P. Thyagarayar

Dewan Bahadur Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty (27 April 1852 – 28 April 1925) also known as P. Theagarayar, was an Indian lawyer, industrialist, and prominent political leader from the erstwhile Madras province. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party in 1916, along with C. Natesa Mudaliar, Dr. T. M. Nair. Theagaraya Nagar is a locality in Chennai that is named after him. He was awarded the title Rao Bahadur in 1909 He was knighted in 1920. After graduating from Presidency College, Madras he served as a corporator and legislator. He had an avid interest in politics and served as a member of the Indian National Congress before founding the South Indian Liberal Federation in 1917. He served as president of the federation from 1917 until his death in 1925.

Early life

Chetty was born in a Telugu Devanga family in Egathur, Madras Presidency on 27 April 1852. He did his schooling in Chennai and graduated in law from Presidency College, Madras. He was married to Valliammal and had one son and seven daughters.

Public life and as an Industrialist He was a pioneering industrialist, merchant prince, and civic leader in the erstwhile Madras Presidency, who successfully managed large-scale ventures in textiles, tanning, and trade while helping shape modern South Indian commerce On graduation, he entered public life and served as a member of the Corporation of Madras from 1882 to 1922. He was the first non-official president of the Madras Corporation. from 1910 to 1921. When the Industrial Conference came to Madras, Theagaraya Chetty was the chairman of the Reception Committee.

His Family owned Satyavedu town in Andhra to Manellore town in Tamilnadu. They also owned 40 to 50 kal nilam in and around chennai. 1 kal in Tamil land system is equal to 1.609 Km. His family owned 50 * 1.609 = 80kms in perimeter of land in Chennai. When Theagaraya was studying in school, he did not reveal that he is from a very rich family. However, the correspondent of the school, William, identified Theagaraya's family and gave him a grand send off ceremony when he completed his education. Lands donated by Theagaraya to British for the welfare of poor are now called Kamarajar Nagar, Indira Nagar, etc. Kalayanasundaranar in his valkai kurippu book in page 44 has mentioned the opulence of the palace at Balamurali street in Thandaiyar Pet owned by family of Theagaraya. Saluva clan which the historian has mentioned represents the Saluva Dynasty of Vijaya Nagar Empire.

Peer of Satyavedu Devanga was PadaVedu Raya Devanga

The Dravidian Movement

The Madras Non-Brahmin Association was formed in 1909 by two lawyers from Madras city, P. Subramanyam and M. Purushotham Naidu. Sir Theagaroya Chetty did not involve himself in the movement until 1912, when the Madras United League (later renamed the Madras Dravidian Association) was formed. Dr. T. M. Nair was its first editor.

The South Indian People's Association was later formed as the mouthpiece of non-Brahmins, with organising the media arm of the non-Brahmin Movement as its main objective. District and city boards were established all over the Presidency.

In the initial stages, the Justice Party concentrated its energies on work of a social nature rather than political. During this period, the Justice Party held all-India non-Brahmin conferences to unite non-Brahmins all over the country. The Justice Party argued for separate electorates and reservations in government jobs and civil service for non-Brahmins at the British Parliament in London. In 1919, Dr. T. M. Nair, the President of the Justice Party and leader of the delegation, died in London at the age of 51 and was succeeded as president by Theagaraya Chetty.

In 1916, transactions were made in pie.192 pies make Rs.1 According to a 2010 article published in Times of India, 1 ground in T Nagar was sold for Rs. 200 in 1930. In 2010, 1 ground in T Nagar was sold for Rs.10 crores. Number of grounds for Rs.1 crore in year 1930 = 10000000/200 = 50000 grounds. In 2010, Cost of 50000 grounds in T Nagar = 50000 * 10 crores = 5 lakh crores. This is based on 1930 Rupee valuation. In 1916, the value of Rupee would have been way too higher.

1920 elections

When elections were held in December 1920 in the Madras Presidency as per the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms, the Justice Party obtained a comfortable majority by winning 63 seats out of 98. The Governor of Madras invited Theagaraya Chetty to form the government. However, Theagaraya Chetty refused on account of the ethical rule that the head of a political party can't hold a post in the cabinet either.

Attitude towards Brahmins In his speech as the president of the Reception Committee of the First Non-Brahmin Confederation, Theagaraya Chetty said:

Death and legacy

Theagaraya Chetty died on 28 April 1925, He is usually credited with the victories of the Justice Party in the 1920 and 1923 elections and for turning the Justice Party into a formidable force in the Presidency that continued to be so for a couple of decades.

The locality of Thyagaraya Nagar (T. Nagar) in Chennai is named after him. It is an important commercial centre today.