E. M. V. Naganathan
Encyclopedia
Dr. E. M. V. Naganathan was a Sri Lanka
n physician
and politician
, representing Nallur, Jaffna
in the Parliament of Sri Lanka
.
, India
.
in Colombo
. He became a keen supporter of G.G. Ponnambalam’s Tamil Congress Party
and functioned as its Secretary in 1947. He was elected a Member of the Senate
, the same year. However, leaving the Tamil Congress he joined the Federal Party. He became one of its prominent members and he was also its Secretary for some time. He successfully contested the Nallur
seat in the House of Parliament
as a Federal Party Candidate. He was elected President of the Party in 1966 and worked hard for the well being of the Tamil Community.
, UPM. They had three daughters and two sons. His oldest daughter Miss Mary Lakshmi Naganathan was the former Ambassador
of Sri Lanka, and she served in many countries. She vacated her post in 1983. His second daughter Anne Nirmala Naganathan married Chandrahasan Chelvanayagam, son of S. J. V. Chelvanayakam
, QC
. The rest of the children are Elangai Anthony Naganathan married Kuamari, Elangai John Naganathan married Lakshmikanthi and Carmel Indhira Naganathan married Dr. George Handy of Columbia, South Carolina
, USA.
, USA.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, representing Nallur, Jaffna
Nallur Electoral District
Nallur Electoral District was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between March 1960 and February 1989. The district was named after the town of Nallur in Jaffna District, Northern Province. The district was carved out of the eastern part of Jaffna Electoral District in March 1960...
in the Parliament of Sri Lanka
Parliament of Sri Lanka
The Parliament of Sri Lanka is the 225-member unicameral legislature of Sri Lanka. The members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation for six-year terms, with universal suffrage. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws...
.
Early life and education
Elangai Murugesu Vijayaretnam Naganathan was born on 31 January 1906, son of Jebaratnam J. Hensman and Ponnamma Hensman, daughter of Reverend R.A. Vethavanam. His father was Registrar of the University of MadrasUniversity of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Career
Dr. E.M.V. Naganathan was a private Medical PractitionerGeneral practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. He became a keen supporter of G.G. Ponnambalam’s Tamil Congress Party
All Ceylon Tamil Congress
All Ceylon Tamil Congress , is the oldest Tamil political party in Sri Lanka.-History:The ACTC was founded in 1944 by G.G. Ponnambalam. Ponnambalam asked for a 50-50 representation in parliament...
and functioned as its Secretary in 1947. He was elected a Member of the Senate
Senate of Ceylon
The Senate of Ceylon was the upper chamber of the parliament of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Commission. The Senate was appointed/indirectly elected rather than directly elected. The Senate was housed in the old Legislative Council building in Colombo Fort and met for the first time...
, the same year. However, leaving the Tamil Congress he joined the Federal Party. He became one of its prominent members and he was also its Secretary for some time. He successfully contested the Nallur
Nallur Electoral District
Nallur Electoral District was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between March 1960 and February 1989. The district was named after the town of Nallur in Jaffna District, Northern Province. The district was carved out of the eastern part of Jaffna Electoral District in March 1960...
seat in the House of Parliament
Parliament of Sri Lanka
The Parliament of Sri Lanka is the 225-member unicameral legislature of Sri Lanka. The members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation for six-year terms, with universal suffrage. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws...
as a Federal Party Candidate. He was elected President of the Party in 1966 and worked hard for the well being of the Tamil Community.
Marriage and children
Dr. E.M.V. Naganathan married Miss Retnavathi Senathiraja, daughter of John Wirt Ponniah Senathiraja, JPJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, UPM. They had three daughters and two sons. His oldest daughter Miss Mary Lakshmi Naganathan was the former Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Sri Lanka, and she served in many countries. She vacated her post in 1983. His second daughter Anne Nirmala Naganathan married Chandrahasan Chelvanayagam, son of S. J. V. Chelvanayakam
S. J. V. Chelvanayakam
Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician and Member of Parliament. He was the political leader and father figure of the Sri Lankan Tamil community for more than two decades...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. The rest of the children are Elangai Anthony Naganathan married Kuamari, Elangai John Naganathan married Lakshmikanthi and Carmel Indhira Naganathan married Dr. George Handy of Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, USA.
Death and afterward
Dr. E.M.V. Naganathan died on 16 August 1971, and Mrs. Retnavathi Naganathan died on 11 December 2006, in Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, USA.