Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu State PSC (TNPSC): Preparation - TNPSC (Tamil Nadu) PDF Download

 Page 1


105
       Introduction
Tamil Nadu showed the lead in resisting 
colonial rule. As early as the late eighteenth 
century the Palayakarars, resisted the 
English attempts to establish their political 
hegemony in Tamil Nadu. Even after the 
defeat of the Palayakarars, an uprising was 
organised by Indian sepoys and officers in 
Vellore Fort in 1806 that had its echoes in 
several cantonments in south India. Thanks 
to the introduction of Western education 
and eventual emergence of educated Indian 
middle class, the struggle against the British 
took the constitutional path. The freedom 
struggle in Tamil Nadu was unique, because 
from the beginning it was not only a struggle 
for independence from the English rule but 
also a struggle for independence from social 
disability imposed by the obnoxious caste 
system. In this lesson we shall study the role 
played by nationalists wedded to diverse 
ideologies in Tamil Nadu.
  Early Nationalist 
Stirrings in Tamil Nadu
(a) Madras Native Association
The Madras Native Association (MNA) 
was the earliest organisation to be founded in 
south India to articulate larger public rather 
than sectarian interests. It was started by 
Gazulu Lakshminarasu, Srinivasanar and their 
associates in 1852. It consisted primarily of 
merchants. The objective was to promote the 
interests of its members and their focus was on 
reduction in taxation. It also protested against 
the support of the government to Christian 
missionary activities. It 
drew the attention of the 
government to the condition 
and needs of the people. 
One of the important 
contributions of the MNA 
was its agitation against 
torture of the peasants by 
revenue officials. These efforts 
led to the establishment of the 
Freedom Struggle 
in Tamil Nadu
Unit - 9
Gazalu 
Lakshminarasu
09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   105 09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   105 21-12-2022   20:30:07 21-12-2022   20:30:07
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Freedom	Struggle	in	Tamil	Nadu
Page 2


105
       Introduction
Tamil Nadu showed the lead in resisting 
colonial rule. As early as the late eighteenth 
century the Palayakarars, resisted the 
English attempts to establish their political 
hegemony in Tamil Nadu. Even after the 
defeat of the Palayakarars, an uprising was 
organised by Indian sepoys and officers in 
Vellore Fort in 1806 that had its echoes in 
several cantonments in south India. Thanks 
to the introduction of Western education 
and eventual emergence of educated Indian 
middle class, the struggle against the British 
took the constitutional path. The freedom 
struggle in Tamil Nadu was unique, because 
from the beginning it was not only a struggle 
for independence from the English rule but 
also a struggle for independence from social 
disability imposed by the obnoxious caste 
system. In this lesson we shall study the role 
played by nationalists wedded to diverse 
ideologies in Tamil Nadu.
  Early Nationalist 
Stirrings in Tamil Nadu
(a) Madras Native Association
The Madras Native Association (MNA) 
was the earliest organisation to be founded in 
south India to articulate larger public rather 
than sectarian interests. It was started by 
Gazulu Lakshminarasu, Srinivasanar and their 
associates in 1852. It consisted primarily of 
merchants. The objective was to promote the 
interests of its members and their focus was on 
reduction in taxation. It also protested against 
the support of the government to Christian 
missionary activities. It 
drew the attention of the 
government to the condition 
and needs of the people. 
One of the important 
contributions of the MNA 
was its agitation against 
torture of the peasants by 
revenue officials. These efforts 
led to the establishment of the 
Freedom Struggle 
in Tamil Nadu
Unit - 9
Gazalu 
Lakshminarasu
09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   105 09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   105 21-12-2022   20:30:07 21-12-2022   20:30:07
www.tntextbooks.in
Freedom	Struggle	in	Tamil	Nadu
106
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
Torture Commission and the eventual abolition 
of the T orture Act, which justified the collection 
of land revenue through torture. However, by 
1862, the Madras Native Association had ceased 
to exist.
(b)  Beginnings of the 
Nationalist Press: The Hindu 
and Swadesamitran
The appointment of T. Muthuswami as the 
first Indian Judge of the Madras High Court in 
1877 created a furore in Madras Presidency. The 
entire press in Madras criticized the appointment 
of an Indian as a Judge.  The press opposed his 
appointment and the educated youth realized 
that the press was entirely owned by Europeans. 
The need for a newspaper to express the Indian 
perspective was keenly felt. G. Subramaniam, 
M. Veeraraghavachari and four other friends 
together started a newspaper The Hindu in 
1878. It soon became the vehicle of nationalist 
propaganda. G. Subramaniam also started a 
Tamil nationalist periodical Swadesamitran 
in 1891 which became a daily in 1899. The 
founding of The Hindu and Swadesamitran 
provided encouragement to the starting of other 
native newspapers such as Indian Patriot, South 
Indian Mail, Madras Standard, Desabhimani, 
Vijaya, Suryodayam and India.
T. Muthuswami        G. Subramaniam
(c) Madras Mahajana Sabha
Madras Mahajana Sabha (MMS) was the 
earliest organisation in south India with clear 
nationalist objectives. On 16 May 1884 MMS was 
started by M. V eeraraghavachari, P . Anandacharlu, 
P . Rangaiah and few others. P . Rangaiah became 
its first president. P. Anandacharlu played 
an active role as its secretary. The members 
met periodically, debated public issues in 
closed meetings, conducted hall meetings and 
communicated their views to the government. 
Its demands included conduct of simultaneous 
civil services examinations in England and India, 
abolition of the Council of India in London, 
reduction of taxes and reduction of civil and 
military expenditure. Many of its demands were 
adopted later by the Indian National Congress 
founded in 1885. 
(d) Moderate Phase
Provincial associations such as the Madras 
Mahajana Sabha led to the formation of an 
all-India organisation, the Indian National 
Congress Leaders from different parts of 
India attended several meetings before the 
formation of the Congress. One such meeting 
was held in December 1884 in Theosophical 
Society at Adyar. It was attended by Dadabhai 
Naoroji, K.T. Telang, Surendranath Banerjee 
and other prominent leaders apart from G. 
Subramaniam, Rangaiah and Anandacharlu 
from Madras. 
Dadabhai Naoroji Gokhale
The first session of the Indian National 
Congress was held in 1885 at Bombay. Out of 
a total of 72 delegates 22 members were from 
Madras.  
The second session 
of the Indian National 
Congress was held in 
Calcutta in 1886, with 
Dadabhai Naoroji in the 
Chair. The third session 
was held at Makkis 
Garden, now known as 
the Thousand lights, in Madras in 1887 with 
Badruddin Tyabji
09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   106 09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   106 21-12-2022   20:30:07 21-12-2022   20:30:07
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Page 3


105
       Introduction
Tamil Nadu showed the lead in resisting 
colonial rule. As early as the late eighteenth 
century the Palayakarars, resisted the 
English attempts to establish their political 
hegemony in Tamil Nadu. Even after the 
defeat of the Palayakarars, an uprising was 
organised by Indian sepoys and officers in 
Vellore Fort in 1806 that had its echoes in 
several cantonments in south India. Thanks 
to the introduction of Western education 
and eventual emergence of educated Indian 
middle class, the struggle against the British 
took the constitutional path. The freedom 
struggle in Tamil Nadu was unique, because 
from the beginning it was not only a struggle 
for independence from the English rule but 
also a struggle for independence from social 
disability imposed by the obnoxious caste 
system. In this lesson we shall study the role 
played by nationalists wedded to diverse 
ideologies in Tamil Nadu.
  Early Nationalist 
Stirrings in Tamil Nadu
(a) Madras Native Association
The Madras Native Association (MNA) 
was the earliest organisation to be founded in 
south India to articulate larger public rather 
than sectarian interests. It was started by 
Gazulu Lakshminarasu, Srinivasanar and their 
associates in 1852. It consisted primarily of 
merchants. The objective was to promote the 
interests of its members and their focus was on 
reduction in taxation. It also protested against 
the support of the government to Christian 
missionary activities. It 
drew the attention of the 
government to the condition 
and needs of the people. 
One of the important 
contributions of the MNA 
was its agitation against 
torture of the peasants by 
revenue officials. These efforts 
led to the establishment of the 
Freedom Struggle 
in Tamil Nadu
Unit - 9
Gazalu 
Lakshminarasu
09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   105 09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   105 21-12-2022   20:30:07 21-12-2022   20:30:07
www.tntextbooks.in
Freedom	Struggle	in	Tamil	Nadu
106
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
Torture Commission and the eventual abolition 
of the T orture Act, which justified the collection 
of land revenue through torture. However, by 
1862, the Madras Native Association had ceased 
to exist.
(b)  Beginnings of the 
Nationalist Press: The Hindu 
and Swadesamitran
The appointment of T. Muthuswami as the 
first Indian Judge of the Madras High Court in 
1877 created a furore in Madras Presidency. The 
entire press in Madras criticized the appointment 
of an Indian as a Judge.  The press opposed his 
appointment and the educated youth realized 
that the press was entirely owned by Europeans. 
The need for a newspaper to express the Indian 
perspective was keenly felt. G. Subramaniam, 
M. Veeraraghavachari and four other friends 
together started a newspaper The Hindu in 
1878. It soon became the vehicle of nationalist 
propaganda. G. Subramaniam also started a 
Tamil nationalist periodical Swadesamitran 
in 1891 which became a daily in 1899. The 
founding of The Hindu and Swadesamitran 
provided encouragement to the starting of other 
native newspapers such as Indian Patriot, South 
Indian Mail, Madras Standard, Desabhimani, 
Vijaya, Suryodayam and India.
T. Muthuswami        G. Subramaniam
(c) Madras Mahajana Sabha
Madras Mahajana Sabha (MMS) was the 
earliest organisation in south India with clear 
nationalist objectives. On 16 May 1884 MMS was 
started by M. V eeraraghavachari, P . Anandacharlu, 
P . Rangaiah and few others. P . Rangaiah became 
its first president. P. Anandacharlu played 
an active role as its secretary. The members 
met periodically, debated public issues in 
closed meetings, conducted hall meetings and 
communicated their views to the government. 
Its demands included conduct of simultaneous 
civil services examinations in England and India, 
abolition of the Council of India in London, 
reduction of taxes and reduction of civil and 
military expenditure. Many of its demands were 
adopted later by the Indian National Congress 
founded in 1885. 
(d) Moderate Phase
Provincial associations such as the Madras 
Mahajana Sabha led to the formation of an 
all-India organisation, the Indian National 
Congress Leaders from different parts of 
India attended several meetings before the 
formation of the Congress. One such meeting 
was held in December 1884 in Theosophical 
Society at Adyar. It was attended by Dadabhai 
Naoroji, K.T. Telang, Surendranath Banerjee 
and other prominent leaders apart from G. 
Subramaniam, Rangaiah and Anandacharlu 
from Madras. 
Dadabhai Naoroji Gokhale
The first session of the Indian National 
Congress was held in 1885 at Bombay. Out of 
a total of 72 delegates 22 members were from 
Madras.  
The second session 
of the Indian National 
Congress was held in 
Calcutta in 1886, with 
Dadabhai Naoroji in the 
Chair. The third session 
was held at Makkis 
Garden, now known as 
the Thousand lights, in Madras in 1887 with 
Badruddin Tyabji
09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   106 09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   106 21-12-2022   20:30:07 21-12-2022   20:30:07
www.tntextbooks.in
107
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
Badruddin Tyabji as president. Out of the 607 
all India delegates of 362 were from Madras 
Presidency.
Tamil Nadu was then part of the Madras 
Presidency which included large parts of the 
present-day states of Andhra Pradesh (Coastal 
districts and Rayalaseema), Karnataka 
(Bengaluru, Bellary, South Canara), Kerala 
(Malabar) and even Odisha (Ganjam).
 Swadeshi Movement
The partition of Bengal (1905) led to 
the Swadeshi Movement and changed the 
course of the struggle for freedom. In various 
parts of India, especially Bengal, Punjab and 
Maharashtra popular leaders emerged. They 
implemented the programme of the Calcutta 
Congress which called upon the nation to 
promote Swadeshi enterprise, boycott foreign 
goods and promote national education. 
(a) Response in Tamilnadu
V.O. Chidambaranar, V. Chakkaraiyar, 
Subramania Bharati and Surendranath 
Arya were some of the prominent leaders 
in Tamilnadu. Public meetings attended by 
thousands of people were organised in various 
parts of Tamilnadu. Tamil was used on the 
public platform for the first time to mobilise 
the people. Subaramania Bharati’s patriotic 
songs were especially important in stirring 
patriotic emotions. Many journals were started 
to propagate Swadeshi 
ideals. Swadesamitran 
and India were 
prominent journals. The 
extremist leader Bipin 
Chandra Pal toured 
Madras and delivered 
lectures which inspired 
the youth. Students and 
youth participated widely in the Swadeshi 
Movement. 
Swadeshi Steam Navigation 
Company
One of the most
enterprising acts in
pursuance of swadeshi 
was the launching of the
Swadeshi Steam Navigation 
Company at Thoothukudi
by V.O.  Chidambaranar. He 
purchased two ships Gallia and Lavo and plied 
them between Thoothukudi and Colombo. 
Tirunelveli Uprising
V.O.C joined with Subramania Siva in 
organising the mill workers in Thoothukudi 
and Tirunelveli. In 1908, he led a strike in the 
European-owned Coral Mills. It coincided with 
the release of Bipin Chandra Pal. V.O.C and 
Subramania Siva, who organised a public meeting 
to celebrate the release of Bipin, were arrested. 
The two leaders were charged with sedition and 
Prominent Nationalists of Tamil 
Nadu in the Moderate phase
The early nationalists believed 
in constitutional methods. Their 
activities consisted of conducting 
hall meetings and deliberating the 
problems of the country in English. 
When, at the time of Partition of 
Bengal, Tilak and other leaders adopted popular methods such as mass public meetings, and 
used vernacular languages to address the larger public, the early nationalists came to be known as 
moderates. The distinguished Tamil Moderates from Madras: V.S. Srinivasanar, P.S. Sivasamy, V. 
Krishnasamy, T.R. Venkatramanar, G.A. Natesan, T.M. Madhava Rao, and S. Subramaniar. 
V .S. Srinivasanar P.S. Sivasamy G.A. Natesan
V .O. Chidambaranar
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Page 4


105
       Introduction
Tamil Nadu showed the lead in resisting 
colonial rule. As early as the late eighteenth 
century the Palayakarars, resisted the 
English attempts to establish their political 
hegemony in Tamil Nadu. Even after the 
defeat of the Palayakarars, an uprising was 
organised by Indian sepoys and officers in 
Vellore Fort in 1806 that had its echoes in 
several cantonments in south India. Thanks 
to the introduction of Western education 
and eventual emergence of educated Indian 
middle class, the struggle against the British 
took the constitutional path. The freedom 
struggle in Tamil Nadu was unique, because 
from the beginning it was not only a struggle 
for independence from the English rule but 
also a struggle for independence from social 
disability imposed by the obnoxious caste 
system. In this lesson we shall study the role 
played by nationalists wedded to diverse 
ideologies in Tamil Nadu.
  Early Nationalist 
Stirrings in Tamil Nadu
(a) Madras Native Association
The Madras Native Association (MNA) 
was the earliest organisation to be founded in 
south India to articulate larger public rather 
than sectarian interests. It was started by 
Gazulu Lakshminarasu, Srinivasanar and their 
associates in 1852. It consisted primarily of 
merchants. The objective was to promote the 
interests of its members and their focus was on 
reduction in taxation. It also protested against 
the support of the government to Christian 
missionary activities. It 
drew the attention of the 
government to the condition 
and needs of the people. 
One of the important 
contributions of the MNA 
was its agitation against 
torture of the peasants by 
revenue officials. These efforts 
led to the establishment of the 
Freedom Struggle 
in Tamil Nadu
Unit - 9
Gazalu 
Lakshminarasu
09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   105 09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   105 21-12-2022   20:30:07 21-12-2022   20:30:07
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Freedom	Struggle	in	Tamil	Nadu
106
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
Torture Commission and the eventual abolition 
of the T orture Act, which justified the collection 
of land revenue through torture. However, by 
1862, the Madras Native Association had ceased 
to exist.
(b)  Beginnings of the 
Nationalist Press: The Hindu 
and Swadesamitran
The appointment of T. Muthuswami as the 
first Indian Judge of the Madras High Court in 
1877 created a furore in Madras Presidency. The 
entire press in Madras criticized the appointment 
of an Indian as a Judge.  The press opposed his 
appointment and the educated youth realized 
that the press was entirely owned by Europeans. 
The need for a newspaper to express the Indian 
perspective was keenly felt. G. Subramaniam, 
M. Veeraraghavachari and four other friends 
together started a newspaper The Hindu in 
1878. It soon became the vehicle of nationalist 
propaganda. G. Subramaniam also started a 
Tamil nationalist periodical Swadesamitran 
in 1891 which became a daily in 1899. The 
founding of The Hindu and Swadesamitran 
provided encouragement to the starting of other 
native newspapers such as Indian Patriot, South 
Indian Mail, Madras Standard, Desabhimani, 
Vijaya, Suryodayam and India.
T. Muthuswami        G. Subramaniam
(c) Madras Mahajana Sabha
Madras Mahajana Sabha (MMS) was the 
earliest organisation in south India with clear 
nationalist objectives. On 16 May 1884 MMS was 
started by M. V eeraraghavachari, P . Anandacharlu, 
P . Rangaiah and few others. P . Rangaiah became 
its first president. P. Anandacharlu played 
an active role as its secretary. The members 
met periodically, debated public issues in 
closed meetings, conducted hall meetings and 
communicated their views to the government. 
Its demands included conduct of simultaneous 
civil services examinations in England and India, 
abolition of the Council of India in London, 
reduction of taxes and reduction of civil and 
military expenditure. Many of its demands were 
adopted later by the Indian National Congress 
founded in 1885. 
(d) Moderate Phase
Provincial associations such as the Madras 
Mahajana Sabha led to the formation of an 
all-India organisation, the Indian National 
Congress Leaders from different parts of 
India attended several meetings before the 
formation of the Congress. One such meeting 
was held in December 1884 in Theosophical 
Society at Adyar. It was attended by Dadabhai 
Naoroji, K.T. Telang, Surendranath Banerjee 
and other prominent leaders apart from G. 
Subramaniam, Rangaiah and Anandacharlu 
from Madras. 
Dadabhai Naoroji Gokhale
The first session of the Indian National 
Congress was held in 1885 at Bombay. Out of 
a total of 72 delegates 22 members were from 
Madras.  
The second session 
of the Indian National 
Congress was held in 
Calcutta in 1886, with 
Dadabhai Naoroji in the 
Chair. The third session 
was held at Makkis 
Garden, now known as 
the Thousand lights, in Madras in 1887 with 
Badruddin Tyabji
09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   106 09_History_Unit_9_EM.indd   106 21-12-2022   20:30:07 21-12-2022   20:30:07
www.tntextbooks.in
107
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
Badruddin Tyabji as president. Out of the 607 
all India delegates of 362 were from Madras 
Presidency.
Tamil Nadu was then part of the Madras 
Presidency which included large parts of the 
present-day states of Andhra Pradesh (Coastal 
districts and Rayalaseema), Karnataka 
(Bengaluru, Bellary, South Canara), Kerala 
(Malabar) and even Odisha (Ganjam).
 Swadeshi Movement
The partition of Bengal (1905) led to 
the Swadeshi Movement and changed the 
course of the struggle for freedom. In various 
parts of India, especially Bengal, Punjab and 
Maharashtra popular leaders emerged. They 
implemented the programme of the Calcutta 
Congress which called upon the nation to 
promote Swadeshi enterprise, boycott foreign 
goods and promote national education. 
(a) Response in Tamilnadu
V.O. Chidambaranar, V. Chakkaraiyar, 
Subramania Bharati and Surendranath 
Arya were some of the prominent leaders 
in Tamilnadu. Public meetings attended by 
thousands of people were organised in various 
parts of Tamilnadu. Tamil was used on the 
public platform for the first time to mobilise 
the people. Subaramania Bharati’s patriotic 
songs were especially important in stirring 
patriotic emotions. Many journals were started 
to propagate Swadeshi 
ideals. Swadesamitran 
and India were 
prominent journals. The 
extremist leader Bipin 
Chandra Pal toured 
Madras and delivered 
lectures which inspired 
the youth. Students and 
youth participated widely in the Swadeshi 
Movement. 
Swadeshi Steam Navigation 
Company
One of the most
enterprising acts in
pursuance of swadeshi 
was the launching of the
Swadeshi Steam Navigation 
Company at Thoothukudi
by V.O.  Chidambaranar. He 
purchased two ships Gallia and Lavo and plied 
them between Thoothukudi and Colombo. 
Tirunelveli Uprising
V.O.C joined with Subramania Siva in 
organising the mill workers in Thoothukudi 
and Tirunelveli. In 1908, he led a strike in the 
European-owned Coral Mills. It coincided with 
the release of Bipin Chandra Pal. V.O.C and 
Subramania Siva, who organised a public meeting 
to celebrate the release of Bipin, were arrested. 
The two leaders were charged with sedition and 
Prominent Nationalists of Tamil 
Nadu in the Moderate phase
The early nationalists believed 
in constitutional methods. Their 
activities consisted of conducting 
hall meetings and deliberating the 
problems of the country in English. 
When, at the time of Partition of 
Bengal, Tilak and other leaders adopted popular methods such as mass public meetings, and 
used vernacular languages to address the larger public, the early nationalists came to be known as 
moderates. The distinguished Tamil Moderates from Madras: V.S. Srinivasanar, P.S. Sivasamy, V. 
Krishnasamy, T.R. Venkatramanar, G.A. Natesan, T.M. Madhava Rao, and S. Subramaniar. 
V .S. Srinivasanar P.S. Sivasamy G.A. Natesan
V .O. Chidambaranar
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108
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
society. The objective was to kill British officials 
and thereby kindle patriotic fervour among 
the people. Vanchinathan of Senkottai, was 
influenced by this organisation. On 17 June 1911 
he shot dead Robert W.D’E. Ashe, Collector of 
Tirunelveli in Maniyachi Junction. After this he 
shot himself. 
(c)  Annie Besant and the Home 
Rule Movement
While the extremists and revolutionaries 
were suppressed with an iron hand, the 
moderates hoped for some constitutional 
reforms. However, they were disappointed with 
the Minto-Morley reforms as it did not provide 
for responsible government. 
Thus when the national movement was in 
its ebb, Annie Besant, an Irish lady and leader of 
the Theosophical Society, proposed the Home 
Rule Movement on the model of Irish Home 
Rule League. She started Home Rule League 
in 1916 and carried forward the demand for 
home rule all over India. G.S. Arundale, B.P. 
Wadia and C.P. Ramaswamy assisted her in 
this campaign. They demanded home rule with 
only a nominal allegiance to British Crown. 
She started the newspapers New India and 
Commonweal to carry forward her agenda. She 
remarked, “Better bullock carts and freedom 
than a train deluxe with subjection” . Under the 
Press Act of 1910 Annie Besant was asked to pay 
hefty amount as security. She wrote two books, 
How India wrought for Freedom and India: A 
Nation and a pamphlet on self-government. 
  Non-Brahmin 
Movement and the 
Challenge to Congress
(a)  The South Indian Liberal 
Federation
The non-Brahmins organised themselves 
into political organisations to protect their 
interests. In 1912 the Madras Dravidian 
Association was founded. C. Natesanar played 
an active role as its secretary. In June 1916 he 
sentenced to rigorous imprisonment. Initially 
V .O.C. was given a draconian sentence of two life 
imprisonments. The news of the arrest sparked 
riots in Tirunelveli leading to the burning 
down of the police station, court building and 
municipal office. It led to the death of four people 
in police firing. V.O.C. was treated harshly in 
prison and was made to pull the heavy oil press. 
To avoid imprisonment Subramania Bharati 
moved to Pondicherry which was under French 
rule. Bharati’s example was followed by many 
other nationalists such as Aurobindo Ghosh and 
V . V . Subramanianar. 
Bharati Bipin Chandra Pal
(b)  Revolutionary Activities in 
Tamil Nadu
Pondicherry provided a safe haven for the 
revolutionaries. Many of these revolutionaries 
in Tamil Nadu were introduced and trained in 
revolutionary activities at India House in London 
and in Paris. M.P .T . Acharya, V .V . Subramanianar 
and T.S.S. Rajan were prominent among them. 
Revolutionary literature was distributed by them 
in Madras through Pondicherry. Radical  papers 
such as India, Vijaya and Suryodayam came out 
of Pondicherry.  
V .V . Subramanianar Aurobindo Gosh
Ashe Murder 
In 1904 Nilakanta Brahmachari and 
others started Bharata Matha Society, a secret 
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Page 5


105
       Introduction
Tamil Nadu showed the lead in resisting 
colonial rule. As early as the late eighteenth 
century the Palayakarars, resisted the 
English attempts to establish their political 
hegemony in Tamil Nadu. Even after the 
defeat of the Palayakarars, an uprising was 
organised by Indian sepoys and officers in 
Vellore Fort in 1806 that had its echoes in 
several cantonments in south India. Thanks 
to the introduction of Western education 
and eventual emergence of educated Indian 
middle class, the struggle against the British 
took the constitutional path. The freedom 
struggle in Tamil Nadu was unique, because 
from the beginning it was not only a struggle 
for independence from the English rule but 
also a struggle for independence from social 
disability imposed by the obnoxious caste 
system. In this lesson we shall study the role 
played by nationalists wedded to diverse 
ideologies in Tamil Nadu.
  Early Nationalist 
Stirrings in Tamil Nadu
(a) Madras Native Association
The Madras Native Association (MNA) 
was the earliest organisation to be founded in 
south India to articulate larger public rather 
than sectarian interests. It was started by 
Gazulu Lakshminarasu, Srinivasanar and their 
associates in 1852. It consisted primarily of 
merchants. The objective was to promote the 
interests of its members and their focus was on 
reduction in taxation. It also protested against 
the support of the government to Christian 
missionary activities. It 
drew the attention of the 
government to the condition 
and needs of the people. 
One of the important 
contributions of the MNA 
was its agitation against 
torture of the peasants by 
revenue officials. These efforts 
led to the establishment of the 
Freedom Struggle 
in Tamil Nadu
Unit - 9
Gazalu 
Lakshminarasu
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Freedom	Struggle	in	Tamil	Nadu
106
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
Torture Commission and the eventual abolition 
of the T orture Act, which justified the collection 
of land revenue through torture. However, by 
1862, the Madras Native Association had ceased 
to exist.
(b)  Beginnings of the 
Nationalist Press: The Hindu 
and Swadesamitran
The appointment of T. Muthuswami as the 
first Indian Judge of the Madras High Court in 
1877 created a furore in Madras Presidency. The 
entire press in Madras criticized the appointment 
of an Indian as a Judge.  The press opposed his 
appointment and the educated youth realized 
that the press was entirely owned by Europeans. 
The need for a newspaper to express the Indian 
perspective was keenly felt. G. Subramaniam, 
M. Veeraraghavachari and four other friends 
together started a newspaper The Hindu in 
1878. It soon became the vehicle of nationalist 
propaganda. G. Subramaniam also started a 
Tamil nationalist periodical Swadesamitran 
in 1891 which became a daily in 1899. The 
founding of The Hindu and Swadesamitran 
provided encouragement to the starting of other 
native newspapers such as Indian Patriot, South 
Indian Mail, Madras Standard, Desabhimani, 
Vijaya, Suryodayam and India.
T. Muthuswami        G. Subramaniam
(c) Madras Mahajana Sabha
Madras Mahajana Sabha (MMS) was the 
earliest organisation in south India with clear 
nationalist objectives. On 16 May 1884 MMS was 
started by M. V eeraraghavachari, P . Anandacharlu, 
P . Rangaiah and few others. P . Rangaiah became 
its first president. P. Anandacharlu played 
an active role as its secretary. The members 
met periodically, debated public issues in 
closed meetings, conducted hall meetings and 
communicated their views to the government. 
Its demands included conduct of simultaneous 
civil services examinations in England and India, 
abolition of the Council of India in London, 
reduction of taxes and reduction of civil and 
military expenditure. Many of its demands were 
adopted later by the Indian National Congress 
founded in 1885. 
(d) Moderate Phase
Provincial associations such as the Madras 
Mahajana Sabha led to the formation of an 
all-India organisation, the Indian National 
Congress Leaders from different parts of 
India attended several meetings before the 
formation of the Congress. One such meeting 
was held in December 1884 in Theosophical 
Society at Adyar. It was attended by Dadabhai 
Naoroji, K.T. Telang, Surendranath Banerjee 
and other prominent leaders apart from G. 
Subramaniam, Rangaiah and Anandacharlu 
from Madras. 
Dadabhai Naoroji Gokhale
The first session of the Indian National 
Congress was held in 1885 at Bombay. Out of 
a total of 72 delegates 22 members were from 
Madras.  
The second session 
of the Indian National 
Congress was held in 
Calcutta in 1886, with 
Dadabhai Naoroji in the 
Chair. The third session 
was held at Makkis 
Garden, now known as 
the Thousand lights, in Madras in 1887 with 
Badruddin Tyabji
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107
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
Badruddin Tyabji as president. Out of the 607 
all India delegates of 362 were from Madras 
Presidency.
Tamil Nadu was then part of the Madras 
Presidency which included large parts of the 
present-day states of Andhra Pradesh (Coastal 
districts and Rayalaseema), Karnataka 
(Bengaluru, Bellary, South Canara), Kerala 
(Malabar) and even Odisha (Ganjam).
 Swadeshi Movement
The partition of Bengal (1905) led to 
the Swadeshi Movement and changed the 
course of the struggle for freedom. In various 
parts of India, especially Bengal, Punjab and 
Maharashtra popular leaders emerged. They 
implemented the programme of the Calcutta 
Congress which called upon the nation to 
promote Swadeshi enterprise, boycott foreign 
goods and promote national education. 
(a) Response in Tamilnadu
V.O. Chidambaranar, V. Chakkaraiyar, 
Subramania Bharati and Surendranath 
Arya were some of the prominent leaders 
in Tamilnadu. Public meetings attended by 
thousands of people were organised in various 
parts of Tamilnadu. Tamil was used on the 
public platform for the first time to mobilise 
the people. Subaramania Bharati’s patriotic 
songs were especially important in stirring 
patriotic emotions. Many journals were started 
to propagate Swadeshi 
ideals. Swadesamitran 
and India were 
prominent journals. The 
extremist leader Bipin 
Chandra Pal toured 
Madras and delivered 
lectures which inspired 
the youth. Students and 
youth participated widely in the Swadeshi 
Movement. 
Swadeshi Steam Navigation 
Company
One of the most
enterprising acts in
pursuance of swadeshi 
was the launching of the
Swadeshi Steam Navigation 
Company at Thoothukudi
by V.O.  Chidambaranar. He 
purchased two ships Gallia and Lavo and plied 
them between Thoothukudi and Colombo. 
Tirunelveli Uprising
V.O.C joined with Subramania Siva in 
organising the mill workers in Thoothukudi 
and Tirunelveli. In 1908, he led a strike in the 
European-owned Coral Mills. It coincided with 
the release of Bipin Chandra Pal. V.O.C and 
Subramania Siva, who organised a public meeting 
to celebrate the release of Bipin, were arrested. 
The two leaders were charged with sedition and 
Prominent Nationalists of Tamil 
Nadu in the Moderate phase
The early nationalists believed 
in constitutional methods. Their 
activities consisted of conducting 
hall meetings and deliberating the 
problems of the country in English. 
When, at the time of Partition of 
Bengal, Tilak and other leaders adopted popular methods such as mass public meetings, and 
used vernacular languages to address the larger public, the early nationalists came to be known as 
moderates. The distinguished Tamil Moderates from Madras: V.S. Srinivasanar, P.S. Sivasamy, V. 
Krishnasamy, T.R. Venkatramanar, G.A. Natesan, T.M. Madhava Rao, and S. Subramaniar. 
V .S. Srinivasanar P.S. Sivasamy G.A. Natesan
V .O. Chidambaranar
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108
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
society. The objective was to kill British officials 
and thereby kindle patriotic fervour among 
the people. Vanchinathan of Senkottai, was 
influenced by this organisation. On 17 June 1911 
he shot dead Robert W.D’E. Ashe, Collector of 
Tirunelveli in Maniyachi Junction. After this he 
shot himself. 
(c)  Annie Besant and the Home 
Rule Movement
While the extremists and revolutionaries 
were suppressed with an iron hand, the 
moderates hoped for some constitutional 
reforms. However, they were disappointed with 
the Minto-Morley reforms as it did not provide 
for responsible government. 
Thus when the national movement was in 
its ebb, Annie Besant, an Irish lady and leader of 
the Theosophical Society, proposed the Home 
Rule Movement on the model of Irish Home 
Rule League. She started Home Rule League 
in 1916 and carried forward the demand for 
home rule all over India. G.S. Arundale, B.P. 
Wadia and C.P. Ramaswamy assisted her in 
this campaign. They demanded home rule with 
only a nominal allegiance to British Crown. 
She started the newspapers New India and 
Commonweal to carry forward her agenda. She 
remarked, “Better bullock carts and freedom 
than a train deluxe with subjection” . Under the 
Press Act of 1910 Annie Besant was asked to pay 
hefty amount as security. She wrote two books, 
How India wrought for Freedom and India: A 
Nation and a pamphlet on self-government. 
  Non-Brahmin 
Movement and the 
Challenge to Congress
(a)  The South Indian Liberal 
Federation
The non-Brahmins organised themselves 
into political organisations to protect their 
interests. In 1912 the Madras Dravidian 
Association was founded. C. Natesanar played 
an active role as its secretary. In June 1916 he 
sentenced to rigorous imprisonment. Initially 
V .O.C. was given a draconian sentence of two life 
imprisonments. The news of the arrest sparked 
riots in Tirunelveli leading to the burning 
down of the police station, court building and 
municipal office. It led to the death of four people 
in police firing. V.O.C. was treated harshly in 
prison and was made to pull the heavy oil press. 
To avoid imprisonment Subramania Bharati 
moved to Pondicherry which was under French 
rule. Bharati’s example was followed by many 
other nationalists such as Aurobindo Ghosh and 
V . V . Subramanianar. 
Bharati Bipin Chandra Pal
(b)  Revolutionary Activities in 
Tamil Nadu
Pondicherry provided a safe haven for the 
revolutionaries. Many of these revolutionaries 
in Tamil Nadu were introduced and trained in 
revolutionary activities at India House in London 
and in Paris. M.P .T . Acharya, V .V . Subramanianar 
and T.S.S. Rajan were prominent among them. 
Revolutionary literature was distributed by them 
in Madras through Pondicherry. Radical  papers 
such as India, Vijaya and Suryodayam came out 
of Pondicherry.  
V .V . Subramanianar Aurobindo Gosh
Ashe Murder 
In 1904 Nilakanta Brahmachari and 
others started Bharata Matha Society, a secret 
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109
  Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
established the Dravidian Association Hostel for 
non-Brahmin students.  On 20 November 1916 
a meeting of about thirty non-Brahmins was 
held under the leadership of P . Thyagarayar, Dr. 
T.M. Nair and C. Natesanar at Victoria Public 
Hall in Chennai. The South Indian Liberal 
Federation (SILF) was founded to promote the 
interests of the non-Brahmins. 
Justice Ministry
The Congress boycotted the elections of 
1920. The Justice Party won 63 of 98 elected seats 
in the Legislative Council. A. Subburayalu of 
the Justice Party became the first chief minister. 
After the 1923 elections, Raja of Panagal of the 
Justice Party formed the ministry. 
Raja of Panagal A Subbarayalu
(b)  Government’s Repressive 
Measures: Rowlatt Act
A draconian Anarchical and Revolutionary 
Crimes Act, popularly known as the Rowlatt 
Act, after the name of Sir Sidney Rowlatt, who 
headed the committee that recommended it was 
passed in 1919. Under the Act anyone could be 
imprisoned on charges of terrorism without 
due judicial process. Indians were aghast at this. 
Gandhi gave voice to the anger of the people 
and adopted the Satyagraha method that he had 
used in South Africa. 
Rowlatt Satyagraha
On 18 March 1919 
Gandhi addressed a meeting 
on Marina Beach. On 6 April 
1919 hartal  was organised 
to protest against the “Black 
Act” . Protest demonstrations 
were held at several parts 
of Tamil Nadu. Processions 
S. Satyamurty
from many areas of the city converged in the 
Marina beach where there was a large gathering. 
They devoted the whole day to fasting and 
prayer in the Marina beach. Madras Satyagraha 
Sabha was formed. Rajaji, Kasturirangar,  
S. Satyamurty and George Joseph addressed the 
meeting. A  separate meeting of workers was 
addressed by V. Kalyanasundaram (Thiru. V. 
Ka) B.P . Wadia and V .O.C. An important aspect 
of the movement was that the working classes, 
students and women took part in large numbers.
George Joseph: George Joseph, a barrister 
and eloquent speaker, played a leading role in 
organising and publicising the cause of Home 
Rule League in Madurai. Though born in 
Chengannur (Alappuzha district, Kerala State), 
he chose to settle down in 
Madurai and practice as 
a people’s lawyer. He was 
fondly called “Rosaappu 
Durai” by the people of 
Madurai for the services 
he rendered to the affected 
communities. 
(c) Khilafat Movement
Following the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 
General Dyer who was responsible for it was 
not only acquitted of all charges but rewarded. 
After the First World W ar the Caliph of Turkey 
was humiliated and deprived of all powers. 
To restore the Caliph the Khilafat Movement 
was started. Muslims who had largely kept 
from the nationalist movement now joined 
it in huge numbers. In Tamil Nadu Khilafat 
Day was observed on 17 April 1920, with a 
meeting presided over by Maulana Shaukat 
Ali. Another such conference was held at 
Erode. Vaniyambadi was as the epicenter of 
Khilafat agitation.
  Non-Cooperation 
Movement
Tamil Nadu was active during the 
Non-cooperation Movement. C.  Rajaji and 
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