Governors of Tamil Nadu
Encyclopedia
Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of states of India
The Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of the states and territories of India have similar powers and functions at the state level as that of the President of India at Union level. Governors exist in the states while Lieutenant-Governors exist in union territories and in the National Capital...
is a nominal head and representative of the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
. He or she is appointed by the president for a five year term. This list includes both nominated and acting heads of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
in the history of the state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Tamil Nadu
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 India since 1946. The area under the present-day state of Tamil Nadu has been part of different territorial configurations under 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...
and Madras State
Madras State
Madras State was the name by which the Indian districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Northern Kerala, Bellary and Dakshina Kannada were collectively known as from 1950 to 1953....
in its history
History of Tamil Nadu
The region of Tamil Nadu in modern India has been under continuous human habitation since prehistoric times, and the history of Tamil Nadu and the civilization of the Tamil people are among the oldest in the world. Throughout its history, spanning the early Paleolithic age to modern times, this...
.
The current governor is Konijeti Rosaiah
Konijeti Rosaiah
Konijeti Rosaiah is the current Governor of Tamil Nadu and a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He was previously an MLC, MLA & MP of the Indian National Congress numerous times and has handled many ministerial posts over his long political career spanning over half a century...
, who took office on 31 August 2011. , the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
has been appointed the governor of Tamil Nadu on 26th August 2011.
Madras Presidency and Madras State
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...
was a province of British India. It comprised present day Tamil Nadu, the Malabar region of North 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....
, the coastal
Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra or Kosta, is a region of India's Andhra Pradesh State. This region was part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of and a population of 3,41,93,868...
and Rayalaseema
Rayalaseema
Rayalaseema is a geographic region in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It includes the districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool. These Telugu speaking districts were part of Madras Presidency until 1953 when Telugu speaking districts of Madras presidency were carved out to form...
regions of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, and the Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
, Dakshina Kannada
Dakshina Kannada
- Geography :The district geography consists of sea shore in the west and Western Ghats in the east. The major rivers are Netravathi, Kumaradhara, Phalguni, Shambhavi, Nandini or Pavanje and Payaswini which all join Arabian sea. Vast areas of evergreen forests which once covered this district, have...
, and Udupi districts of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. It was established in 1653 to be the headquarters of the English settlements on the Coromandel Coast
Coromandel Coast
The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point...
. After India's independence
Indian 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...
in 1947, Madras State
Madras State
Madras State was the name by which the Indian districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Northern Kerala, Bellary and Dakshina Kannada were collectively known as from 1950 to 1953....
, the precursor to the present day state of Tamil Nadu, was carved out of Madras Presidency. It comprised present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.
Tabular
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | TermThe ordinal number of the term being served by the person specified in the row in the corresponding period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Archibald Edward Nye | 6 May 1946 | 7 September 1948 | 1 |
| 2 | Maharaja Krishna Kumarasinhji Bhavsinhji | 7 September 1948 | 12 March 1952 | 1 |
| 3 | Sri Prakasa Sri Prakasa Sri Prakasa was an Indian politician, freedom-fighter and administrator. He served as India's first High Commissioner to Pakistan from 1947 to 1949, Governor of Assam from 1949 to 1950, Governor of Madras from 1952 to 1956 and Governor of Bombay from 1956 to 1962.Sri Prakasa was born in Varanasi... |
12 March 1952 | 10 December 1956 | 1 |
| 4 | A. J. John, Anaparambil A. J. John, Anaparambil Anaparambil Joseph John was an Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, and statesman. He was Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin and Governor of Madras.... |
10 December 1956 | 30 September 1957 | 1 |
| 5 | Dr. Pakala Venkata Rajamannar (acting) | 1 October 1957 | 24 January 1958 | 1 |
| 6 | Bhishnuram Medhi Bhishnuram Medhi Bhishnuram Medhi was an Indian politician and freedom-fighter who served as the Chief Minister of Assam from 1950 to 1957 and Governor of Madras State from December 1956 till May 1964.- Early life :... |
24 January 1958 | 4 May 1964 | 1 |
| 7 | Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur | 4 May 1964 | 24 November 1964 | 1 |
| 8 | P. Chandra Reddy P. Chandra Reddy Justice P. Chandra Reddy or Palagani Chandra Reddy was an Indian judge. He was educated at V.R. High School, Nellore and Pachaiyappa’s College in Madras. He was appointed as an advocate at the Madras High Court on 13 August 1928. He had practised civil and criminal cases. He was appointed as an... (acting) |
24 November 1964 | 7 December 1965 | 1 |
| 9 | Jayachamaraja Wodeyar BahadurThis term is a continuation of the Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur's first term. P. Chandra Reddy served as the acting Governor while Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur was on foreign tours. | 7 December 1965 | 28 June 1966 | 1 |
| 10 | Sardar Ujjal Singh Sardar Ujjal Singh Sardar Ujjal Singh was an Indian politician who served as the Governor of Punjab , followed by Governor of Tamil Nadu from... (acting till 16 June 1967) |
28 June 1966 | 14 January 1969 | 1 |
Graphical
Tamil Nadu
Madras State was renamed as Tamil Nadu (TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
for Tamil country) on 14 January, 1969. Governors have similar powers and functions at the state level as that of the President of India at the Central government level. The Governor acts as the nominal head of the state while the Chief Ministers of the states and the Chief Minister's Council of Ministers are invested with most executive powers.
Tabular
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Term | President who appointed the Governor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sardar Ujjal Singh Sardar Ujjal Singh Sardar Ujjal Singh was an Indian politician who served as the Governor of Punjab , followed by Governor of Tamil Nadu from... |
14 January 1969 | 27 May 1971 | 1 | Dr. Zakir Hussain Zakir Hussain (politician) Dr. Zakir Hussain , was the third President of India from 13 May 1967 until his death on 3 May 1969. He was the first elected Muslim president of India.... |
| 2 | Kodardas Kalidas Shah Kodardas Kalidas Shah Kodardas Kalidas Shah is an Indian politician who served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1971 to 1976.He was born in Gabat village in Bayad Taluka of Sabarkantha District in Gujarat and was a solicitor by profession. He died on March 14, 1986 due to cardiac arrest in Calcutta... |
27 May 1971 | 16 June 1976 | 1 | Varaha Venkata Giri |
| 3 | Mohan Lal Sukhadia Mohan Lal Sukhadia Mohan Lal Sukhadia was a political and social leader who served as Chief Minister of Rajasthan for 17 years . He became Chief Minister at age of 38 years and was responsible for bringing major reforms and developments in Rajasthan... |
16 June 1976 | 8 April 1977 | 1 | Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was the fifth President of India from 1974 to 1977.-Early life and background:Fakhruddin's grandfather, Khaliluddin Ali Ahmed, of Kacharighat near Golaghat, Assam, married in one of the families who were the relics of Emperor Aurangzeb's bid to conquer Assam Ahmed was born on... |
| 4 | Justice P. Govindan Nair (acting) | 9 April 1977 | 27 April 1977 | 1 | |
| 5 | Prabhudas B. Patwari | 27 April 1977 | 27 October 1980 | 1 | Basappa Danappa Jatti Basappa Danappa Jatti Basappa Danappa Jatti was born to Kannada Lingayat family at Savalgi, Bijapur district of Karnataka state. Jatti graduated as a lawyer from Sykes Law College, Kolhapur and became a pleader in Jamakhandi... |
| 6 | Justice M. M. Ismail M. M. Ismail M. M. Ismail was an Indian politician who served as the acting Governor of Tamil Nadu and a Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.-Early life:Ismail was born in Nagore, Tamil Nadu on February 8, 1921... (acting) |
27 October 1980 | 4 November 1980 | 1 | |
| 7 | Sadiq Ali Sri Sadiq Ali Sadiq Ali was a freedom fighter and a leader of Indian National Congress.Born in 1910 in Udaipur in Rajasthan he left home at young age to pursue studies at Allahabad University After studies he joined freedom struggle and was jailed many times.... |
4 November 1980 | 3 September 1982 | 1 | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy Neelam Sanjiva Reddy Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the sixth President of India, serving from 1977 to 1982 and was the only person to be elected President of India unopposed.... |
| 8 | Sundar Lal Khurana Sundar Lal Khurana Sundar Lal Khurana is an Indian politician who served as the Governor of Delhi from 1981 to 1982, Governor of Pondicherry in 1984 and the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1982 to 1988.-References:... , IAS (Retired) |
3 September 1982 | 17 February 1988 | 1 | Giani Zail Singh |
| 9 | P. C. Alexander P. C. Alexander Padinjarethalakal Cherian Alexander of Mavelikkera, India was an Indian politician and civil servant who served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1988 to 1990 and as the Governor of Maharashtra from 1993 to 2002. He was considered as a candidate for the post of the President of India in 2002... , IAS (Retired) |
17 February 1988 | 24 May 1990 | 1 | R. Venkataraman R. Venkataraman Ramaswamy Venkataraman was an Indian lawyer, Indian independence activist and politician who served as a Union minister and as the eighth President of India.... |
| 10 | Sardar Surjit Singh Barnala Surjit Singh Barnala Surjit Singh Barnala is an Indian politician from Punjab. During his career in Indian politics, he has been Governor of four states, Chief Minister of Punjab, a minister in the union cabinet twice and a vice-presidential candidate once.-Early life:Barnala was born in Ateli village, which was then... |
24 May 1990 | 15 February 1991 | 1 | R. Venkataraman R. Venkataraman Ramaswamy Venkataraman was an Indian lawyer, Indian independence activist and politician who served as a Union minister and as the eighth President of India.... |
| 11 | Bhishma Narain Singh Bhishma Narain Singh Bhishma Narain Singh is an Indian politician who served as the Governor of Assam from 1984 to 1989 and Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1991 to 1993.-Life Sketch:... |
15 February 1991 | 31 May 1993 | 1 | R. Venkataraman R. Venkataraman Ramaswamy Venkataraman was an Indian lawyer, Indian independence activist and politician who served as a Union minister and as the eighth President of India.... |
| 12 | Marri Chenna Reddy Marri Chenna Reddy Marri Channa Reddy was an Indian politician active in several states. He was the governor of Uttar Pradesh , governor of Punjab , governor of Rajasthan from February 1992 to May 1993, and governor of Tamil Nadu from 1993 until his death. He was a leader of Indian National Congress Party... |
31 May 1993 | 2 December 1996 | 1 | Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma |
| 13 | Krishan Kant Krishan Kant Krishan Kant was the tenth Vice President of India from 1997 until his death.Kant's first brush with politics came when he plunged into the Quit India movement, while he was still a student in Lahore. He took part in the Indian Independence Movement as a youth and continued to be involved in... (additional charge) |
2 December 1996 | 25 January 1997 | 1 | |
| 14 | Justice M. Fathima Beevi | 25 January 1997 | 3 July 2001 | 1 | Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma |
| 15 | Dr. C. Rangarajan (additional charge) | 3 July 2001 | 18 January 2002 | 1 | |
| 16 | P. S. Ramamohan Rao P. S. Ramamohan Rao P. S. Ramamohan Rao is an Indian politician and former civil servant. He served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 2002 to 2004. He is a retired Director General of Police of Andhra Pradesh.-References:... , IPS (Retired) |
18 January 2002 | 3 November 2004 | 1 | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| 17 | Sardar Surjit Singh Barnala Surjit Singh Barnala Surjit Singh Barnala is an Indian politician from Punjab. During his career in Indian politics, he has been Governor of four states, Chief Minister of Punjab, a minister in the union cabinet twice and a vice-presidential candidate once.-Early life:Barnala was born in Ateli village, which was then... |
3 November 2004 | 31 August 2011 | 2 | |
| 18 | Konijeti Rosaiah Konijeti Rosaiah Konijeti Rosaiah is the current Governor of Tamil Nadu and a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He was previously an MLC, MLA & MP of the Indian National Congress numerous times and has handled many ministerial posts over his long political career spanning over half a century... |
31 August 2011 | "Incumbent" | 1 | Pratibha Patil Pratibha Patil Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J... |
Graphical
Records
- Surjit Singh Barnala is the only appointed Governor to have served two terms in office (24 May 1990–15 February 1991 and 3 November 2004–31 August 2011).
- The longest term in office was that of Surjit Singh Barnala who served as the Governor for a period of almost six and a half years (3 November 2004–31 August 2011).
- The shortest term in office was that of M. M. Ismail who served as the acting Governor for a period of nine days (27 October 1980–4 November 1980).
See also
- Governors of India
- Governors of MadrasGovernors of Madras-English Agents:In 1639, the grant of Madras to the English was finalized between the factors of the Masulipatnam factory, represented by Francis Day, and the Raja of Chandragiri. In 1640, Andrew Cogan, the chief of the Masulipatnam factory, made his way to Madras in the company of Francis Day and...
- History of Tamil NaduHistory of Tamil NaduThe region of Tamil Nadu in modern India has been under continuous human habitation since prehistoric times, and the history of Tamil Nadu and the civilization of the Tamil people are among the oldest in the world. Throughout its history, spanning the early Paleolithic age to modern times, this...
- List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu