Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | History
Why in News?
Recently, President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a statue of C. Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing the bust of Edwin Lutyens.
Born in – 10 December 1878, Thorapalli village, Salem district (present-day Krishnagiri), Madras Province.
Parents – Chakravarti Iyengar (also known as Venkata Arya), Munsif of Hosur Taluka.
Early Activism – Influence of Tilak – Inspired by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s call for complete freedom, and later joined the Indian National Congress and began active political engagement.
Salem Municipality (1917) – Nominated Chairman; used office to serve the poor and downtrodden.
Public Service – Transitioned from a successful legal career to full-time public life.
Ideology – Ardent Gandhian who combined nationalism with social and economic reform.
Advocated abolition of Zamindari, promotion of Khadi and village industries, and prohibition.
Later opposed excessive state control and founded the Swatantra Party in 1959, supporting a market economy and limited government intervention.
Freedom Struggle – Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) – Gave up lucrative legal practice and adopted Gandhi’s call to promote Khadi and asked his sons to leave college for national work.
Khilafat Support – Mobilised people in Madras Presidency by aligning with the Khilafat cause to strengthen mass participation.
Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha (1930) – Led a march from Tiruchi to Vedaranyam and broke the Salt Law.
Independent Stand on Quit India (1942) – Maintained an independent political position based on personal convictions.
Social Reform – Inducted a Dalit into the Cabinet in 1937 and worked towards the removal of caste-based disabilities.
Established an Ashram in 1925 promoting rural reconstruction, adult education, sanitation, cottage industries, and anti-liquor campaigns.
Key Titles & Posts – Governor of West Bengal (1947).
Only Indian Governor-General of India (1948–1950).
