Sardar Vedaratnam
Encyclopedia
Sardar Vedaratnam Pillai (25 December 1897 - 24 August 1961) was an India
n freedom-fighter, a leader of the Indian National Congress
and a famous philanthropist who served as a MLA for three terms over a period of 14 years. He is known for his heroic contributions in the salt march of Vedaranyam
in 1930, alongside C. Rajagopalachari
.
In the year 1931 Vedaratnam was conferred with the title of ‘Sardar’ at the meeting of the Tamil Nadu
Agriculturists and labourers at Tirunelveli
, for his exploits in the Vedaranyam Salt March
.
He was multi-lingual and patronised many native arts.
In the year 1946, he founded the Kasturba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam which is a rural, charitable women's welfare organisation situated in Vedaranyam. This orphanage, since then, has continued its services of feeding, sheltering and educating many helpless girl children.
In the year 1997, the government of India honoured this leader by releasing a postal stamp in commemoration of his centenary celebration.
in Tamilnadu. He was born in the noble lineage of the phenomenal saint-poet Thayumanavar
, who richly served Tamil literature and religion.
Vedaratnam hence personified simplicity, piety, fiery patriotism and served the temple and conducted prayers right from his tender days. As he turned twenty, he was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi
and his ideology. He was equally enamoured by the ancient Thirukural.
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 freedom-fighter, a leader of 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 a famous philanthropist who served as a MLA for three terms over a period of 14 years. He is known for his heroic contributions in the salt march of Vedaranyam
Vedaranyam
Vedaranyam is a municipality in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Vedaraniyam is located at . It has an average elevation of .-Demographics:...
in 1930, alongside C. Rajagopalachari
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...
.
In the year 1931 Vedaratnam was conferred with the title of ‘Sardar’ at the meeting of the 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...
Agriculturists and labourers at Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
, for his exploits in the Vedaranyam Salt March
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
.
He was multi-lingual and patronised many native arts.
In the year 1946, he founded the Kasturba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam which is a rural, charitable women's welfare organisation situated in Vedaranyam. This orphanage, since then, has continued its services of feeding, sheltering and educating many helpless girl children.
In the year 1997, the government of India honoured this leader by releasing a postal stamp in commemoration of his centenary celebration.
Early life
On 25 February 1897, Vedaratnam came into the world in a traditional Hindu family in the coastal town of VedaranyamVedaranyam
Vedaranyam is a municipality in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Vedaraniyam is located at . It has an average elevation of .-Demographics:...
in Tamilnadu. He was born in the noble lineage of the phenomenal saint-poet Thayumanavar
Thayumanavar
Thayyumanavar was a Tamil philosopher and Hindu saint. Thayumanavar articulated the Saiva Siddhanta philosophy. He wrote several Tamil hymns of which 1454 are available. His first three songs were sung 250 years ago at the Congress of Religions in Trichinopoly...
, who richly served Tamil literature and religion.
Vedaratnam hence personified simplicity, piety, fiery patriotism and served the temple and conducted prayers right from his tender days. As he turned twenty, he was greatly influenced by 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 ideology. He was equally enamoured by the ancient Thirukural.