C. P. Ramaswami Iyer

C.P. Ramaswami Iyer belonged to a Tamil Brahmin Iyer family whose ancestral place was the town of Chetput in the North Arcot of Tamil Nadu. Ramaswami Iyer's family originated from the group which inherited the village of Chetput. C.P.'s grandfather, Chetput Ramaswami Iyer served the British East India Company as Tehsildar of Kumbakonam. His family was deeply attached to the Sringeri mutt. == Early life and education ==

Ramaswami Iyer was born in a Tamil-speaking Iyer Brahmin family on Deepavali day (13 November) 1879, to C. R. Pattabhirama Iyer(1857–1902), a prominent judge, and his wife, Seethalakshmi Ammal (also called Rangammal) in the town of Wandiwash, North Arcot. Ramaswami had his schooling at the Wesley College High School in Madras. He had an extremely strict upbringing as a result of a prediction that the child would not pass a single exam in his life. In college, C.P. Ramaswami Iyer won prizes in English, Sanskrit and Mathematics and the Elphinstone Prize for his paper on the Nebular theory. Ramaswami passed his degree with a gold medal and graduated with distinction from the Madras Law College. == As a lawyer ==

In 1903, C.P. joined V. Krishnaswamy Iyer as an apprentice. Just before the death of Pattabhirama Iyer the same year, he arranged for C.P.'s admission as a junior to Sir V. Bhashyam Aiyangar but the latter was not able to accommodate him. As a result, C.P. practised on his own and was known as a lawyer, inheriting the case-books of his father-in-law, C.V. Sundara Sastri, and his brothers-in-law, Sir C.V. Kumaraswami Sastri, and C.V. Viswanatha Sastri, who were recently elevated to justices of the High Court. He fought and won over 300 cases, Forty-two minutes, my Lord, he once announced to a judge who asked him how much time he would need to finish a case; the next several years saw him win in some of the highest-profile cases of the time, including the Ashe murder trial as well as representing the Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar and the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, earning a considerable private fortune, and rising to become the most powerful man in the Madras presidency for decades., having cultured intimately close, even inappropriate friendships with Lord and Lady Willingdon. In 1920, then-Governor Lord Willingdon appointed him he the youngest-ever Advocate-General of Madras, during which tenure his income rose to an unprecedented 4,000 rupees, and in which capacity he would serve as premier state prosecutor for four years, until his subsequent promotion to the Governor's Executive Law Council, and, subsequently, the Viceregal Imperial War Council. Sir. C.P. stint on the Executive Law Council was marked by an intense commitment to industrialization and lowering the levelized post of power, with C.P. championing initiatives ranging from the introduction of hydroelectricity to the Mettur, Pykara and Bhavani projects and for the development of the Cochin, Tuticorin and Vishakhapatanam ports. His superintending the completion of the hydreoelectric project at the high-altitude Pykara in until three years to completion, at an expenditure of less than 6.75 crores was particularly heralded. The more-expensive Mettur initiative, inccuring capital outlays of 385 lakh rupees, nonetheless rendered over 328,396 acres in Tanjore District fully irrigated, with excess electric power being made available downstream. In 1920, C.P was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly from the Tanjore-Trichinopoly constituency in the vacancy caused by the resignation of A. Rangaswamy Iyenga. On 10 July 1930, which was the first meeting of the Assembly that C.P attended, the House was debating the Simon Commission Report on a cut motion. In 1928, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly and later to the Council of Imperial State State; further immediate distinctions followed in the form of further appointments of honour during this period included as the Indian envoy to the first and second League of Nations, and to the Third Round Table Conference. Formal decorations rapidly followed: Sir C.P. was made a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire in 1926, and a Knight Commander of the Star of India in 1941, continually buoyed by powerful support from the likes of the Willingdons and the Junior Maharani of Travancore. Sir C.P., at the request of his old friend the Junior Maharani of Travancore, also acceded to take on a further portfolio as the underage Maharaja's constitutional and legal adviser - a sum for which he was now earning 72,000 rupees a year. == Indian Independence Movement ==

In his early days, C.P. was an admirer of Gopal Krishna Gokhale and desired to join the Servants of India society in Poona. Besant, however, later got the verdict annulled by appealing to the Privy Council in England. C.P. developed an admiration for Annie Besant In 1917, he became the Secretary of the Indian National Congress. He edited Besant's newspaper, New India, during her incarceration. == As a member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras ==

In 1920, C.P. was nominated as the Advocate-General of Madras Presidency. He was responsible for the introduction of the City Municipalities Act and the Madras Local Boards Act. In 1923, he was nominated to the executive council of the Governor of Madras and was charged with the portfolios of law and order, police, Public Works Department, irrigation, ports and electricity. As a member of the executive council, C. P. laid the foundation of the Pykara Dam which was constructed between 1929 and 1932 at a cost of Rs. 67.5 million. He also started the construction of Mettur Dam over the Cauvery river. the Mettur project was used to irrigate vast areas of Tanjore and Trichy districts. As the member in charge of ports, C.P. was also responsible for the improvement of Cochin, Visakhapatnam and Tuticorin ports. However, owing to strong protests from devadasis across Madras Presidency, C.P. suggested that the bill be introduced only as a private bill and not a government measure. By 1931, he was a Law Member of the Government of India and, in 1932, attended the Third Round Table Conference at London. In 1933, he was the sole Indian delegate to the World Economic Conference and the next year he drafted a constitution for the state of Kashmir. == Diwan of Travancore ==

File:ഭക്തി_വിലാസം._തിരുവിതാംകൂർ_ദിവാന്മാരുടെ_ഔദ്യോഗിക_വസതി._(1900).jpg|Bhakti Vilas - official palace Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer as Diwan File:Bhaktivilas.jpg|Secondary view File:Palace_of_Trivandrum.jpg|Kowdiar Palace - official residence of the Junior Maharani and her son, the underage monarch, as well as a frequent site for the Diwan to personally counsel the Maharani In 1931, when Chithira Thirunal was barred from succeeding his deceased uncle as the Maharaja of Travancore, C.P. spoke on his behalf to the Viceroy of India. The Viceroy agreed to crown Chithira Thirunal but only on the condition that C.P. should function as adviser to the young monarch. C.P. agreed and served as Legal and Constitutional adviser and Regent to the prince from 1931 to 1936, drawing comensation of 72,000 rupees a year for his direct services. Travancore-Quilon Bank Collapse Temple Entry Proclamation On 12 November 1936, Maharajah Chithira Thirunal issued the revolutionary Temple Entry Proclamation which gave Hindus of all castes and classes, including Dalits or untouchables, the right to enter Hindu temples in the state. This was bitterly opposed by conservative, yet influential upper-caste Hindus who posed a grave-threat to the life of the Diwan. This proclamation earned for the Maharajah and his Diwan the praise of Mahatma Gandhi and other reformers. The first fertiliser plant in India, the Fertilizers and Chemicals of Travancore Ltd. (FACT) was established by C. P. to manufacture ammonium sulphate. This was established with American collaboration in open defiance to the hostility of the Viceroy of India. The Travancore Rayons Limited was established in 1946 with a plant at Perumbavoor. The first plant to manufacture aluminium cables was opened at Kundara. Supported by the Diwan, C.P., Chithira Thirunal issued a declaration of independence on 18 June 1947. Family sources indicate that C.P. himself was not in favour of independence but only greater autonomy, and that a favourable agreement had been reached between C.P. and the Indian representatives by 23 July 1947 but accession to the Indian Union could not be carried out only because it was pending approval by the Raja. On the other hand, noted historian Ramachandra Guha has written about how C.P., egged on by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, had established secret ties with senior Ministers of the British Government, who encouraged him in the hope that he would give them privileged access to monazite, a material Travancore was rich in and which could give the British a lead in the nuclear arms race. Nevertheless, an assassination attempt was made on C.P. on 25 July 1947 during a concert commemorating the anniversary of Swati Thirunal. C.P. survived with multiple stab wounds and hastened the accession of Travancore state to the Indian Union soon after his recovery. == Later years ==

After he resigned his Dewanship of Travancore, C. P. left for London. In the same year, he visited Brazil on the invitation of the Government of Brazil and Argentina, Peru and Mexico as a tourist. He also visited the United States, where he gave talks at the University of California, Berkeley, and had discussions with important bank executives, journalists and US President Harry S. Truman. From 1 July 1954 to 2 July 1956, he served as the Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. From 26 January 1955, C.P. also served as a Vice Chancellor of Annamalai University, thereby becoming the first Indian to function as Vice Chancellor of two universities at the same time. In 1953, C.P. was appointed member of the Press Commission of India. Two years later, C.P. toured China as the leader of an Indian universities delegation. the Punjab Commission (1961), the National Integration Committee on Regionalism, the Chairman of the Hindu Religious Endowments Commission from 1960 to 1962, and President of the Inter-University board of India and Ceylon (1965). == Death ==

In September 1966, C.P. left for England to conduct research on a planned book titled "A History of My Times" at the India Office library. At about 11:30 am, on 26 September 1966, he was in the National Liberal Club (where he had been a member for over 50 years), when he suddenly slumped on his armchair while speaking to a reporter and died instantly. The following day, The Times carried the news of his death: Condolences were also offered by C. Rajagopalachari, Zakir Husain (then-President of India), and K. Kamaraj. == Legacy ==

C.P. was acknowledged for his talent as a lawyer, administrator and visionary. Under his leadership, Travancore became the first princely state to abolish capital punishment, first to introduce free and compulsory education and the first princely state to be connected to the rest of India by air. M. G. Ramachandran, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu recollected at C.P.'s birth centenary celebrations in 1979 that C.P. was the first to introduce the midday meal scheme in the form of the Vanchi Poor Fund in Travancore. C. N. Annadurai remarked at a speech in 1967 that C. P. was the first person in India to suggest a plan for interlinking the nation's rivers. However, his greatest achievement is believed to be the Temple Entry Proclamation which for the first time, permitted Dalits to enter Hindu temples which he introduced despite a severe threat to his life. C.P. was known for his philanthropic activities and the institutions he helped establish. While serving as a law member of the executive council of the Governor of Madras, Ramaswami Iyer's agenda for social reform and opening the doors of Hindu temples for Dalits and low-caste Hindus were praised by C. Natesa Mudaliar, one of the founders of the South Indian Liberation Federation. C. P. was a patron of arts and music and was member of experts committee consisting of some of the leading musicians and scholars to advise the Madras Music Academy. C. P. was a friend of the English writer Somerset Maugham who had a prolonged discussion with while on a visit to Trivandrum. Later, Maugham supplied a eulogy for the book, C.P. by his Contemporaries: Indian civil servant C. S. Venkatachar wrote that the Kashmir issue might have been resolved in favour of India had Jawaharlal Nehru chosen C. P. instead of Gopalaswami Ayyangar to present India's case at the United Nations. While chairing the Indian Committee on National Integration, C.P. introduced the clause making it mandatory that newly elected member of Parliament and state assemblies should take an allegiance to the Indian Union. It is believed that the introduction of this clause compelled the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to give up its goal of secession from the Indian Union. == Criticism ==

, M. O. Thomas Vakkel Modisseril(Director) and Barrister VT Thomas. While being hailed as a modernising reformer by many, C. P. is also criticised as a capitalist, authoritarian, imperialist, anti-Syrian Christian (a judeo-christian ethnic group in Travancore) and anti-Communist by some. In 1946, Communist dissent over C. P.'s policies erupted in the form of the Punnapra-Vayalar revolt which was crushed with a brutal hand by Travancore army and navy. Communist hatred over C. P.'s policies finally culminated in an assassination attempt upon the Diwan. C. P. was also labelled as a "secessionist" due to his initial reluctance in merging Travancore with the Indian Union. Jawaharlal Nehru said of his attitude towards imperialism: His attempt to negotiate a trade agreement with Pakistan on behalf of Travancore was viewed as a betrayal by most Indians. == Family ==

In 1895, at the age of 16, C. P. was married to nine-year-old Seethamma (1886–1930), granddaughter of Indian polyglot and judge C. V. Runganada Sastri and sister to High Court justices Dewan Bahadur Sir C. V. Kumaraswami Sastri and Dewan Bahadur C.V. Viswanatha Sastri, as well as cousin to Shankaracharya Bharati Krishna Tirtha Maharaj, pontiff of the Dwaraka Math, and later supreme pontiff of Smarta Hinduism at the Govardhan Math, and to the Finance Secretary of the Madras Presidency and former Tehsildar Dewan Bahadur V.S. Viswanatha Rao. She died in March 1930 leaving behind three sons, C. R. Pattabhiraman, C. R. Venkata Subban and C. R. Sundaram. Pattabhiraman participated in the Indian Independence Movement and was active in the Indian National Congress even after C. P.'s resignation from the party. Pattabhiraman was also one of the founders of the Madras Cricket Club along with P. Subbarayan. C.P.'s nephew would later go on to marry the niece and heiress to V.K. Krishna Menon. == In popular culture ==

• Somerset Maugham named a character in his 1932 novel The Narrow Corner "Ramaswami Iyer" after C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, who he had met on a visit to India. • Vaikom Muhammad Basheer wrote a collection of essays titled Dharmarajyam against the policies of C. P. Ramaswami Iyer. The book was banned and it is said that Basheer himself got these essays printed and sold them at local shops and households, going on foot. Basheer was arrested and jailed for two years later. • Veteran Tamil film actor Nassar played the role of C. P. Ramaswami Iyer in the 1998 Malayalam movie Rakthasakshikal Sindabad. == Works ==