T. V. Seshagiri Iyer
Encyclopedia
Tiruchendurai Vaidyanatha Seshagiri Iyer (1860-1926) was an Indian lawyer and politician who served as a judge of the Madras High Court
and represented the University of Madras
in the Madras Legislative Council
Seshagiri Iyer was born in 1860 in a village Tircuhirapalli district. He had his early education in his village and studied law in Madras. He served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council.
Seshagiri Iyer was known for his public work.
Mannarswamy looked after the early education of his younger siblings in the family.
, Chennai.
. During this time, Seshagiri Iyer was responsible for the Hindu Transfers and Bequests Act of 1914. This act is now popularly known as the "Seshagiri Ayyar Act". Seshagiri Iyer served as a judge of the Madras High Court
from 1914 to 1920.
His name was considered for Diwan Bahadurship but was ultimately rejected by the Governor in favor of K. Narayana Row.
Seshagiri Iyer also functioned as a member of the Senate of the University of Madras
. In 1916, disappointed at the very tough nature of the Intermediate Examination and the fact that very few Indian candidates had passed the examination, Seshagiri Iyer moved a resolution in the senate demanding that the pass mark for English be reduced to 30 percent. He described the tough correction at the examination as "slaughter" of the candidates. However, there was staunch opposition to this resolution by British professors. One Rev. Macphail uttered: "You bring rickshaw-wallahs and jhutkawallahs to the examination hall, and when they fail, you complain of slaughter".
in the Madras Legislative Council
from 1921 until his death in 1926. He presided over a number of conferences during this time.
refused to offer membership, Seshagiri Iyer founded the Indian Boat Club in response to discrimination against Indians in 1915. Seshagiri Iyer was one of the first Indian to own a holiday home in Kodaikanal.
Seshagiri Iyer presided over the public meeting on January 7, 1926 at Soundarya Mahal in which the Madras Music Academy
was formed.
Madras High Court
The Madras High Court is a senior court located at Chennai , in India. The court buildings, which are believed to be the second largest judicial complex in the world, are located near the beach, in one of the city's major business districts....
and represented the University of Madras
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
in the Madras Legislative Council
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
Seshagiri Iyer was born in 1860 in a village Tircuhirapalli district. He had his early education in his village and studied law in Madras. He served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council.
Seshagiri Iyer was known for his public work.
Early life
Seshagiri Iyer was born to Vaidyanatha Iyer in the village of Tiruchendurai in Tiruchirapalli district in 1860. He was one of Vaidyanatha Iyer's six children through his second wife, Komali, the other five being girls. Vaidynatha Iyer also had six sons namely , Mannarswamy, Ramu, Venkataraman and Subbaraman through another wife. Seshagiri Iyer's sisters were Sanamma, Seethalakshmi, Thailambal, Subbammal and Kalyani.Mannarswamy looked after the early education of his younger siblings in the family.
Marriage
Seshagiri Iyer married Kalyani and had two daughters Bhagi and Nagammal. The family settled down in AlwarpetAlwarpet
Alwarpet is a mixed residential zone in central Chennai. It is a prestigious residential area and contains the two best residential colonies of Chennai, namely the Boat Club and the Poes Garden. As on 2010, this still remains the costliest residential area of Chennai...
, Chennai.
Legal career
On completion of his studies, Seshagiri Iyer joined as an apprentice of the famous Madras lawyer of British origin, 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 :...
. During this time, Seshagiri Iyer was responsible for the Hindu Transfers and Bequests Act of 1914. This act is now popularly known as the "Seshagiri Ayyar Act". Seshagiri Iyer served as a judge of the Madras High Court
Madras High Court
The Madras High Court is a senior court located at Chennai , in India. The court buildings, which are believed to be the second largest judicial complex in the world, are located near the beach, in one of the city's major business districts....
from 1914 to 1920.
His name was considered for Diwan Bahadurship but was ultimately rejected by the Governor in favor of K. Narayana Row.
Seshagiri Iyer also functioned as a member of the Senate of the University of Madras
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
. In 1916, disappointed at the very tough nature of the Intermediate Examination and the fact that very few Indian candidates had passed the examination, Seshagiri Iyer moved a resolution in the senate demanding that the pass mark for English be reduced to 30 percent. He described the tough correction at the examination as "slaughter" of the candidates. However, there was staunch opposition to this resolution by British professors. One Rev. Macphail uttered: "You bring rickshaw-wallahs and jhutkawallahs to the examination hall, and when they fail, you complain of slaughter".
As Member of the Madras Legislative Council
Seshagiri Iyer represented the University of MadrasUniversity of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
in the Madras Legislative Council
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
from 1921 until his death in 1926. He presided over a number of conferences during this time.
Other public activities
In 1917, Seshagiri Iyer was nominated Chairman of the Tamil Lexicon Committee. As the English Boat Club of KodaikanalKodaikanal
-Climate:Kodaikanal has a monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate . The temperatures are cool throughout the year due to the high elevation of the city.-Economy:...
refused to offer membership, Seshagiri Iyer founded the Indian Boat Club in response to discrimination against Indians in 1915. Seshagiri Iyer was one of the first Indian to own a holiday home in Kodaikanal.
Seshagiri Iyer presided over the public meeting on January 7, 1926 at Soundarya Mahal in which the Madras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy, or simply Music Academy, is one of the premier and early Music Academies in the South Indian city of Madras, now Chennai. It plays an important role in encouraging and promoting primarily the Carnatic Music south Indian art form. It also played an important role in revival of...
was formed.