Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: DD News
Subject: History
Context: Prime Minister of India paid tribute to C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) on his birth anniversary, recalling his role as a freedom fighter, thinker, statesman, and India’s last Governor-General.
About C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji):
Who he was?
• Rajagopalachari (1878–1972), popularly known as Rajaji, was a freedom fighter, jurist, writer, statesman, and the first and only Indian Governor-General of India. Gandhi famously called him “the keeper of my conscience.”
Early Life:
• Born on 10 December 1878 in Thorapalli, Tamil Nadu; educated in Hosur, Bangalore, and Presidency College, Madras.
• Began his career as a successful criminal lawyer in Salem before joining public life in 1917 as Chairman of Salem Municipality.
Key Contributions to India’s Freedom Movement:
• Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919): Led major protests in Madras Presidency; addressed mass meetings on Marina Beach.
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Among the first to give up a thriving law practice; mobilised Tamil Nadu against British rule.
• Khilafat Movement: Earned the esteem of Muslims by actively supporting Khilafat committees and provincial agitations.
• Vedaranyam Salt March (1930): Led the Tamil equivalent of Gandhi’s Dandi March, inspiring thousands across the region.
• Civil Disobedience & Quit India: Imprisoned multiple times; remained a close strategist of Gandhi throughout.
Post-Independence Roles:
• Governor of West Bengal (1947–48) during the turbulent post-partition phase.
• Governor-General of India (1948–50): Last person to hold the office, abolishing it upon India becoming a republic.
• Home Minister of India (1950): Succeeded Sardar Patel.
• Chief Minister of Madras State (1952–54): Implemented administrative reforms, dealt firmly with police strikes, and introduced contentious education policies.
Unique Facts:
• Only Indian to serve as Governor-General of India.
• Founder of the Swatantra Party (1959) — India’s first major liberal-conservative, pro-market political party.
• Gandhi’s closest ideological counsellor, described as his “moral compass.”
• Coined the slogan: “English ever, Hindi never” in later years, advocating linguistic choice.
• Known for his sharp intellect, minimalism, wit, and uncompromising integrity.