C. Rajagopalachari

C. Rajagopalachari was born in 1978 in Madras. He was affectionately called Rajaji. He completed his schooling in Hasur and pursued his higher studies at the Central college in Bengaluru. Then, he studied law and while pursuing his career in law, he got interested in the politics of India. He joined the Indian National Congress (INC) and acted as a legal advisor. He also participated in various movements of Indian freedom struggle including the Non-cooperation movement and Civil disobedience movement. He gave the Rajaji formula in 1944 to end the conflict between INC and Muslim league on partition. But the plan failed as it was rejected by Muslim league. He was the last Governor General of India. After Independence, he acted as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He also founded the Swatantra Party in 1959. For his contributions, he was honoured with Bharat Ratna and many other awards. Rajaji passed away in 1972. Today, his legacy continues to inspire, reminding us of the enduring values of integrity, compassion, and service to humanity.

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, often referred to as C. Rajagopalachari was born on December 10, 1878, in Thorapalli, Madras Presidency, British India (present Tamil Nadu, India). He belonged to a tamil-speaking Iyengar Brahmin family. His father, Chakravarti Venkatarya, was a respected lawyer. His mother Singaramma was a religious woman. Rajagopalachari started his early education in the village school in Thorapalli. He was brilliant in academics from a young age. His family shifted to Hosur, a town in Salem district when he was about 5 years old. He then completed his schooling in Hosur. After completing his schooling, he pursued his higher studies at the Central college in Bengaluru. Then he studied Law at the Presidency College in Chennai. While pursuing law, he got exposed to the politics of the time. After completing his legal studies, Rajagopalachari began his legal practice in Salem but he soon became involved in politics. His early experiences in law and politics laid the foundation for his future contributions to India's struggle for independence.

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, affectionately known as Rajaji, was an important figure in Indian politics. Rajaji was a leading figure in India's struggle for independence, deeply influenced by the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and played pivotal roles in the Indian National Congress, advocating for non-violence, social justice, and democratic governance. After independence, he left a lasting impact through his progressive policies and governance reforms as the Chief Minister of Madras state.

• Involvement with Indian National Congress(INC) :
  • Rajaji joined the INC during the early years of his political career. He acted as a legal advisor in the INC.
  • In 1917, as a legal advisor of INC, he defended P. V. Naidu against sedition charges.
  • He served as the General Secretary of the Congress Party during the 1920s, where he played a significant role in organizing party activities and shaping its policies.
  • He advocated for Indian self-rule (Swaraj) within the Indian National Congress and worked tirelessly to promote the Congress's goal of achieving independence from British colonial rule.


• Participation in Indian Nationalist movement
  • Non- cooperation movement : Rajaji played a significant role in the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920. He encouraged people to boycott British goods and institutions.
  • Civil disobedience movement : During the Salt Satyagraha, he provided leadership to Salt Satyagaraha in the Madras Presidency. He organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930. He encouraged Indians to refuse to cooperate with the British colonial administration and to assert their rights through peaceful resistance. For his role in the Civil disobedience movement, he was arrested multiple times by the British authorities.
  • C. Rajagopalachari did not support the Quit India movement due to his apprehensions about the British government's possible harsh crackdown on the movement and the resultant loss of lives and property. He advocated for an approach of negotiating with the British authorities to achieve independence.


• Negotiations with British authorities
  • Rajaji believed in the importance of dialogue and negotiation as means to achieve India's aspirations for independence.
  • Rajaji represented the Indian National Congress in various negotiations with British officials, including during the Round Table Conferences held in London in the 1930s.
  • Rajaji's diplomatic efforts were aimed at preventing conflict and promoting peaceful resolution of disputes between Indian leaders and British authorities.
  • After independence also Rajaji continued to engage in diplomatic efforts to strengthen India's relations with other nations and promote peace and cooperation in the region.

Gandhi ji initiated dialogue with Jinnah in July, 1944 to discuss the above formula. The talks broke in September,1944 as Jinnah rejected the idea of Plebiscite and demanded complete separation. So, the plan failed.

• Governor-General of India (1948-1950) : Rajaji, served as the Governor-General of India from June 21, 1948, to January 26, 1950. As Governor-General, Rajaji played a key role in overseeing the functioning of the interim government led by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He was the last Governor General of India.
• Chief Minister of Madras State : He served as the Chief Minister of the Madras State (now Tamil Nadu) from 1952 to 1954. As the Chief Minister, he introduced innovative policies in areas such as education, agriculture, and rural development.
  • He also made Hindi language compulsory in Tamil schools which led to protests against him. It made him resign from his post as Chief Minister.
• Founding of the Swatantra Party : Rajaji founded a political party in 1959 known as Swatantra Party. It advocated for free-market principles, individual freedoms, and limited government intervention in the economy.
  • Through the Swatantra Party, he advocated for economic liberalization and free-market reforms in India.

• Mahabharata and Ramayana Translations : Rajaji's most famous literary contributions are his translations of the Indian epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, into English.
• “Chakravarthi Thirumagan” : Rajaji’s Tamil translation of Ramayana was later published as “Chakravarthi Thirumagan”. It is considered one of his significant contributions to Tamil literature.
  • In 1958, the book won the Sahitya Akademi Award in Tamil literature.
• “Hinduism: Doctrine and Way of Life” : In this book, Rajaji explores various aspects of Hinduism, including its scriptures, rituals, and moral principles.
• Autobiography : The title of Rajaji’s autobiography is "Rajaji: A Life".

• Bharat Ratna : In 1954, Rajaji was honored with the highest civilian award of India Bharat Ratna for his contribution to the nation in various fields, including politics, literature, and public service.
• Sahitya Akademi Fellowship : Rajaji was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, the highest honor conferred by the Sahitya Akademi for his outstanding contributions to literature.
• Ramanujan Award : Rajaji received the Ramanujan Award in 1962 for his translation of the Tamil classic "Thirukkural" into English.
• Ramon Magsaysay Award : In 1958, Rajaji was honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his exemplary leadership during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Madras State (now Tamil Nadu)

Rajaji passed away on December 25, 1972, at the age of 94. He died of natural causes at his residence in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

C. Rajagopalachari was an important figure in India's struggle for freedom. From his steadfast commitment to Gandhian principles during the independence movement to his visionary leadership in governance, Rajaji left an indelible mark on Indian society. Today, his legacy continues to inspire, reminding us of the enduring values of integrity, compassion, and service to humanity.