K. Santhanam
Encyclopedia
Shri Kasturiranga Santhanam (1895 – February 28, 1980), also known as Kumitithadai Santhanam, was an India
n politician
. He was a conservative Iyengar
from Tamil Nadu and acquired the appellation 'Pandit' for his erudition.
Santhanam obtained a Master of Arts degree in mathematics from the University of Madras (St. Joseph's College, Trichy) and later a law degree from the Law College of Madras, now known as Chennai
. He joined the Indian National Congress
and participated in the Indian Independence Movement
at an young age and was imprisoned once for that. He was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi
and his wife died while at the Gandhi Ashram
, while he was in jail. From 1937 to 1942, he was a member of the Imperial Legislative Assembly, and from 1946 was a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly, from 1948 serving as Union Minister for Railways and Transport in Jawaharlal Nehru
's cabinet. He stood as a Congress candidate for the House of the People
from Mayuram in Tanjore district, but lost to a Communist. In February 1952, he was appointed as the Governor of Vindhya Pradesh
.
In 1963, Lal Bahadur Sastri appointed Santhanam to preside over the corruption committee. Because of its thorough investigative work and recommendations, the Committee earned a reputation as Santhanam's Committee on Corruption. He was also instrumental in shaping the politics in post-Independence Tamil Nadu
, through his close association with Rajaji
and Kamaraj. He served as the first editor of the Indian Express (1933–1940) and later worked as the joint editor of the Hindustan Times
(1943–1948). He was well-versed in Tamil
, Sanskrit
, and English
. His literary contributions are many. Most of Santhanam's work was published by Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, including An Anthology of Indian Literature (1969), Gospel of Gandhi (1967), and British Imperialism and Indian Nationalism (1972). Santhanam also translated Kālidāsa
's Shakuntala
and Bhavabuti's Uttara Rama Charitam, both from Sanskrit.
Santhanam died in 1980 and was survived by two sons - K.S. Rajagopalan was a noted international expert on electro-chemistry, corrosion theory and corrosion control, and was a prominent research director at the Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. Another noted son of his was K.S. Ramanujan, who was a well known journalist serving as Associate Editor for Times of India.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was a conservative Iyengar
Iyengar
Iyengar or Ayyangar is a caste given to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil origin who follow the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya. They are found mostly in Tamil Nadu as they are generally native to the Tamil Nadu state of the Republic of India...
from Tamil Nadu and acquired the appellation 'Pandit' for his erudition.
Santhanam obtained a Master of Arts degree in mathematics from the University of Madras (St. Joseph's College, Trichy) and later a law degree from the Law College of Madras, now known as 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...
. He joined 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...
and participated in 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...
at an young age and was imprisoned once for that. He was a follower of 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...
and his wife died while at the Gandhi Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram is located in the Ahmedabad suburb of Sabarmati adjoining to famous Ashram Road, at the bank of River Sabarmati, 4 miles from the town hall. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi...
, while he was in jail. From 1937 to 1942, he was a member of the Imperial Legislative Assembly, and from 1946 was a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly, from 1948 serving as Union Minister for Railways and Transport in Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
's cabinet. He stood as a Congress candidate for the House of the People
House of the People
House of the People can refer to:* Palace of the Parliament * House of the People * The Maison du Peuple, a former building in Brussels, Belgium...
from Mayuram in Tanjore district, but lost to a Communist. In February 1952, he was appointed as the Governor of Vindhya Pradesh
Vindhya Pradesh
Vindhya Pradesh is a former state of India. It occupied an area of 23,603 sq. miles. It was created in 1948, shortly after Indian independence, from the territories of the princely states in the eastern portion of the former Central India Agency. It was named for the Vindhya Range, which runs...
.
In 1963, Lal Bahadur Sastri appointed Santhanam to preside over the corruption committee. Because of its thorough investigative work and recommendations, the Committee earned a reputation as Santhanam's Committee on Corruption. He was also instrumental in shaping the politics in post-Independence 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...
, through his close association with Rajaji
C. 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 Kamaraj. He served as the first editor of the Indian Express (1933–1940) and later worked as the joint editor of the Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded in 1924 with roots in the Indian independence movement of the period ....
(1943–1948). He was well-versed in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. His literary contributions are many. Most of Santhanam's work was published by Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, including An Anthology of Indian Literature (1969), Gospel of Gandhi (1967), and British Imperialism and Indian Nationalism (1972). Santhanam also translated Kālidāsa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
's Shakuntala
Abhijñānaśākuntalam
Abhijñānashākuntala or Abhijñānaśākuntalam) , is a well-known Sanskrit play by Kālidāsa. Its date is uncertain, but Kalidasa is often placed in the period between the 1st century BCE and 4th century CE....
and Bhavabuti's Uttara Rama Charitam, both from Sanskrit.
Santhanam died in 1980 and was survived by two sons - K.S. Rajagopalan was a noted international expert on electro-chemistry, corrosion theory and corrosion control, and was a prominent research director at the Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. Another noted son of his was K.S. Ramanujan, who was a well known journalist serving as Associate Editor for Times of India.
See also
- Central Vigilance CommissionCentral Vigilance CommissionCentral Vigilance Commission is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption. It has the status of an autonomous body, free of control from any executive authority, charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government of India, and...