V. I. Munuswamy Pillai
Rao Sahib Vellore Iyyasamy Munuswamy Pillai | |
|---|---|
 Portrait from the Haripura Congress Souvenir, 1938 | |
| Member of Constituent Assembly of India | |
| In office 9 December 1946 – 24 January 1950 | |
| Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Madras Presidency) | |
| In office 14 July 1937 – 9 October 1939 | |
| Premier | C. Rajagopalachari |
| Governor | John Erskine, Lord Erskine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1889 Ootacamund, Madras Presidency |
| Died | 14 December 1953 Madras |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Profession | businessman |
Rao Sahib Vellore Iyyasamy Munuswamy Pillai (23 February 1889 – 14 December 1953) also spelled as Munisami Pillai, was an Indian businessman, politician, Scheduled Caste activist and activist of the Indian independence movement who served as the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in the government of C. Rajagopalachari from 1937 to 1939.
Early life
Munuswamy Pillai was born in a poor(Inter caste married) family in Ootacamund, Nilgiris district in 1889. Due to his adverse financial circumstances, Munuswamy Pillai could afford little formal education and was forced to take up a job as a clerk at the age of twenty. After a successful stint as a clerk, Munuswamy Pillai set up his own business in 1925.
Public life
Munuswamy Pillai was nominated to the Madras Legislative Council in 1926 representing the depressed classes. Under the presidency of V. I. Munusamy Pillai 'The All India DC Congress' (2nd Conference) was held at Nagpur in May 1932.[1] He supported the policies of the Indian National Congress and served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Rajaji's cabinet from 1937 to 1939.
Later life
Munuswamy Pillai retired from public life following the resignation of the Congress ministry in 1939. He returned to politics and was later elected to the Indian Constituent Assembly from Madras in 1946.[2] In the Constituent Assembly of India on 22 July 1947 for the adoption of the National Flag he said, "It is not to be the Flag of the rich or the wealthy but it is to be the Flag of the depressed, oppressed and submerged classes all over our country."[3] He contested and lost the 1952 parliamentary elections from Tindivanam as an Indian National Congress candidate.[4] He died on 14 December 1953 at the 63.[5] A special resolution was passed by the Madras Legislative Assembly condoling his death.[5]
Notes
- ^ Ambeth, அம்பேத்: One of the stalwarts V. I. Muniswamy Pillay on Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly of India
- ^ Members of the Constituent Assembly
- ^ Ambeth, அம்பேத்: V. I. Muniswamy Pillai on the National Flag of India
- ^ ECI report on 1951 election
- ^ a b "Resume of the 1st Madras Legislative Assembly (1952–1957) Chapter XIV:Motions and Resolutions" (PDF). Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.