Diwan Bahadur Lewis Dominic Swamikannu Pillai CIE

Order of the Indian Empire

The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...

(b. February 11, 1865 - d. September 10, 1925) was an Indian politician, historian, linguist, astronomer and administrator who served as the second President 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...

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Early life

Swamikannu Pillai was born in a poor Indian Christian family of Madras Presidency on February 11, 1865.

Pillai had his schooling in Madras and graduated in law before doing his LlB.

When the then President of the Madras Legislative Council, P.Rajagopalachari resigned his post in 1924 to join the India Council, elections were held for the post of President. In February 1925, Swamikannu Pillai took charge as the first elected President of the Madras Legislative Council.

During his tenure as President of the Madras Legislative Council, Pillai created the Legislative Council library.

Death

Swamikannu Pillai died on September 10, 1925 at 7.00 PM at his house in Royapuram

Royapuram

Royapuram , a locality of Chennai, South India, is the place where the first railway station of south India was constructed, and from where the laying down of the second railway line of the South Asia commenced in the 1850s. This railway line extended from Royapuram to Arcot, then capital of the...

. He was sixty years old at that time.

Honours

Swamikannu Pillai was made a "Diwan Bahadur" and finally, a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in the 1924 New Year Honours' List.