S. Muthiah
Encyclopedia
Subbiah Muthiah, MBE
(born April 13, 1930), is an Indian journalist and amateur historian known for his works on the political and cultural history of Chennai
city.He is a regular columnist
for The Hindu
and has written a number of books on the history and culture of Chennai.
, British India in a Nagarathar
family on April 13, 1930.His father, N. M. Subbiah Chettiar was a stockbroker and politician
who served as a mayor
of Colombo
, British Ceylon
and was one of the founders of the Ceylon India Congress formed in 1939.He even stood for elections for the House of Representatives of Ceylon
from the Nuwara Eliya
constituency in 1947 and lost.
Muthiah had his early schooling in Ladies' College, S. Thomas' Preparatory School and Royal College in Colombo and completed his matriculation in India in 1946. Between 1946 and 1951, Muthiah studied arts and engineering in the United States of America and returned to Ceylon after obtaining his masters' degree in International Relations in 1951.
, M. Karunanidhi
, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu regretted the fact that Muthiah's book Madras Rediscovered did not make even a passing mention of the tenures of C. N. Annadurai
or himself.Muthiah has also been criticized by Hindu extremists for denying the alleged destruction of the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai
by the Portuguese government of Sao Tome de Meliapore.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born April 13, 1930), is an Indian journalist and amateur historian known for his works on the political and cultural history of 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...
city.He is a regular columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for The Hindu
The Hindu
The Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
and has written a number of books on the history and culture of Chennai.
Early life and education
Muthiah was born in PallathurPallathur
Pallathur is a panchayat town in Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Pallathur had a population of 7840. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Pallathur has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%:...
, British India in a Nagarathar
Nagarathar
The Nagarathars is a Chettiar community in Shaivism that originated in Kaveripoompattinam under the Chola kingdom of India. They are a prominent mercantile Vaishya, caste in Tamil Nadu, South India...
family on April 13, 1930.His father, N. M. Subbiah Chettiar was a stockbroker and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, British Ceylon
British Ceylon
British Ceylon refers to British rule prior to 1948 of the island territory now known as Sri Lanka.-From the Dutch to the British:Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for...
and was one of the founders of the Ceylon India Congress formed in 1939.He even stood for elections for the House of Representatives of Ceylon
House of Representatives of Ceylon
The House of Representatives of Ceylon was the lower chamber of the parliament of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Constitution. The House was housed in the old State Council building in Galle Face Green, Colombo and met for the first time on 14 October 1947...
from the Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya , meaning "city on the plain " or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka...
constituency in 1947 and lost.
Muthiah had his early schooling in Ladies' College, S. Thomas' Preparatory School and Royal College in Colombo and completed his matriculation in India in 1946. Between 1946 and 1951, Muthiah studied arts and engineering in the United States of America and returned to Ceylon after obtaining his masters' degree in International Relations in 1951.
With The Times of Ceylon
On his return in 1951, Muthiah took up a job with The Times of Ceylon and served the newspaper for 17 years eventually rising to the second position in the newspaper's hierarchy and heading the weekly Sunday edition.When the citizenship laws of the country were tightened in 1968, Muthiah, who was not yet a citizen of the country had to resign his position and move to India.Honors
On March 7, 2002, Muthiah was made a "Honorary Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire".The award was presented to him by Michael Herrige, British High Commissioner to India at a function in Chennai.Criticism
At the inauguration of the 2009 edition of the Chennai Book FairChennai Book Fair
Chennai Book Fair or Madras Book Fair is an annual book fair organized in the Chennai, India by the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India . The fair typically lasts for about 10 days during the New Year-Pongal season...
, M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu regretted the fact that Muthiah's book Madras Rediscovered did not make even a passing mention of the tenures of C. N. Annadurai
C. N. Annadurai
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai , popularly called Anna , or Arignar Anna was a former Chief Minister of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
or himself.Muthiah has also been criticized by Hindu extremists for denying the alleged destruction of the Kapaleeswarar Temple in 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...
by the Portuguese government of Sao Tome de Meliapore.
External links
- Article on chennaionline
- Madras Musings
- Subbiah Muthiah's profile in Viator Publications website, Retrieved on 2009-09-04.