Raja Annamalai Chettiar
Encyclopedia
Raja Sir Satappa Ramanatha Muttaiya Annamalai Chettiar KCSI
(b. September 30, 1881 - d. June 15, 1948), also known as S. Rm. M. Annamalai Chettiar, was an Indian industrialist, banker, educationist and philanthropist, who is largely remembered for his social work and endowments in Tamil Nadu. He is the founder of Annamalai University
in Chidambaram
.
in the Sivaganga estate
of the then Madura district
in the Madras Presidency
of British India. His father, S.R.M.M. Muthiah Chettiar and brother Ramaswami Chettiar
were noted bankers and philanthropists. Ramaswami Chettiar was one of the founders of the Indian Bank
of which Annamalai Chettiar later served as a director.
After his schooling, he joined his family business. During the course of his business, he visited some of the countries in Southeast Asia
. He also spent a considerable time in England
. On his return home, he became the head of the civic body of Karaikudi, also member of several local organizations and the District Board.
) at the head of polls. He held his seat in the Council for three consecutive terms, always by election and every time at the head of the polls. With his natural bent for finance, he with others founded the Indian Bank. He was also appointed a governor of the Imperial Bank of India at its inception in 1921 and continued as one of its directors almost to the end of his life. Annamalai Chettiar was of the firm view that education was the primary need for the country. He made his mind to found and endow a college at Chidambaram. Sri Meenakshi College was formally opened in 1920. To the Arts College was added the Sanskrit College and a Tamil College in 1927. Soon an Oriental Training College followed by a College of Music was established. With all these institutions forming a splendid nucleus for Annamalai University
and it came into existence on 1 January 1929 with the passing of the bill and started functioning from July 1929. In recognition of his unique services to the cause of learning, a Knighthood, and the distinction of a hereditary Rajah of Chettinad was conferred on him. Rajah Annamalai Chettiar was deeply concerned over and made persistent efforts to safeguard the interests of Indians in Burma and French Indo-China. For this purpose he led a deputation to London and Paris in 1935. Even while immersed in other affairs, his thoughts were always with the University at Annamalainagar. Its development and expansion was his master passion. His devotion to music, especially Tamil music was another of his passions. The movement and the impetus that he gave to Tamil music were hailed by all. He died on 15 June 1948. Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department issued a commemorative stamp in his honor.
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Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(b. September 30, 1881 - d. June 15, 1948), also known as S. Rm. M. Annamalai Chettiar, was an Indian industrialist, banker, educationist and philanthropist, who is largely remembered for his social work and endowments in Tamil Nadu. He is the founder of Annamalai University
Annamalai University
Annamalai University is a Public University located in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The university offers courses of higher education in arts, sciences and engineering.The university also provides around 380 courses under distance mode...
in Chidambaram
Chidambaram
Chidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in Eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail...
.
Early life
Annamalai Chettiar was born on September 30, 1881 at KanadukathanKanadukathan
Kanadukathan is a panchayat town in Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Kanadukathan had a population of 4795. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Kanadukathan has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of...
in the Sivaganga estate
Sivaganga estate
The estate of Sivaganga , also known as Kingdom of the Lesser Marava, was a permanently settled zamindari estate in the Ramnad sub-division of Madura district, Madras Presidency, British India. Along the estate of Ramnad, it formed one of the two zamindari estates of Ramnad subdivision.The...
of the then Madura district
Madura District (Madras Presidency)
Madura District was one of the districts of the Madras Presidency of British India. It covered the present-day districts of Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and parts of Virudhunagar District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.- History :...
in the 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...
of British India. His father, S.R.M.M. Muthiah Chettiar and brother Ramaswami Chettiar
Ramaswami Chettiar
Diwan Bahadur Satappa Ramanatha Muttaiya Ramaswami Chettiar was an Indian businessman and philanthropist from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.- Early life :...
were noted bankers and philanthropists. Ramaswami Chettiar was one of the founders of the Indian Bank
Indian Bank
Indian Bank is a major Indian Commercial Bank headquartered in Chennai , India. It has 22,000 employees, 1923 branches and is one of the big public sector banks of India. It has overseas branches in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and 229 correspondent banks in 69 countries...
of which Annamalai Chettiar later served as a director.
After his schooling, he joined his family business. During the course of his business, he visited some of the countries in Southeast Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. He also spent a considerable time in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. On his return home, he became the head of the civic body of Karaikudi, also member of several local organizations and the District Board.
Career
In 1916, he transferred from local affairs to the Legislative Council of Madras Presidency, where he sat for 3 years. In 1920 he stood for election to the Council of State, established under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, and was returned for the general constituency (the whole of the PresidencyPresidency
The word presidency is often used to describe the administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation...
) at the head of polls. He held his seat in the Council for three consecutive terms, always by election and every time at the head of the polls. With his natural bent for finance, he with others founded the Indian Bank. He was also appointed a governor of the Imperial Bank of India at its inception in 1921 and continued as one of its directors almost to the end of his life. Annamalai Chettiar was of the firm view that education was the primary need for the country. He made his mind to found and endow a college at Chidambaram. Sri Meenakshi College was formally opened in 1920. To the Arts College was added the Sanskrit College and a Tamil College in 1927. Soon an Oriental Training College followed by a College of Music was established. With all these institutions forming a splendid nucleus for Annamalai University
Annamalai University
Annamalai University is a Public University located in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The university offers courses of higher education in arts, sciences and engineering.The university also provides around 380 courses under distance mode...
and it came into existence on 1 January 1929 with the passing of the bill and started functioning from July 1929. In recognition of his unique services to the cause of learning, a Knighthood, and the distinction of a hereditary Rajah of Chettinad was conferred on him. Rajah Annamalai Chettiar was deeply concerned over and made persistent efforts to safeguard the interests of Indians in Burma and French Indo-China. For this purpose he led a deputation to London and Paris in 1935. Even while immersed in other affairs, his thoughts were always with the University at Annamalainagar. Its development and expansion was his master passion. His devotion to music, especially Tamil music was another of his passions. The movement and the impetus that he gave to Tamil music were hailed by all. He died on 15 June 1948. Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department issued a commemorative stamp in his honor.
Honours
S. R. M. Annamalai Chettiar was given the title Diwan Bahadur by the British King for the valuable services rendered to the Crown. Later on the occasion of the King's birthday on 2 June 1923, he was conferred the honour of knighthood. In 1929, he was conferred the title of hereditary Rajah of Chettinad by the King of England. He was the first Raja of ChettinadRaja of Chettinad
The Raja of Chettinad was a honorary title bestowed on the head of the S. Rm. family of Kanadukathan in the Chettinad region by the British Raj. The first Raja of Chettinad was Sir Annamalai Chettiar....
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