Raja Sir Savalai Ramaswami Mudaliar (1840–1911) was an Indian merchant, d''ubash'', politician and philanthropist who was known for his wealth. He was also one of the early leaders of the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British E ...

Early life

Ramaswami Mudaliar was born in 1840 to a building contractor in a

Sengunthar Sengunthar (), also known as the Kaikolar and Senguntha Mudaliyar is a Tamil caste commonly found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and also in some other parts of South India and the neighboring country Sri Lanka. They were traditional weavers ...

family from Pondicherry. His father had been declared insolvent and moved to Madras in order to escape creditors. Ramaswami Mudaliar joined Dymes and Co. and soon rose to become its ''dubash''and As ''dubash'', Ramaswami Mudaliar amassed a huge fortune.

Philanthropy

Mudaliar was known for his philanthropic activities in Madras Presidency. He established choultries at Park Town near Central railway station and one at Thirukazugukundram in memory of his first wife Ranee Thyal Nayagi Ammal hospitals in Madras Royapuram, Thirukazhgukundram, Cuddalore and Kanchipuram apart from a library in Madras He built a child-care hospital in Cuddalore which is presently being maintained by the Cuddalore municipality. In 1884, Mudaliar started a choultry near Chennai Central railway station. This Choultry survived till the 1969s latter taken over by AG &OT of Madras High Court and the charities are continuing till today. The government Women and Children hospital at Kozhikode was established in 1903 by Raja Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar in memory of Majesty Queen Victoria and was handed over to the Government on 22nd September 1903 In 1902, Mudaliar was chosen to represent the city of Madras at the coronation of King

Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...

and Queen Alexandra scheduled for June that year. The coronation was postponed when the king fell ill, and Mudaliar returned to India in July, missing the rescheduled coronation the following month.

Indian Independence Movement

Mudaliar was associated with the Indian National Union and was a part of its 1885 three-member delegation to England.

Indian National Evolution Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asi ...

, Pg 136 He was also associated with the Indian National Congress in its early stages.

, Pg 186 Mudaliar also participated in the third session of the Indian National Congress held at Madras in 1887. Besant, Pg 62 He was a part of the welcoming committee. Besant, Pg 51 A resolution was moved demanding more representation for Indians in the administration. Besant, Pg 60 Ramaswami Mudaliar endorsed the resolution and spoke: On the third day of the Madras session, Mudaliar moved an amendment suggesting that the question of establishing a Public Service Commission be postponed to the next session. Besant, Pg 65 Ramaswami Mudaliar also participated in the fifth session of the Indian National Congress held in 1889. Besant, Pg 81 He also participated in subsequent sessions of the Indian National Congress. In the 1894 Congress, he proposed Alfred Webb for the presidency of the Congress and he was duly elected. Besant, Pg 183

Death

Mudaliar died in 1911 at the age of 71 and was buried at his private burial ground at Kilapuk Garden Road Kilpauk,

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

. His statue was erected by his friends which is kept in the Choultry.

Legacy and honours

Ramaswami Mudaliar was made a Companion of the Order (C.I.E) of the Indian Empire on 6 June 1885. He was also awarded the titles of "Rao Bahadur". In 1886, he became the 158th

Sheriff of Madras The Sheriff of Madras was an apolitical titular position of authority bestowed for one year on a prominent citizen of Madras. The post was abolished in 1998. The position of Sheriff of Madras was created in the Madras Charter of 1726 which came ...

, the first Indian to hold the post. He was knighted on 14 February 1887 in the Queen's Golden Jubilee Honours List. The title of '''

Raja ''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...

was conferred upon him as a ''personal distinction'', i.e. it was not hereditary since he was a non-royal, by Her Most Gracious Majesty. It was conferred on ''1 January 1891 at Fort William by

Marquess of Lansdowne Marquess of Lansdowne is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain created in 1784, and held by the head of the Petty-Fitzmaurice family. The first Marquess served as Prime Minister of Great Britain. Origins This branch of the Fitzmaurice famil ...

, Viceroy and Governor General of India'' ''The golden book of India, page 258

'''Narrative of the celebration of the jubilee of ... queen Victoria ... in the presidency of Madras, page 230: To be..et

' Mudaliar's birthday is celebrated each year through a public function at his choultry opposite to Central Railway station . The function is organised by Ramaswamy Mudaliar charities which is managed by AGOT of Madras High Court and Co-Trustee S.V.R.Ramprasad, great grandson of Mudaliar.

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mudaliar, S. Ramaswami 1840 births 1911 deaths Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire Knights Bachelor Indian Knights Bachelor Indian merchants Indian National Congress politicians from Puducherry Businesspeople from Puducherry Sheriffs of Madras 19th-century Indian politicians 19th-century Indian businesspeople 20th-century Indian businesspeople 20th-century Indian politicians Puducherry politicians