Chittaranjan Mukherjee was an army personal.During 2nd World War on 18.4.194312 army men was arrested and in a court marshal they were hanged for conspiracy to destroy Madras Coastal Defence Battery in Madras Penitentiary. Chittaranjan Mukherjee was among them Just before they were hanged, they shouted the slogan Bandemataram and ascent the platform for hanging.
Naval Coast Battery (Chennai)
Historical Background
In 1749, the British established the Madras Coast Battery
(MCB) as the first line of defence to defend ‘Madras Presidency’. In 1943, the
MCB was shifted to its present location with 6” and 4.5” guns and commissioned
as 5th Indian Coast Battery ‘Defiant’. This area was known as ‘Clive Battery –
Royal Puram’ (now ‘Royapuram’) and Flag Street. The MCB was manned by 05
officers and 315 combatants consisting of mixed crew of British and Indian
Officers and men.
In 1949, the MCB was handed over to Indian Army when
TA Battalion was raised and was named as ‘506 Coast Battery (TA)’. On 21 Oct
1964 the Indian Coast Batteries were taken over by Indian Navy from Indian Army
and the ICBs were renamed as Naval Coast Batteries. The 6” and 4.5” guns were
phased out in mid seventies and were replaced with one 105 MM IFG and two 40 /
60 Bofors guns.
Roles
The main roles of the Naval Coast Battey (Chennai) are:
-
- Seaward defence of harbour
- Gun fire support for Examination Service
- Air defence of port
- Surveillance and monitoring of coastline when so equipped
- Mobile gun battery for coastal defence of VA’s and VP’s.
Saving Prison Heritage
Thank you for the valuable comments in Madras Musings, March 16th, on the initiative of the Prison Department to establish a Prison Museum. All Central Prisons located in Vellore, Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai, Cuddalore, Trichy and Palayamkottai are buildings constructed over one hundred years ago, the oldest being the Vellore prison. We have planned to develop a museum covering the historical events in the respective prisons.However, your suggestion thatR. NatarajDGP Prisonswas born in- the History of Madras Penitentiary should not be off the tourist track is indeed timely and relevant. We will try to locate a suitable place near the old Central Prison complex for establishing the proposed museum.
| V. O. Chidambaram Pillai | |
|---|---|
V.O. Chidambaram
| |
| Born | September 5, 1872 Ottapidaram, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Died | November 18, 1936 Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Other names | V. O. C, Va Voo Cee, Kappal Oottiya Tamilzhan, Sekkizuththa semmal |
| Organization | Indian National Congress,Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company |
Political movement
| |
Chidambaram Pillai was born in Tirunelveli of Maharashtra on 5th Sept, 1872 as Valliappan Olaganthan Chidambaram Pillai, also known as Kappalottiya Tamilan. He was popularly known as V.O.C.
He was a disciple of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. When Chidambaram was six years old he learnt Tamil from the teacher Veeraperumal Annavi. He heard stories about Lord Shiva from his grandmother and stories from Ramayana from his grandfather. He heard stories from Mahabharatha told by Allikulam Subramanya Pillai. As a child, he played goli (marbles), kabaddi, horse riding, swimming, stilt walking, archery, wrestling, silambattam and chess.
He learnt English from a Taluk Officer named Krishnan in the evenings. When Krishnan was transferred, Chidambaram’s father built a school with the help of the villagers and appointed Aramvalarthanatha Pillai from Ettayapuram as the English teacher. The school was run by Fr. Adamson, a priest at Pudhiamuthur. At fourteen, Chidambaram went to Thoothukudi to continue his studies. He studied at St. Xaviers High School and Caldwell High School,Thoothukudi and Hindu College High School, Tirunelveli.
Chidambaram worked as Taluk office clerk for some time before his father sent him to Tiruchirappalli to study Law. He passed his Pleadership exam in 1894, returning to Ottapidaram to become a pleader in 1895.
In Chennai, Chidambaram met Ramakrishnananthar, a saint who belonged to Swami Vivekananda Ashram (monastery), who advised him to "do something for the nation". Here he met the Tamil poet Bharathiyaar who shared his political ideology. The two men became close friends.
In the 1890s and 1900s India’s independence movement and the Swadeshi movement, initiated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai of Indian National Congress (INC), were at their peak. From 1892 Chidambaram was influenced by Tilak Maharaj, and became his disciple.[2] Along withSubramanya Siva and Subramanya Bharathi, he became a prominent spokesperson for the cause in Madras Presidency. Following the partition of Bengal in 1905 Chidambaram entered politics, joining the Indian National Congress and taking a hardliner stance. He also presided at the Salem District Congress session.
Companies and institutions
Chidambaram established many institutions like Swadeshi Prachar Sabha, Dharmasanga Nesavu Salai, National Godown, Madras Agro-Industrial Society Ltd and Desabimana Sangam.
In response to the British India Steam Navigation Company's trade monopoly, Chidambaram started an Indian-owned shipping company. He registered the Swadeshi Shipping Company in October 1906.[3][4] The capital of the company was ten lakh rupees. The number of shares was 40,000 and the face value of each share was Rs.25/-.[4] Any Asian could become a share holder. The Director of the Company was Mr.Pandi Thurai Thevar, a Zamindar and the President of “Madurai Tamil Sangam”. Janab Haji Mohammed Bakir Seit paid Rs.2 lakh for 8000 shares, which was the first capital for the Company.
In the beginning, the Company didn’t own any ships, instead leasing them from Shawline Steamers Company. The B.I.S.N.C. pressured Shawline Steamers to cancel the lease; in response, Chidambaram leased a single large freighter from Sri Lanka. Realizing the need for the Swadeshi Shipping Company to own its own vessels, Chidambaram travelled around India selling shares in the company to raise capital. He vowed, “I will come back with Ships. Otherwise I will perish in the sea”. He managed to secure sufficient funds to purchase the company's first ship, the S.S. Galia;[5] shortly afterwards they were able to acquire the S.S. Lavo from France.
In response to the new competition, the B.I.S.N.C reduced the fare per trip to Re.1 (16 annas) per head. Swadeshi company responded by offering a fare of Re.0.5 (8 Annas). The British company went further by offering a free trip to the passengers plus a free umbrella; however, nationalist sentiment meant that the free service was underused. The B.I.S.N.C. attempted to buy out Chidambaram, but he refused the deal.
The ships commenced regular service between Tuticorin and Colombo (Sri Lanka), against opposition from British traders and the Imperial Government.
Coral Mill strike
On February 23, 1908 Chidambaram gave a speech at Thoothukudi, encouraging the workers at Coral Mill (now part of Madura Coats) to protest against their low wages and harsh working conditions. Four days later, the workers of the Coral Mill went on strike. Chidambaram and Subramanya Siva led the strike. Their demands were included incremental earnings, weekly holidays and other leave facilities.
Chidambaram ensured the strike was widely publicized, and it quickly gained popular support. On March 6 the head clerk Subramanya Pillai met Chidambaram and said that the management was ready to concede their demands. Chidambaram went with 50 workers and met the managers, who agreed to increase the wages, to reduce the working hours and to give leave on Sundays. The workers went back after a nine-day strike. The outcome of the strike encouraged the workers of other European companies, who also gained increased wages and better treatment.Sri Aurobindo appreciated Chidambaram and Siva for the unequalled skill and courage with which the fight was conducted in his Vande Mataram daily on 13-03-1908.
Arrest and imprisonment
By 1908, Chidambaram's political involvement drew the attention of the British. Hearing of his intention to speak at a rally celebrating the release of Bengali leader Bipin Chandra Pal, Mr Winch, a British official invited Chidambaram to meet him in Thirunelveli with his political comrade Subramanya Siva. At the meeting, Winch expressed concern at Chidambaram's activities and asked him to give assurances that he would not participate in any political revolt. Chidambaram refused to accept his conditions, and so he and Siva were arrested on March 12, 1908.
The arrest met with widespread protest. In Thirunelveli shops, schools and colleges were closed in protest, and rioting broke out. Thirunelveli municipal office, post offices, police stations and municipal courts were attacked. A general strike was declared in Thoothukudi, which was the first political strike in India. Public meetings and processions were held, and four people were killed by the police.
Although his supporters were able to raise sufficient funds for bail, Chidambaram refused to leave the jail without the release of Siva and his other comrades. Subramanya Bharathi and Subramanya Siva also appeared in the court for questioning for the case instituted against Chidambaram. He was charged under sections 123-A and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code for speaking against the British and giving shelter to Siva. Chidambaram refused to take part in the proceedings.
He was charged with sedition and a sentence of two life imprisonments (in effect 40 years) was imposed. He was confined in the Central Prison, Coimbatore (from 9 July 1908 to 1 December 1910).
The judgement was wideley condemned in the popular press, with even the British Statesmen magazine claiming that it was unjust. Chidambaram appealed the sentence in High Court, gaining a reduced punishment of 4 years imprisonment and 6 years in exile. An appeal to the Privy Council led to a further reduction in sentence.
Chidambaram was interned in Coimbatore and Kannanoor jail. He was not treated as a 'political prisoner’, nor was the sentence 'simple imprisonment’, he was rather treated as a convict sentenced to life imprisonment and required to do hard labour, which caused his health to suffer. The historian and Tamil scholar, R. A. Padmanabhan, would later note in his works that Chidambaram was "yoked (in place of bulls) to the oil press like an animal and made to work it in the cruel hot sun....” From prison Chidambaram continued correspondence, maintaining a steady stream of legal petitions. He was finally released on December 12, 1912.
To his dismay, the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company had already been liquidated in 1911, and the ships auctioned to their competitors. The company's first ship, the S.S. Gallio was sold to the British Shipping Company.
Later life
Upon Chidambaram’s release he was not permitted to return to his Tirunelveli district. With his law license stripped from him he moved to Chennai with his wife and two young sons. There he ran a provisions store and a kerosene store.
In 1920, Chidambaram withdrew from the Indian National Congress, citing ideological differences withMahatma Gandhi. He focussed his efforts on establishing Labor Unions in Madras and writing.
After moving to Coimbatore Chidambaram worked as a bank manager. Dissatisfied with the income, he petitioned the court seeking permission to practise law again. Judge E.H. Wallace gave permission to restore Chidambaram's pleadership license; to show his gratitude Chidambaram named his last son Valacewaran.
Chidambaram moved to Kovilpatti and practised as a lawyer. He rejoined the Congress party in 1927 and presided over the third political conference held at Salem. He said that he wanted to join Congress again because he noticed a remarkable change in the policies of Congress and he was happy to note that the policies which he did not approve of were withdrawn one by one. However, after the Salem conference Chidambaram again severed his contact with Congress.
In 1932 he moved to Thoothukudi, where he spent his time writing and publishing Tamil books.
Written works
- Meyyaram 1914.
- Meyyarivu 1915
- Anthology 1915
- Autobiography 1946
- Many articles in various magazines
- Translation works
- Literary notes of Thirukural
Published works
- Thirukural with literary notes of Manakudavar 1917
- Tolkappiam with literary notes of Ilampooranar 1928.
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