Ponnambalam Arunachalam
Encyclopedia
Sir Ponnambalam Arunachchalam, CCS
(September 14, 1853- January 9, 1924) was a Tamil political leader in Ceylon and a member of the Executive Council
and the Legislative Council
.
Arunachalam Ponnambalam and mother was Sellachchi Ammaiyar. He was the third son of their parents and the younger brother of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan
who was another famous Ceylon Tamil leader. He was educated at the Colombo Academy (Royal College Colombo), Colombo
, and at Christ's College, Cambridge
.
He married Swarnambal Namasivayam and had three sons, Sir
Arunachalam Mahadeva
, KCMG; Sivananthan Arunachalam and Arunachalam Ramanathan.
in 1875. He was appointed Registrar General in 1887. He showed his eminence in all the positions he held. His scientific compilation of the National Census Report in 1911 was a masterpiece. The introductory report contains “the most luminous dissertation on the ethnological, social and economic conditions of the Island”. On his retirement from the Public Service in 1913, he was Knighted in recognition of his distinguished service to the country. He was also nominated by the Governor to a seat in the Executive Council.
He was the first Ceylonese to be elected President of the Ceylon Branch
of the Royal Asiatic Society
. As President of the Saiva Paripalana Sabai he took much interest in Hindu
Cultural matters. He was the first person to start agitating for a University for Ceylon (the first Hall of residence at the Peradeniya University, formally the Peradeniya campus of University of Ceylon
was named Arunachalam Hall, in 1951). The Ceylon Reform League was founded in May of that year with Sir Arunachalam as Chairman. This led to the formation of the Ceylon National Congress later in 1919. He died at Madurai on 9 January 1924, while on a pilgrimage worshipping at the Hindu Temples in South India
.
Ceylon Civil Service
The Ceylon Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym CCS, originated as the elite civil service of the Government of Ceylon under British colonial rule in 1833 and carried on after independence, until May 1, 1963 when it was abolished and the much larger Ceylon Administrative Service was...
(September 14, 1853- January 9, 1924) was a Tamil political leader in Ceylon and a member of the Executive Council
Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)
An Executive Council in Commonwealth constitutional practice based on the Westminster system is a constitutional organ which exercises executive power and advises the governor or governor-general. Executive Councils often make decisions via Orders in Council.Executive Councillors are informally...
and the Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
.
Early life
His father was Gate MudaliyarSri Lankan Mudaliyars
Mudali was a colonial title & office in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese colonials created the Mudaliyar class in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes form the coastal areas, who were most likely to serve the Portuguese masters with utmost loyalty. The Dutch continued the practice of...
Arunachalam Ponnambalam and mother was Sellachchi Ammaiyar. He was the third son of their parents and the younger brother of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan
Ponnambalam Ramanathan
Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, KCMG, KC was a Solicitor-General and Tamil political leader in Sri Lanka.-Early life:...
who was another famous Ceylon Tamil leader. He was educated at the Colombo Academy (Royal College Colombo), 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...
, and at Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
.
He married Swarnambal Namasivayam and had three sons, Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Arunachalam Mahadeva
Arunachalam Mahadeva
Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva, KCMG was a Sri Lankan, prominent colonial era legislator and diplomat. He was Minister of Home Affaires of the State Council and Ceylon's High Commissioner to India....
, KCMG; Sivananthan Arunachalam and Arunachalam Ramanathan.
Career
He was one of the first Ceylonese to enter the prestigious Ceylon Civil ServiceCeylon Civil Service
The Ceylon Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym CCS, originated as the elite civil service of the Government of Ceylon under British colonial rule in 1833 and carried on after independence, until May 1, 1963 when it was abolished and the much larger Ceylon Administrative Service was...
in 1875. He was appointed Registrar General in 1887. He showed his eminence in all the positions he held. His scientific compilation of the National Census Report in 1911 was a masterpiece. The introductory report contains “the most luminous dissertation on the ethnological, social and economic conditions of the Island”. On his retirement from the Public Service in 1913, he was Knighted in recognition of his distinguished service to the country. He was also nominated by the Governor to a seat in the Executive Council.
He was the first Ceylonese to be elected President of the Ceylon Branch
Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka
The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. One of the oldest learned societies in Sri Lanka with a history of over 160 years. Established on the 7th February, 1845, based on lines similar to the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland to further oriental...
of the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
. As President of the Saiva Paripalana Sabai he took much interest in Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Cultural matters. He was the first person to start agitating for a University for Ceylon (the first Hall of residence at the Peradeniya University, formally the Peradeniya campus of University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
was named Arunachalam Hall, in 1951). The Ceylon Reform League was founded in May of that year with Sir Arunachalam as Chairman. This led to the formation of the Ceylon National Congress later in 1919. He died at Madurai on 9 January 1924, while on a pilgrimage worshipping at the Hindu Temples in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
.
Books Written
- Sketches of Ceylon History; Studies (1906)
- A Digest of the Civil Law of Ceylon, Census Report of 1901.
- A Revel in Bliss (1895).
- A Few Hymns of Manikka Vachaka and Thayumanavar (1897).
- Studies and Translations from the Tamil
- Studies and Translations, Philosophical and Religious (1937)