Mudaliar was born in North Arcot district of southern India and worked as a teacher in
Ceylon before moving to Fiji in 1916 to work in agriculture. He became President of the Madras Sangam, which built the largest Indian school in Fiji. On 14 October 1932 Singh put forward a motion for common roll, seconded by Mudaliar. The Governor convinced the two to withdraw the motion so that he could discuss it with the Secretary of State. Contrary to Deo's advice, the motion was withdrawn. In February 1933, the Secretary of State informed the Legislative Council that it was impracticable to have common roll. Singh resigned and was re-elected over the same rival in by-election, but Mudaliar refused to resign. Singh took his seat in the Legislative Council, contrary to Vishnu Deo's instructions and the two evaded the common roll issue. They were denounced in public meetings organised by Deo and his associates, but Mudaliar was rewarded by the Government by being made Fiji's first Indo-Fijian
Justice of Peace. On 23 March 1934, Mudaliar and Singh introduced another motion for common roll which was defeated but its consequence was that new motion could not be introduced immediately after next election. Fully aware that they would not be able to retain their seats in the next election, Singh and Mudaliar accepted the Governor’s advice and moved a motion calling for members of the Legislative Council to be nominated and not elected. The motion was passed but the Colonial Office implemented a compromise, combining election and nomination. The Legislative Council was increased to 31, made up of 15 unofficial members, made up of 5 members from each ethnic group, and 16 official members (usually heads of departments). All the
Fijian seats were to be nominated by the
Great Council of Chiefs, but three each of the Indian and
European seats were to be elected on
communal franchise and the remaining two filled through nomination. Mudaliar and Singh did not stand in the
1937 elections, although Singh was nominated into the Legislative Council by the Governor. He died in the
Colonial War Memorial Hospital in
Suva on 23 December 1942. == References ==