C. Rajagopalachari

Birth of C. Rajagopalachari

C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), later Chief Minister of Madras and the last Governor-General of India, was born at Thorapalli.

Gandhi conceives the Rowlatt hartal in Madras

While staying with C. Rajagopalachari in Madras, Gandhi conceived a nationwide hartal against the Rowlatt Act, observed on 6 April 1919.

Buckingham and Carnatic Mills strike

Workers of the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills in Madras went on a prolonged strike against Binny and Co. over wages and conditions.

Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha

C. Rajagopalachari led a march from Tiruchirappalli to Vedaranyam to break the salt law, the Tamil counterpart of the Dandi March.

Prohibition introduced in Salem district

The Rajaji ministry introduced prohibition of liquor in Salem district, the first such experiment in the Presidency.

Congress wins 1937 Madras Presidency election

The Indian National Congress won a large majority in the first Madras Legislative Assembly election under provincial autonomy, routing the Justice Party.

C. Rajagopalachari forms first Congress ministry

C. Rajagopalachari became Premier of Madras at the head of the first Congress government in the Presidency.

Compulsory Hindi order and first anti-Hindi agitation

The Rajaji government's move to make Hindi compulsory in schools triggered a large anti-Hindi agitation led by Periyar, the Justice Party and Tamil scholars.

Madras Agriculturists Relief Act eases peasant debt

A law to reduce the debts of indebted farmers in the Madras Presidency was brought in by the Rajagopalachari ministry.

Madras Temple Entry Authorization and Indemnity Act

A law passed by the Rajagopalachari ministry lifted the bars on Dalits and Shanars entering Hindu temples across the Presidency.

Dalits enter Madurai Meenakshi Temple

A. Vaidyanatha Iyer led a group of Dalits and Nadars into the Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, defying orthodox opposition.

Congress ministry resigns over the Second World War

The Rajagopalachari ministry resigned in protest against the Viceroy declaring India at war without consultation, and Governor's rule followed.

Rajagopalachari resigns from Congress over Pakistan resolution

C. Rajagopalachari left the Congress after his proposals to negotiate with the Muslim League were rejected, and opposed Quit India.

Rajagopalachari's C. R. formula

C. Rajagopalachari's proposal to resolve the Congress and Muslim League deadlock became the basis of the 1944 Gandhi and Jinnah talks.

T. Prakasam becomes Premier of Madras

T. Prakasam was elected Congress legislature leader and formed a ministry, defeating the candidate backed by Rajagopalachari.

C. Rajagopalachari becomes Governor-General of India

C. Rajagopalachari succeeded Lord Mountbatten as Governor-General, the only Indian to hold the office.

First general election; Rajaji forms government

After the first general election left Congress short of a majority, C. Rajagopalachari was sworn in as Chief Minister of Madras State.

Rajaji's Modified Scheme of Elementary Education

Rajaji's two-shift school scheme, criticised as Kula Kalvi Thittam (hereditary education), triggered protests and was later dropped.

Rajaji and C. V. Raman among first Bharat Ratna recipients

C. Rajagopalachari and the physicist C. V. Raman, both from Tamil Nadu, were among the three first recipients of the Bharat Ratna.

K. Kamaraj becomes Chief Minister

After Rajaji's resignation, K. Kamaraj became Chief Minister of Madras State and served for over nine years.

Rajaji founds the Swatantra Party

Leaving the Congress, C. Rajagopalachari launched the Swatantra Party, which went on to ally with the DMK against Congress.

DMK wins the 1967 Assembly election

A DMK-led alliance defeated the Congress, ending Congress rule in Madras State; Kamaraj lost his own seat.

Prohibition suspended in Tamil Nadu

The Karunanidhi government suspended prohibition and permitted the sale of arrack and toddy, before stopping it again in 1974.

Death of C. Rajagopalachari

C. Rajagopalachari, once Governor-General, Chief Minister of Madras and founder of the Swatantra Party, died in Madras at 94.