M. Veeraraghavachariar
Encyclopedia
Mudumbai Veeraraghavachariar (1857-1906) was an Indian journalist, freedom-fighter and teacher from the erstwhile Madras Presidency
. He was one of the founders of The Hindu
newspaper and served as its Managing Director from 1878 to 1905.
family of Vadakapattu village near Chingleput
. He had his schooling and graduation in Madras. On graduating, he was employed as a lecturer in Pachaiyappa's College, Madras. At about this time, he befriended fellow tutor, G. Subramania Iyer
.
, T. T. Rangachariar, P. V. Rangachariar, D. Kesava Rao Pantulu and N. Subba Rao Pantulu
, who later became popular in history as "The Triplicane Six", founded the English-language newspaper, The Hindu. While Veeraraghavachariar and Subramania Iyer were lecturers at the college, the rest were all students.
in some of The Hindu 's editorials. Subramania Iyer's revolutionary views on Hindu society proved detrimental to the newspaper and soon it began to decline landing its owners in dire financial straits.
In 1898, G. Subramania Iyer left The Hindu and took over the management of the Swadesamitran
. Left alone, Veeraraghavachariar employed C. Karunakara Menon
as the Chief-Editor and tried to convert the newspaper into a joint-stock company in 1901.The plan failed landing the newspaper in heavy debt. In a special edition commemorating its twentyfifth anniversary, Veeraraghavachariar noted that the newspaper had defended four libel suits since its founding and lost three. Faced with a crisis, Veeraraghachariar sold the newspaper in 1904-05. The paper ws purchased by S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar
in April 1905.
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 one of the founders of The Hindu
The Hindu
The Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
newspaper and served as its Managing Director from 1878 to 1905.
Early life
Veeraraghavachariar was born in a Vaishnavite BrahminIyengar
Iyengar or Ayyangar is a caste given to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil origin who follow the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya. They are found mostly in Tamil Nadu as they are generally native to the Tamil Nadu state of the Republic of India...
family of Vadakapattu village near Chingleput
Chingleput
Chingleput or Chengalpattu or Chengalpet is a city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The name of the city is derived from the old nomenclature 'chenkazhuneer patru'...
. He had his schooling and graduation in Madras. On graduating, he was employed as a lecturer in Pachaiyappa's College, Madras. At about this time, he befriended fellow tutor, G. Subramania Iyer
G. Subramania Iyer
Ganapathy Dikshitar Subramania Iyer was a leading Indian journalist, social reformer and freedom fighter who founded 'The Hindu' newspaper on September 20, 1878...
.
Founding of The Hindu
In 1878, 21-year old Veeraraghavachariar and four of his friends, G. Subramania IyerG. Subramania Iyer
Ganapathy Dikshitar Subramania Iyer was a leading Indian journalist, social reformer and freedom fighter who founded 'The Hindu' newspaper on September 20, 1878...
, T. T. Rangachariar, P. V. Rangachariar, D. Kesava Rao Pantulu and N. Subba Rao Pantulu
N. Subba Rao Pantulu
Nyapathi Subba Rao Pantulu was an Indian politician and social activist who served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council. between 1893 and 1909. He was also one of the founders of The Hindu.- Early life :...
, who later became popular in history as "The Triplicane Six", founded the English-language newspaper, The Hindu. While Veeraraghavachariar and Subramania Iyer were lecturers at the college, the rest were all students.
With The Hindu
Soon after its founding, most of the Triplicane Six parted ways to practice as lawyers. Chief-editor Subramania Iyer and Managing Director Veeraraghavachariar were the only ones who remained. Subramania Iyer took a bold stand and questioned the British masters as well as the Hindu orthodoxy. Veeraraghavachariar, on the contrary, was a moderate and opposed Subramania Iyer's militant views. The difference in ideologies caused a rift between the two. This rift was further compounded when Veeraraghavachariar lashed out at Iyer's friend Eardley NortonEardley Norton
John Eardley Norton was a Madras barrister, judge and politician of British origin. He was also one of the founders of the Indian National Congress and a participant in the Indian independence movement.- Early life :...
in some of The Hindu 's editorials. Subramania Iyer's revolutionary views on Hindu society proved detrimental to the newspaper and soon it began to decline landing its owners in dire financial straits.
In 1898, G. Subramania Iyer left The Hindu and took over the management of the Swadesamitran
Swadesamitran
Swadesamitran was the first Tamil language newspaper owned and operated by Indians. It was published from Chennai . It was founded by G Subramania Aiyer who also served as the papers first editor. It was founded as a sister paper of The Hindu which Aiyer had also founded two years earlier in 1879...
. Left alone, Veeraraghavachariar employed C. Karunakara Menon
C. Karunakara Menon
Diwan Bahadur Cozhissery Karunakara Menon was an Indian journalist and politician from the erstwhile Madras Presidency. He was the second editor of The Hindu after G. Subramania Iyer and the founder of the Indian Patriot....
as the Chief-Editor and tried to convert the newspaper into a joint-stock company in 1901.The plan failed landing the newspaper in heavy debt. In a special edition commemorating its twentyfifth anniversary, Veeraraghavachariar noted that the newspaper had defended four libel suits since its founding and lost three. Faced with a crisis, Veeraraghachariar sold the newspaper in 1904-05. The paper ws purchased by S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar
S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar
Sesha Iyengar Kasturi Ranga Iyengar was an Indian lawyer, Indian independence activist, politician and journalist who served as the Managing Director of The Hindu from April 1, 1905 till his death in December 1923....
in April 1905.