G. Ramachandran
Encyclopedia
G. Ramachandhran was a soldier for the Gandhian cause, social reformer and a teacher. With his wife, Dr. Soundram Ramachandhran, daughter of T V Sundaram Iyengar, founder of TVS Group, he started the Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu
in 1945. He authored several books. Viswabharati ,Rabindranath Tagore's University ,in Santhiniketan awarded him the higher Title;"DESIKOTTAMA"'The Best teacher'.Being and educationist all his life,he wanted to impart all his knowledge and experience for the future generation.His dreamwas to bring up children as "International Citizens".
After severing various cadres before and after the Independence of India he returned to his native hometown Neyyattinkara
, Kerala
and started his last venture “The Madhavimandiram Loka Seva Trust” for the welfare of women and children in 1980. During the year 1991 he started a public school at Neyyatinkara. The name of the school is Dr GR Public school, it is affiliated to C.B.S.E. The present strength of the school is more than 2000 with classes from LKG to XII.
He was an MP and Health and Education Minister in Pattom Thanu Pillai’s Ministry in Kerala. He was the Chairman of All India Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC). He was the founder and First Vice Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural University
. His centenary year was celebrated during 2004 – 2005.
Sri G. Ramachandran met Gandhi at Dilkush in 1921, during Gandhiji’s famous "21 days fast". He was then a student of Mr. CF Andrews at Santiniketan. The discussions GR was privileged to have with Gandhi on the occasion drew him closer to the Mahatma. Ramachandran soon became an inmate of Gandhiji’s ashram at Sevagram and under Gandhiji’s direct guidance and supervision plunged himself into the national movement and the Gandhian Constructive Programme. During the Freedom struggle, he courted arrest eleven times and spent seven years in jail. Gandhi chose him as a close disciple and entrusted to him several important missions. He was sent to Jamia Millia Islamia as per the request of Dr Zakhir Hussain where he served a lecturer and taught spinning. Khadi work brought him closer to the common man and the distinguished Rajaji.He began Khadi work selling Khadi yarn and cotton and became the Chairman of ALL INDIA KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES COMMISSION of India. During his tenure as Chairman, he started the People’s Education Programme for poor.
His contribution to education, Basic Education & Higher Education, Khadi and community Development, needs special mention. Gandhigram Rural University of which he became the Founder Vice Chancellor is a reflection on GR as an educationist and a constructive thinker. His experiments in Gandhigram showed us how rural children and women could be provided with facilities for growth and all-round development from birth to higher education. Along with his wife, Dr (Mrs.) Soundram Ramachandran, he founded the "Institute of Rural health and Family planning Centre"‚ institute for ’Sanitary Inspectors’ Training and Kasturba Hospital, which won recognition and awards at the National level (especially for services in Family planning and women & child-welfare).
He was a powerful Orator and a brilliant writer. His Autobiography, "Adventuring with life" is a true reflection of his times and the aspirations of the millions who dedicated their lives for their motherland.The language is so simple and we are taken to the simplicity of lives and the causes of sentiments of an era.The milestones in the eventful life of this multifaceted personality and man of conviction and humour may be summarized as follows:
Joined Non Cooperation movement in 1920 & participated in theTilak Swaraj Fund.
He gave his last 15 years for this venture which has two wings: social work and educational. Under the educational wing Mahatma Gandhi Vidya Peedom Dr GR Public School is one of the units.The motto of the school is FREE FRANK FEARLESS,He was fearless to the core. And he wanted his children to be free, frank and fearless. Always he quoted the message from his Master Gandhi:“Fearlessness is the first requisite of spirituality.
The coward can have no morals.
Effort with most of us is Sporadic. We attempt something good with a bang and after a while the effort evaporates. Our intention is good but our effort is not sustained. Sustained effort alone can give us any Victory worth the name. It is not enough to have good intentions and a good start. Persevere, persevere in what you do. Cultivate sustaining power. Do not give up midway, but go on till the goal is reached. Victory or defeats are ends but the way to one or the other is effort. All our qualities come into play in our effort. Prove in your effort all that you are capable of. You can then leave the rest to God and feel confident you will win through.
Dr G.Ramachandran
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
in 1945. He authored several books. Viswabharati ,Rabindranath Tagore's University ,in Santhiniketan awarded him the higher Title;"DESIKOTTAMA"'The Best teacher'.Being and educationist all his life,he wanted to impart all his knowledge and experience for the future generation.His dreamwas to bring up children as "International Citizens".
After severing various cadres before and after the Independence of India he returned to his native hometown Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara is municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The name Neyyattinkara in Malayalam literally means the shore of Neyyar River. Neyyar River flows from Agasthyarkoodam , the highest peak in southern end of the Western Ghats. The taluk has a total...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and started his last venture “The Madhavimandiram Loka Seva Trust” for the welfare of women and children in 1980. During the year 1991 he started a public school at Neyyatinkara. The name of the school is Dr GR Public school, it is affiliated to C.B.S.E. The present strength of the school is more than 2000 with classes from LKG to XII.
He was an MP and Health and Education Minister in Pattom Thanu Pillai’s Ministry in Kerala. He was the Chairman of All India Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC). He was the founder and First Vice Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural University
Gandhigram Rural University
The Gandhigram Rural Institute is an Indian university that was founded in 1956 as a small, rural college. Based on Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Nai Talim system of education, GRI has developed academic programmes in Rural Development, Rural Economics and Extension Education, Rural Oriented...
. His centenary year was celebrated during 2004 – 2005.
Sri G. Ramachandran met Gandhi at Dilkush in 1921, during Gandhiji’s famous "21 days fast". He was then a student of Mr. CF Andrews at Santiniketan. The discussions GR was privileged to have with Gandhi on the occasion drew him closer to the Mahatma. Ramachandran soon became an inmate of Gandhiji’s ashram at Sevagram and under Gandhiji’s direct guidance and supervision plunged himself into the national movement and the Gandhian Constructive Programme. During the Freedom struggle, he courted arrest eleven times and spent seven years in jail. Gandhi chose him as a close disciple and entrusted to him several important missions. He was sent to Jamia Millia Islamia as per the request of Dr Zakhir Hussain where he served a lecturer and taught spinning. Khadi work brought him closer to the common man and the distinguished Rajaji.He began Khadi work selling Khadi yarn and cotton and became the Chairman of ALL INDIA KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES COMMISSION of India. During his tenure as Chairman, he started the People’s Education Programme for poor.
His contribution to education, Basic Education & Higher Education, Khadi and community Development, needs special mention. Gandhigram Rural University of which he became the Founder Vice Chancellor is a reflection on GR as an educationist and a constructive thinker. His experiments in Gandhigram showed us how rural children and women could be provided with facilities for growth and all-round development from birth to higher education. Along with his wife, Dr (Mrs.) Soundram Ramachandran, he founded the "Institute of Rural health and Family planning Centre"‚ institute for ’Sanitary Inspectors’ Training and Kasturba Hospital, which won recognition and awards at the National level (especially for services in Family planning and women & child-welfare).
He was a powerful Orator and a brilliant writer. His Autobiography, "Adventuring with life" is a true reflection of his times and the aspirations of the millions who dedicated their lives for their motherland.The language is so simple and we are taken to the simplicity of lives and the causes of sentiments of an era.The milestones in the eventful life of this multifaceted personality and man of conviction and humour may be summarized as follows:
Joined Non Cooperation movement in 1920 & participated in theTilak Swaraj Fund.
- Become one of the earliest Honours Graduates of the Visva Bharati in 1924 and joined the SabarmathiAshram
- Took part in the Salt-Satyagraha Revolution in 1930 together with Rajaji at Vedaranyam. Sentenced to imprisonment for one year and a fine of Rs.500/-
- Functioned as the Provincial Secretary of the Harijan Sevak Sangh in Tamil nadu and Kerala and member of the Central Executive Committee of Harijan Sevak Sangh.
- Took active part in the Temple Entry movement in Tamilnad and Kerala (Vaikom) Spent six years as one of the general Secretaries of the Hindustani Tamil Sangh in Sevagram and actively promoted Basic Education in Tamilnadu, Mysore and Andra.
- Was appointed the Chairman of the Basic Education Assessment Committee set up by the Government of India.
- Appointed Educational advisor of Rajaji Government of Madras State.
- Joined the Pattom Tanu Pillai Cabinet (in Travancore) as a Minister.
- Served the Indian Express as an Editor. Along with his wife Dr (Mrs.) Soundram Ramachandran founded Gandhigram in1947 and was its Director for 15 years.
- Was the member of the Rajya Sabha for 6 years.
- Served on the Bal want Ray G Mehta Committee on Community Development.
- General Secretary of the Gandhi Smark Nidhi for 3 years.
- Founder Secretary of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, Editor of Gandhi Marg (English Journal)
- Conferred the Degree of D.Litt by the Kashi Vidya Peeth, title of "Desikottama" by Viswabarathi University and Doctorate by Gandhigram Rural University.
- Traveled widely: lectured in the universities in England, Germany, United States, Soviet Union, Poland Yugoslavia, Ceylon etc. spreading the message of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Was a member of the delegation sent to Moscow by the Gandhi Peace foundation along with the Congress President UN Debar to take the message of peace and to prevent the use of Nuclear weapons.
- Authored Several Books: Thought and Talks, Village Reconstruction Step by Step, The Man Gandhi, A Sheaf of Gandhi Anecdotes, Higher Values of life, Adventuring with Life etc.
- Several Poems, drawings and handicraft-items to his credit.
- Received peace awards from Grambling University, USA and the Soka Gakkai International, Tokyo
- As a last "venture" founded the Madhavimandiram Loka Seva Trust, at the age of 76 bequeathing all his ancestral property (to the Trust) in memory of his mother Smt Madhavi Tankachi. GR Started this The Trust runs Mahatma Gandhi Vidya Peedom and is involved in other activities.
He gave his last 15 years for this venture which has two wings: social work and educational. Under the educational wing Mahatma Gandhi Vidya Peedom Dr GR Public School is one of the units.The motto of the school is FREE FRANK FEARLESS,He was fearless to the core. And he wanted his children to be free, frank and fearless. Always he quoted the message from his Master Gandhi:“Fearlessness is the first requisite of spirituality.
The coward can have no morals.
Effort with most of us is Sporadic. We attempt something good with a bang and after a while the effort evaporates. Our intention is good but our effort is not sustained. Sustained effort alone can give us any Victory worth the name. It is not enough to have good intentions and a good start. Persevere, persevere in what you do. Cultivate sustaining power. Do not give up midway, but go on till the goal is reached. Victory or defeats are ends but the way to one or the other is effort. All our qualities come into play in our effort. Prove in your effort all that you are capable of. You can then leave the rest to God and feel confident you will win through.
Dr G.Ramachandran