V. I. Munuswamy Pillai
Encyclopedia
Rao Sahib V. I. Munuswamy Pillai also spelled as Munisami Pillai, was an Indian businessman, politician, Dalit activist and activist of the Indian independence movement who served as the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in the government of C. Rajagopalachari
from 1937 to 1939.
family in Ootacamund
, Nilgiris district in 1889. Due to his adverse financial circumstances, Munuswamy Pillai could afford little formal education and was forced to take up a job as a clerk at the age of twenty. After a successful stint as a clerk, Munuswamy Pillai set up his own business in 1925.
in 1926 representing the depressed classes. He supported the policies of the Indian National Congress
and served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Rajaji's cabinet from 1937 to 1939.
from Tindivanam
as a Indian National Congress candidate. He died on December 14, 1953 at the 63. A special resolution was passed by the Madras Legislative Assembly condoling his death.
C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India...
from 1937 to 1939.
Early life
Munuswamy Pillai was born in a poor DalitDalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
family in Ootacamund
Ootacamund
Ootacamund , is a town, a municipality and the district capital of the Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Ootacamund is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills...
, Nilgiris district in 1889. Due to his adverse financial circumstances, Munuswamy Pillai could afford little formal education and was forced to take up a job as a clerk at the age of twenty. After a successful stint as a clerk, Munuswamy Pillai set up his own business in 1925.
Public life
Munuswamy Pillai was nominated to the Madras Legislative CouncilMadras 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...
in 1926 representing the depressed classes. He supported the policies of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Rajaji's cabinet from 1937 to 1939.
Later life
Munuswamy Pillai retired from public life following the resignation of the Congress ministry in 1939. He returned to politics and was later elected to the Indian Constituent Assembly from Madras in 1946. He contested and lost the 1952 parliamentary electionsIndian general election in Madras, 1951
The Indian general election, 1951 was the first democratic national election held in India after Independence, and the polls in Tamil Nadu were held for 62 seats. This state had the second largest number of seats, after Uttar Pradesh, because part of current Andhra Pradesh was part of the state of...
from Tindivanam
Tindivanam (Lok Sabha constituency)
Tindivanam was a Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu. After delimitation in 2009, it is defunct.-Assembly segments:Tindivanam Lok Sabha constituency was composed of the following assembly segments :...
as a Indian National Congress candidate. He died on December 14, 1953 at the 63. A special resolution was passed by the Madras Legislative Assembly condoling his death.