V. S. Subramanya Iyer

Diwan Bahadur
V.S. Subrahmanya Iyer
Diwan of Travancore
In office
1929–1932
Monarch Chithira Thirunal (Sethu Lakshmi Bayi as regent till 1931)
Preceded by M. E. Watts
Succeeded by T. Austin
Personal details
Born October 21, 1877
Travancore kingdom

Diwan Bahadur V. S. Subrahmanya Iyer (b. October 21, 1877) was an Indian administrator who served as the Diwan of the princely state of Travancore from 1929 to 1932.

Early life and career

Subrahmanya Iyer was born on October 21, 1877 to S.Vaidyanatha Iyer.[1] He studied in St. Joseph's College and set up practice as an advocate in Travancore.[1] He served as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Travancore before being appointed Diwan in 1929.[2]

Diwan of Travancore

Subrahmanya Iyer was appointed Diwan of Travancore in 1929 succeeding E. W. Watts.[3] He served as Diwan till 1932 when he was succeeded by Muhammad Habibullah.[3]

In 1930, Venkatarama Iyer was appointed Commissioner of Travancore Devaswom.[3] In 1931, Subrahmanya Iyer had to deal with a students hartal in Travancore which followed the death of Motilal Nehru.[3]

Later life

Subrahmanya Iyer remained active in public life following his retierment as Diwan. ON November 25, 1932, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, advisor to the Maharaja, appointed him President of the Committee to gauge public opinion before introducing the Temple Entry Proclamation.[4] The other members of the Committee were Ulloor Parameswara Iyer, Mahadeva Iyer and Nambi Nilakanta Sarma.[4] The commission interviewed people who were for as well as against temple entry[5] and submitted a report strongly discouraging temple entry. However, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer ignored the report and proceeded to introduce the landmark legislation.

In 1934, Subrahmanya Iyer became the President of the Kerala Hindu Mission.[1] On death of Rabindranath Tagore in 1941, a Kerala Tagore Academy was formed with Subrahmanya Iyer as its President.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Who's who in Madras: A pictorial who's who of distinguished personages, princes, zemindars and noblemen in the Madras Presidency. Pearl Press. 1939. p. 253.
  2. ↑ Lakshmi Raghunadhan (1995). At the turn of the tide: the life and times of Maharani Setu Lakshmi Bayi. p. 373.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "The National Archives". Government of the United Kingdom.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 S. N. Sadasivan (2000). A social history of India. p. 539.
  5. ↑ State and Society. Indian Institute of RegionalDevelopment Studies. 1983. p. 50.