P. S. Sivaswami Iyer
Encyclopedia
Sir Pazhamaneri Sundaram Sivaswami Iyer, KCSI
, CIE
(b. February 7, 1864 - d. November 5, 1946) was a prominent lawyer
, administrator and statesman
who served as the Advocate General of Madras from 1907 to 1911.
Sivaswami Iyer was born on February 7, 1864 in the village of Palamaneri. He had his schooling in Palamaneri and graduated from Presidency College, Madras. Sivaswami Iyer studied law and practised as a lawyer serving as the Advocate-general of Madras Presidency from 1907 to 1911. He also served as a member of the executive council of the Governor of Madras and as a member of the Council of State. Sivawami Iyer died on November 5, 1946 at the age of 82.
Sivaswami Iyer was also active in the Indian independence movement and presented India's case before the League of Nations. He was a keen connoisseur of arts and library science.
army under Rajendra Chola.
Sivaswami Iyer had his schooling in Palamaneri and graduated from Presidency College, Madras
in January 1882, with a first class in Sanskrit
and History
. He studied law from Madras Law College and set up practice as a lawyer in 1885.
from 1904 to October 25, 1907, when he was appointed Advocate-General of Madras Presidency.
Sivaswami Iyer was elected to the senate
of the Madras University in 1898 and served as Vice-Chancellor of the Madras University from 1916 to 1918 and Benaras Hindu University from 1918 to 1919.
. His moderate views and weak opposition to Government policies including the widely condemned internment of Annie Besant
during his tenure as member of the executive council earned him the displeasure of Indian nationalists. However, in 1919, Sivaswami Iyer expressed strong condemnation of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
.
Sivaswami Iyer was the Indian delegate to the third session of the League of Nations in 1922 in which, he condemned the mandate policy of General Smuts of the Republic of South Africa. Sivaswami Iyer served as a member of the Council of State from 1922 to 1923. He also opposed the Simon Commission
on its arrival in India.
Sivaswami Iyer served as a member of the Imperial Legislative Assembly, in which he spoke often on military matters.
Sivaswami Iyer died in his Madras home on November 5, 1946 at the age of 82. On his death, the Lady Sivaswami Iyer girls school was named after him in his memory.
Sivaswami Iyer was known for his mastery over Sanskrit and his love for the language. He is also known for his vehement attacks on Tamil extremists whom he once mocked as the "rabble in the towns".
in 1908 and a Companion of the Order of the Star of India
in 1912. He was promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India in 1915.
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, 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 7, 1864 - d. November 5, 1946) was a prominent lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, administrator and statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
who served as the Advocate General of Madras from 1907 to 1911.
Sivaswami Iyer was born on February 7, 1864 in the village of Palamaneri. He had his schooling in Palamaneri and graduated from Presidency College, Madras. Sivaswami Iyer studied law and practised as a lawyer serving as the Advocate-general of Madras Presidency from 1907 to 1911. He also served as a member of the executive council of the Governor of Madras and as a member of the Council of State. Sivawami Iyer died on November 5, 1946 at the age of 82.
Sivaswami Iyer was also active in the Indian independence movement and presented India's case before the League of Nations. He was a keen connoisseur of arts and library science.
Early life
Sivaswami Iyer was born to Sundaram Iyer in the village of Palamaneri on February 7, 1864. He belonged to the Palamaneri Brahacharanams who traced their descent from Krishnan Raman Brahmarayar, the commander-in-chief of the CholaChola Dynasty
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, of Maurya Empire; the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until...
army under Rajendra Chola.
Sivaswami Iyer had his schooling in Palamaneri and graduated from Presidency College, Madras
Presidency College, Chennai
Presidency College is an arts, law and science college in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Established as the Madras Preparatory School on October 15, 1840 and later, upgraded to a high school and then, graduate college, the Presidency College is one of the oldest government arts colleges...
in January 1882, with a first class in 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 History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He studied law from Madras Law College and set up practice as a lawyer in 1885.
As lawyer
Sivaswami Iyer set up a successful practice as lawyer and on on May 12, 1904, was nominated to the Governor's Executive Council as Additional member in charge of making rules and regulations. Sivaswami Iyer served as 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 1904 to October 25, 1907, when he was appointed Advocate-General of Madras Presidency.
Sivaswami Iyer was elected to the senate
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature or parliament. There have been many such bodies in history, since senate means the assembly of the eldest and wiser members of the society and ruling class...
of the Madras University in 1898 and served as Vice-Chancellor of the Madras University from 1916 to 1918 and Benaras Hindu University from 1918 to 1919.
Politics
Sivaswami Iyer entered politics in 1912 when he was appointed member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras as per the Minto-Morley scheme and served from 1912 to 1917. During the First World War, he was instrumental in raising support for the Indian Volunteer Movement in order to provide support to the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. His moderate views and weak opposition to Government policies including the widely condemned internment of Annie Besant
Annie Besant
Annie Besant was a prominent British Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self rule.She was married at 19 to Frank Besant but separated from him over religious differences. She then became a prominent speaker for the National Secular Society ...
during his tenure as member of the executive council earned him the displeasure of Indian nationalists. However, in 1919, Sivaswami Iyer expressed strong condemnation of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Jallianwala Bagh massacre
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre , also known as the Amritsar massacre, took place in the Jallianwala Bagh public garden in the northern Indian city of Amritsar, and was ordered by Brigadier-General Reginald E.H. Dyer...
.
Sivaswami Iyer was the Indian delegate to the third session of the League of Nations in 1922 in which, he condemned the mandate policy of General Smuts of the Republic of South Africa. Sivaswami Iyer served as a member of the Council of State from 1922 to 1923. He also opposed the Simon Commission
Simon Commission
The Indian Statutory Commission was a group of seven British Members of Parliament that had been dispatched to India in 1927 to study constitutional reform in Britain's most important colonial dependency. It was commonly referred to as the Simon Commission after its chairman, Sir John Simon...
on its arrival in India.
Sivaswami Iyer served as a member of the Imperial Legislative Assembly, in which he spoke often on military matters.
Later life and death
In 1931, he was appointed member of the new Indian Military College Committee. During his later years, he expressed strong disapproval of any attempt to partition the subcontinent.Sivaswami Iyer died in his Madras home on November 5, 1946 at the age of 82. On his death, the Lady Sivaswami Iyer girls school was named after him in his memory.
Legacy and criticism
Sivaswami Iyer was an avid reader and a connoisseur of arts. He was a strong advocate of women's education and supported sweeping reforms to this regard. He took a special interest in military matters and served as a member of the Indian Military College Committee set up to establish an indigenous military academy on the model of Sandhurst.Sivaswami Iyer was known for his mastery over Sanskrit and his love for the language. He is also known for his vehement attacks on Tamil extremists whom he once mocked as the "rabble in the towns".
Honours
Sivaswami Iyer was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian EmpireOrder 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...
in 1908 and a Companion of the Order of the Star of India
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
in 1912. He was promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India in 1915.