| C.P.Subbiah Mudaliar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Coimbatore |
| Died | Sirkazhi |
| Occupation | Politician, Businessman, Freedom Fighter, Philanthropist |
C.P. Subbaiah a.k.a Subbaiah Mudaliar(August 19, 1895 – March 28, 1967) was an Indian freedom fighter associated with the Indian National Congress and a protege of Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari. He was based in Coimbatore and was influential in the Congress movement in Tamil Nadu.
He is remembered for losing an election to Thiru K.Kamaraj for the post of president of the Tamil Nadu Congress in the year 1940. While most freedom fighters entered mainstream politics after Independence, Subbiah maintained that his role was a freedom fighter and denied participation in active politics.. In his honour, the street where he lived (branching from Opanakkara Street and between Raja Street and Edayar Street) is called Subbiah Mudaliar Street.
Contents |
C.P. Subbaiah was born to Thiru. Periasamy Mudaliar and Thirumathi. Meenakshi Ammal in the year 1895 in Coimbatore. He had a younger brother,Viswanathan Mudaliar and younger sister Mangalambal. Inspired by the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, Subbaiah entered the freedom struggle for Independent India soon after the First world war at the age of 22.
C.P. Subbaiah joined the Congress party and was imprisoned several times by the British in the freedom struggle. His imprisonment along with "Kappal Otiya Tamizhan" V.O. Chidambaranar in Coimbatore prison is noted. Due to his great public speaking skills and fierce determination, he was elected as the secretary of the congress party in Coimbatore. His inspiring speech along with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in Karachi, earned him the name "Karachi Thatha".
In 1937, Subbaiah won the general election against Diwan bahadur C.S. Rathina Sabapathi Mudaliar from Justice Party and served as the Member of Legislative Assembly for Madras State. He continued his political struggle under his mentor Chakravarthi C. Rajagopalachari and contested against Sathya Murthi's candidate Kamaraj for the Congress party president election. He lost the election by 3 votes and Kamaraj became the President of the Congress party in Tamil Nadu. This was turning point in the history of the Indian politics. Avinashilinga Chettiar has written about his days in jail along with C.P.Subbaiah in his book - The Sacred Touch - An Autobiography
After India got its Independence, Subbaiah announced his retirement from active politics much to the astonishment of everyone. In 1950, after India became a Republic, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India's first President, offered him the post of Rajya Sabha member. Subbaiah politely refused it stating that his job is over as soon as India was free and suggested this opportunity be given to dynamic and educated youngsters. Appreciating this action, Mr. Kalki Krishnamurthy wrote an article "Subbaiah Potta Podu" in the Kalki weekly magazine. Subbaiah also refused all pensions and grants that were offered to him for his Freedom struggle.
Soon after independence, Subbaiah established himself as a successful businessman and opened his Cement Agency all over South India. In the year 1967, twenty years after Indian independence, Subbaiah campaigned for his close friends Pollachi N. Mahalingam and S.R. Ponnusamy Chettiar for the Coimbatore West Constituency elections at the R.S.Puram burial ground. This was his last speech. In this election, the Congress party lost in numerous constituencies and was defeated bringing the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to power. Being a devoted Congressman, this loss caused him great grief. He died soon after in a heart-attack at the Sirkazhi Railway Station on March 28, 1967. The street that he lived in Coimbatore is named as Subbaiah Mudaliar Street in his honor.
C.P.Subbaiah adopted his brother Viswanathan's eldest child C.S. Janarthanan and raised him as his own. Janarthanan took over his business after his death and expanded it successfully. Viswanathan Mudaliar's second son, C.V. Govardhan was a leading advocate and served as the Justice of Madras high court.
Continuing his legacy, Sri Subbaiah Janarthanan Charitable Trust was started by his grandson C.J. Raghunathan, along with his mother Indirani Janardhanan in fond remembrance of his grand-father C.P.Subbaiah Mudaliar and father C.S.Janardhanan on 16 October 2009 in Coimbatore. The primary objectives of this trust are to provide monetary assistanship to poor and qualified students to pursue higher education and Medical assistance for poor and needy people.