G. A. Natesan
Encyclopedia
Ganapathi Agraharam Annadhurai Ayyar Natesan (August 25, 1873 – April 29, 1948) was an Indian writer, journalist
, publisher, politician
and freedom-fighter from the erstwhile Madras Presidency
. He was the founder and proprietor of G. A. Natesan & Co. which published nationalist books, the most prominent among whom was The Indian Review.
of Ganapathi Agraharam in Thanjavur district
on August 25, 1873. He had his schooling in Kumbakonam
He graduated in arts
from the Presidency College, Madras and started a career as a publisher. He first apprenticed under Glyn Barlow before starting his own publishing company, G. A. Natesan & Co. in 1897.
right from his early days. In 1900, he started The Indian Review, a monthly publication in English. While covering mostly nationalistic themes, The Indian Review also included literary reviews, illustrations and sections on economy and agriculture
. Natesan advertised on the front page that his publication was "devoted to the discussion of all topics of interest".
When Mahatma Gandhi
visited Madras for the first time since his arrival in India in 1915, he stayed at Natesan's house at Thambu Chetty Street, Georgetown
. His stay lasted from April 17, 1915 to May 8, 1915.
and joined the Indian Liberal Party
. He was elected Joint Secretary of the Liberal Party in 1922. He was first nominated as a non-official member to the Council of State in 1923 and for a second time in 1931. During his tenure as a member of the Council of State, Natesan served as member of the Indian Delegation to the Empire Parliamentary Association in Canada
. He also served as the member of the Indian Iron and Steel Tariff Board in 1933-34. Natesan was appointed Sheriff of Madras in 1938.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, publisher, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and freedom-fighter from the erstwhile Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
. He was the founder and proprietor of G. A. Natesan & Co. which published nationalist books, the most prominent among whom was The Indian Review.
Early life
Natesan was born in the villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Ganapathi Agraharam in Thanjavur district
Thanjavur District
Thanjavur District is one of the 32 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. Its headquarters is Thanjavur.-Geography:...
on August 25, 1873. He had his schooling in Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
He graduated in arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
from the Presidency College, Madras and started a career as a publisher. He first apprenticed under Glyn Barlow before starting his own publishing company, G. A. Natesan & Co. in 1897.
Indian Independence Movement
Natesan was involved with the Indian independence movementIndian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
right from his early days. In 1900, he started The Indian Review, a monthly publication in English. While covering mostly nationalistic themes, The Indian Review also included literary reviews, illustrations and sections on economy and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Natesan advertised on the front page that his publication was "devoted to the discussion of all topics of interest".
When Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
visited Madras for the first time since his arrival in India in 1915, he stayed at Natesan's house at Thambu Chetty Street, Georgetown
George Town, Chennai
George Town is a historical neighbourhood of Fort St. George in Chennai , India. Also known as Black Town during the colonial period, the settlement was formed after the English constructed the fort and was the first settlement of the city of Madras, begun soon after the completion of the...
. His stay lasted from April 17, 1915 to May 8, 1915.
Later life
In his later life, Natesan underwent a change of ideologyIdeology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
and joined the Indian Liberal Party
Indian Liberal Party
The Liberal Party of India was a political organization espousing liberal, pro-British points of view in the politics of India under the British Raj.-Liberal point of view:...
. He was elected Joint Secretary of the Liberal Party in 1922. He was first nominated as a non-official member to the Council of State in 1923 and for a second time in 1931. During his tenure as a member of the Council of State, Natesan served as member of the Indian Delegation to the Empire Parliamentary Association in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He also served as the member of the Indian Iron and Steel Tariff Board in 1933-34. Natesan was appointed Sheriff of Madras in 1938.