Tamil Nadu Timeline

GovernanceMadras State (Congress era)

State emblem designed by R. Krishna Rao

· Chennai

State emblem designed by R. Krishna Rao
File:Emblem of Tamil Nadu.svg:User:NikNaks File:Emblem of India.svg: Various(see file) File:Flag_of_India.svg: various (see file) Derivative work:Perumalism Chat 08:23, 19 July 2013 (UTC), Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Designed in 1949, the Madras government's emblem combined a temple gopuram with the Lion Capital of Ashoka.

R. Krishna Rao of Madurai, who taught at the Government College of Fine Arts in Madras, designed the state emblem in 1949; the Government of Tamil Nadu later adopted it. In the design the Lion Capital of Ashoka stands before a Hindu temple gopuram, with Indian flags on either side. Its motto is Vaymaiye vellum (Truth alone triumphs). Since the state was renamed in 1969, the inscription has read Tamil Nadu Arasu.

Related events

  1. 1943

    1. 1943ChennaiCulture

      Tamil Isai Movement and Tamil Isai Sangam

      The Tamil Isai Sangam was founded in Madras to promote the singing of Tamil compositions in Carnatic concerts dominated by Telugu and Sanskrit songs.

  2. 1947

    1. 9 Oct 1947ChennaiLegislation

      Madras Devadasis (Prevention of Dedication) Act enacted

      The Madras legislature outlawed the dedication of girls to temples as devadasis, ending a long reform campaign.

    2. Aug 1947ChennaiPolitics

      Periyar calls Independence Day a day of mourning

      Periyar called for 15 August 1947 to be kept as a day of mourning, a stand Annadurai rejected, deepening the rift between them.

  3. 1949

    1. 1949ChennaiLiterature

      Subramania Bharati's works nationalised

      The Madras government nationalised the writings of poet Subramania Bharati, the first such step for any poet in India.

    2. 6 Apr 1949 to 10 Apr 1952ChennaiPolitics

      P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja becomes Premier of Madras

      P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja succeeded O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar as Premier and later became the first Chief Minister of Madras State.

  4. 1950

    1. 26 Jan 1950 to 14 Jan 1969ChennaiGovernance

      Madras State established under the Constitution

      With the Constitution of India in force, the Madras Province became Madras State, a Part A state of the Indian Republic.

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