P. Thanulinga Nadar

Paramarthalinga Thanulinga Nadar (17 February 1915 – 2 November 1988), also known simply as Thanulingam, was an Indian politician, Tamil Nadu Ellai Poratta Thyagi, and a staunch member of the now defunct Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress and would later emerge as a right-wing activist in the State. He served as a Member of Parliament with the Indian National Congress. In his later life, he served as the State President of the Hindu Munnani and played an active role in furthering Hindutva in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu in the 1980s.

Early life

Thanulinga Nadar was born on 17 February 1915 to M. Paramarthalinga Nadar in Thiruvananthapuram District (in the area comprised in present-day Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu State) of the Travancore kingdom. His parents belonged to the Nadar community of southern Travancore. His father fought against British rule. Thanulingam graduated in arts and law he was one of the active member of Marshall A.Nesamony's Travancore Tamil Nad Congress Movement. This led him in active politics. He served as a member of M.L.A. till 1956 when southern Travancore became a part of Madras state. He served as a Member of Parliament till 1962. Many Hindus embraced Christianity in Kanyakumari district due to caste oppression by Hindu uppercastes; Thanulingam, who identified with the Hindu cause, strongly opposed the conversions. In the early 1980s, he joined the Hindu right wing organisation Hindu Munnani and soon became its State President. During the visit of M.G.R. to Mandikadu, Thanulingam Nadar met him and apprised the situation to him to defuse the crisis. He advised Shiv Sena founder and supremo Bal Thackeray to shelve the hatred policy towards Tamilians staying in Maharashtra State.

Death

Thanulingam Nadar died on 2 November 1988 at the age of 73 while he was addressing a public rally in Eral, Thirunelveli district.

Family

Thanulingam married Nakshetram Ammal at an early age. She died due to diseases and he married a second time, this time to Ramanayagam Ammal. Thanulingam has two sons(Noble) and three daughters.