O. V. Alagesan

Ozhalur Viswanatha Mudaliar Alagesan (6 September 1911 – 3 January 1992) was an Indian politician and freedom fighter from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He served as a Member of parliament, Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1957, 1962 to 1967 and from 1971 to 1980.

Politics Alagesan was a member of the Constituent Assembly and Provisional Parliament from 1946 to 1951. In 1952, he was elected Member of Parliament from Chingleput. He lost the elections in 1957 but was re-elected in 1962. He supported the anti Hindi agitation and opposed the Central Government's language policy. On 11 February 1965, he and C.Subramaniam two union ministers from Madras state, resigned protesting the Union government's language policy. After Shastri's assurances to Tamils that English would continue to be used for centre-state and intrastate communications and that the All India Civil Services examination would continue to be conducted in English, he and C.Subramaniam withdrew their resignations. He also served as a Member of Parliament from Tiruthani from 1971 to 1977 and Arakkonam from 1977 to 1980.

He was known for his work in social reform and administration.

Alagesan served as India's Ambassador to Ethiopia from 1968 to 1971.

Indian Independence Movement He took active part in the Indian Independence movement. He discontinued studies in 1930 to join Salt Satyagraha movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and suffered imprisonment; participated in (i) Civil Disobedience movement; (ii) Individual Satyagraha movement; (iii) Quit India movement; and was imprisoned for more than three years.

Contribution to education He was Founder-President of Bhaktavatsalam Educational Trust registered in 1958, which runs the following institutions; (i) Bhaktavalsalam Shastiabda Purthi High School, Athur; (ii) Bhaktavatsalam Polytechnic, Kancheepuram, (iii) Sarojini Varadappan Girls High School, Poonamalle, all in Chengalpatttu District; (iv) Brindavan Public School, Athur, Chengalpattu District, (v) a branch of the above school at Coonoor, Nilgiri District and (vi) another branch at Kodaikanal.

Death Alagesan died on 3 January 1992 at the age of 81.