Chidambaranar

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V.O. Chidambaranar or "V.O.C." (5 September 1872 - 18 November 1936) was born in the Ottapidaram town of present day Thoothukudi district in Tamilnadu, India. he was a lawyer by profession and practiced in Tuticorin. He was upset by the very high tariff that was put upon by the British Government for transportation through ships and decided to run a steam ship of his own for the welfare of Indian people. Inspired by the Swadeshi movement, V.O.C. mobilised the support of local merchants, and launched the first indigenous Indian shipping enterprise, the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company. His efforts to widen the base of the Swadeshi movement, by mobilising the workers of the Coral Mills (also managed by A. & F. Harvey) brought him into increasing conflict with the British Raj. On 12 March 1908, he was arrested on charges of sedition. Having been convicted for sedition, he had lost his pleadership status and he was unable to earn his livelihood by practising the law. In accordance with his wishes, VOC was taken to the Congress Office at Tuticorin, where he died on the 18 November 1936.