Rettamalai Srinivasan
Rettamalai Srinivasan | |
|---|---|
| File:RettamalaiSrinivasan.JPG | |
| Born | 1860 |
| Died | 1945 |
| Occupation | lawyer |
Diwan Bahadur R. Srinivasan (b.1860-d.1945), also known as Rettamalai Srinivasan was a Dalit activist, politician and freedom fighter from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He is remembered today as one of the pioneers of the Dalit movement in India.
Early Life
Rettamalai Srinivasan was born in 1860 in a poor Dalit family in Madras Presidency.[1] He was a brother-in-law of the famous Dalit activist Iyothee Thass.[2] Rettamalai Srinivasan established and led the Paraiyar Mahajana Sabha in 1891 [3]which later became the Adi-Dravida Mahajana Sabha[3][2] He also founded a Tamil newspaper called Paraiyan in October 1893[2][4] which started selling as a monthly with four pages for the price of four annas.[5]However, Paraiyan experienced great difficulties in its early days. Rettamalai Srinivasan was a participant in the freedom movement and an arrest warrant was issued against him claiming that he was fleeing the nation. In 1896, a case was filed against the newspaper and Srinivasan was dragged to the court citing a letter to the editor. The editor Srinivasan was fined Rs. 100 for his writings.[6]
Commemoration
Rettamalai Srinivasan had been largely forgotten with the passage of time. Recently, commemorative stamps have been issued in memory of the Dalit leader by the Department of Posts of the Government of India.[7] Cadres of the Viduthalai Siruthaigal party claimed to have discovered the remains of the Dalit leader in Otteri and constructed a memorial over his mortal remains and named it Urimai Kalam. [3] In early 2006, a manimandapam for the late leader was conceived within the premises of Gandhi Mandapam in Chennai at the cost of Rs. 19 lakhs and the foundation stone was laid by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on March 1, 2006.[8] Work has begun for the construction of the Manimandapam which is presently being built.[9][10]
Notes
- ^ Talisman, Pg xxvi
- ^ a b c Thirumavalavan, Pg 227
- ^ a b c Thirumavalavan, Pg 44
- ^ Talisman, Pg xxvii
- ^ Rajan, Nalini (2007). 21st Century Journalism in India. p. 66. ISBN 0761935614, 9780761935612.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Rajan, Nalini (2007). 21st Century Journalism in India. p. 70. ISBN 0761935614, 9780761935612.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "`No rules violated in stamp release function'". The Hindu. August 19, 2004. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Jayalalithaa unveils Kamaraj memorial hall, pillar". The Hindu. March 2, 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Ramakrishnan, T. (July 10, 2008). "Decks cleared for beautification of Gandhi Mandapam complex". The Hindu. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Information and Publicity, Policy Note 2006-2007, Demand No. 28". Tamil Nadu Technological Development and Promotion Center.