M. Balasundaram

Honourable
M. Balasundaram
MP
மு. பாலசுந்தரம்
Member of the Ceylonese Parliament
for Kopay
In office
1960–1965
Preceded by C. Vanniasingam
Succeeded by S. Kathiravelupillai
Personal details
Born 7 April 1903
Died 15 December 1965 (aged 62)
Alma mater Ceylon University College
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Profession Lawyer
Ethnicity Ceylon Tamil

Murugesu Balasundaram (Tamil: முருகேசு பாலசுந்தரம்; 7 April 1903 – 15 December 1965) was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer, politician and Member of Parliament.

Early life and family

Balasundaram was born on 7 April 1903.[1] He was the son of Reverend K. S. Murugesu, a Methodist clergyman.[1] He was educated at Kilner College, Jaffna and Royal College, Colombo.[1] After school Balasundaram joined the Ceylon University College, graduating in 1923 with a B.Sc. degree.[1][2] He received a scholarship to study at Trinity Hall, Cambridge from where he graduated with a B.A. degree.[1]

Balasundaram married Sinnammah, daughter of Sinnathamby.[1] They had four sons (Gnanasanmugan, Yogasundaram, Balakrishnan and Sivanandasundaram) and two daughters (Somasundaravalli and Yogeswari).[1]

Career

After returning to Ceylon Balasundaram worked as journalist for a brief period before joining the legal profession as an advocate.[1]

Balasundaram was one of the founding members of the Jaffna Youth Congress in 1924.[3] He stood as the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi's (Federal Party) candidate in Kopay at the March 1960 parliamentary election. He won the election and entered Parliament.[4] He was re-elected at the July 1960 parliamentary election.[5] He stood as an independent candidate in Kopay at 1965 parliamentary election but was defeated by the ITAK candidate S. Kathiravelupillai.[6]

Balasundaram died on 15 December 1965.[1]

References