinashilingam Chettiar (5 May 1903 – 21 November 1991) was an Indian lawyer, politician, freedom-fighter and Gandhian. He 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 having commissioned the creation of the first Tamil encyclopedia.
Avinashlingam Chettiar was born to K. Subrahmanya Chettiar at Tiruppur. He was a nephew of politician
Avinashlingam was a devout Gandhian and was a strong follower of Gandhian economics. He was also a renowned social reformer and follower of the Ramakrishna Mission. He also a father of library movement in Tamilnadu.[citation needed]
Early life
Avinashlingam was born in Tiruppur in the then Coimbatore district on 5 May 1903 to K. Subrahmanya Chettiar, a rich and prominent merchant of Tiruppur and his wife, Palaniammal. [1][2] Avinashlingam was a nephew of Indian National Congress politician and freedom-fighter, T. A. Ramalingam Chettiar.[3]
Education
Avinashilingam had his schooling at Tiruppur High school, Tiruppur and London Mission High School, Coimbatore. He graduated from Pachaiyappa's College, Madras in 1923 and studied law at Madras Law College. In 1926, he commenced practice as an assistant to his uncle Ramalingam Chettiar before entering the Indian independence movement.
In the Indian Independence movement
Avinashilingam participated in the
Avinashilingam was arrested four times, in 1930, 1932, 1941 and 1942.
As Minister for education
Avinashilingam served as the Education Minister of Madras Presidency from 1946 to 1949 under premiers Tanguturi Prakasam and O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar.[2] One of his most remembered acts as minister was the introduction of Tamil as the medium of instruction in secondary schools all over the Presidency. He established the Tamil Valarchi Kalagam or Tamil Academy in 1946[1] which created a 10-part encyclopedia, the first in Tamil, between 1954 and 1968.[1][3] He was also a proponent of the empowerment of women and introduced education for senior citizens and reforms in libraries.
Avinashilingam nationalized the poems of freedom-fighter,
Later life
Avinashilingam was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tiruppur and served as a member of parliament from 1952 to 1957.[1][2][4][5] Avinashilingam also served as the Member of the Rajya Sabha from 1958 to 1964.[1][2]
In his later life, Avinashilingam served as the chairman of the committee which brought out a 10-part Children's Encyclopedia in Tamil in 1975.[3]
Avinashilingam died on 21 November 1991 at the age of 88.[4]
Reforms
Avinashilingam was a deeply religious Hindu. Early in life, he came under the influence of
Avinashilingam was also an ardent Gandhian and was a staunch Gandhian economics. He strongly advocated that reforms in agriculture and industry should be complementary with Indian culture.
Works
Avinashilingam has also written a few notable works in Tamil. One of his books is an account in Tamil about his pilgrimage to Tirukeedaram. Avinashilingam also wrote books on economics, Gandhi's education policy and the Wardha scheme.
Honours
Avinashilingam was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour for his contribution to education and literature in the year 1970.[6] He is also the recipient of the G. D. Birla award and the 1985 Jamnalal Bajaj Award.[7]
Avinashilingam established the Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women in 1957
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "One who lived for the rest". The Hindu. 5 May 2003. Archived from the original on 24 June 2003.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "T. S. Avinashilingam Chettiar – Rajya Sabha biography". Rajya Sabha. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Who lived for the community:Architects of Coimbatore". The Hindu. 14 January 2009. Archived from the original on 25 September 2009.
- ^ a b Indian Parliamentary Companion: Who's who of Members of Lok Sabha : First to Thirteenth Lok Sabha. Lok Sabha Secretariat. 2003. p. 98.
- ^ "Key Highlights, General Elections 1951 to the First Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2009.
- ^ "Padma Bhushan awardees". Government of India.
- ^ "JB Award". Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Avinashilingam College for Women -Genesis". Avinashilingam College for Women. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009.