M.Roselin
Dr.L .Selvamuthu Kumarasami
Ph.D., Research
Scholar in History Associate
Professor in History
Bharathiar University Presidency
College (Autonomous)
Coimbatore-
641 046, Chennai- 600 005,
Tamil
Nadu. Tamil Nadu
Cell.No.9444360578
Address for Communication
M.Roselin , M.A., Mphil
No.1A-
Ananda Illam
Bhavani
Street
Annai
Indra Nagar
T.T.K.
Nagar Extension
West
Thambaram
Chennai
-600 045
Key Words: Ministry, Portfolio,
Welfare, Chief Minister.
The Dyarchical system
of Government introduced based upon the Act of 1919 provided the Indians, an
opportunity to join the affairs of Government. The Government of India Act of 1935 transferred the British administration to Congress
hands in a few Provinces. In Madras, C.Rajagopalachari assumed office in 1937,
as Premier with V.V.Giri as Minister for Industry. The Congress leaders could
gain experience in the administrative field during the short period. Before
Independence an Interim Government was
established on 2nd September 1946 under the leadership of Jawaharlal
Nehru, in Madras under T. Prakasam. During this time, Bhaktavatsalam was in
charge of Public Works Department. Under Rajaji Ministry, Bhaktavatsalam was
one among the seventeen Cabinet Ministers of the Madras State. In 1954 Kamaraj
established his ministry with Bhaktavatasalam took charge of the Portfolio of Agriculture,
Social, Labour and Workers Welfare. Later, Bhaktavasalam became the Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Early
Career
On 9th October 1867, Bhaktavatsalam
was born in Nazerthpettai Village in Chengelput District. His uncle appointed
Narasimmavamar to teach him.1 He
was sent to a Lutheran Mission School at Purasavakkam to join sixth standard,
and later to Pinathur Subramanyan High School at Mylapore. He successfully
completed his studies in 1916. He showed much interest in the study of history
and geography. He joined as a student in the Presidency College, Madras and
took B.A. Degree in 1920.2 After completing his law course, he took a legal profession
and started practice as a Junior Advocate under Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer.
During this period, he plunged into politics
and became on active organizer of Congress.3
Then
he devoted his time mostly for Congress works by participating important conferences
and meetings held in other parts at India. In 1923, he attended the Congress Conference
at Kakinada in Andrapradesh, and in 1924 he participated the annual conference
of the Congress at Belgaum in Karnataka.4 In 1932, Bhaktavatsalam
took active role in the Civil Disobedience
Movement and had to face severe police measures.5 He was selected as a member of the
Board of Chengelpet District. Later he
became the Deputy Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Harijan Seva Sangh.6 In
1937, he was elected as a Member of Madras Corporation, and became Deputy Mayor
of the Corporation of Madras for one year.7
Under
Various Ministry
In 1946 election,
the Congress Party won. T. Prakasam became
Chief Minister of Madras State. Under his Ministry, Bhaktavatsalam was given the
portfolio on Public Works Department.8 Prakasam period witnessed a
lot of troubles like shortage at food, unemployment. Subsequently, the Ministry
fell in 1947.9 O.P. Ramaswamy Reddiar succeeded him as a Chief Minister.
After him, P.S. Kumaraswamy Raja became Chief Minister in 1949.10
During Rajaji Ministry, Bhaktavatsalam held the portfolios of Agriculture and Social Development
Scheme. In Kamaraj Ministry, Bhaktavasalam continued as the Minister.11
In
the second term of Kamaraj Ministry, Bhaktavatsalam was given the Departments
of Home, Police, Courts, Prison, Prohibition of Liquor, Food, Agriculture, Khaddar,
Village Industries, protection of Hindu Religion and Forestry. In the third
term of Kamaraj, Bhaktavasalam was given the portfolios of Finance, Education,
Labour, Welfare, Courts, Prison. On the 2nd October 1963, Kamaraj
left the Ministry. Then Bhaktavatsalam was given the Chief Ministership.12
Bhaktavatsalam
and his Ministry
On the 3rd
October 1963, the new Eight Member Congress Ministry headed by Bhaktavatsalam
assumed power. The entire ceremony held in the Madras State Secretariat.
Bishnuran Methi, the Governor of Tamil Nadu administered the oath of office.
Jothi Venkatachalam of Health, R. Venkataraman of industry and electricity,
P.Kakkan of home V.Ramiah of Public Works Department, N. Nallasenepathi
Sarkarai Manradiar of Food and Co-operation, Abdul Masjid of Local
Administration were the Cabinet Ministers..
The remaining departments were under the direct control of Chief Minister.16
For a while, his Ministry faced many problems.13 The price of
commodities rose upto a high level. There was scarcity in the production of
food grains. The Government, therefore, adopted the policy of compulsory
procurement of food grains from the millers. Besides, the State faced drought
situation of a severe nature.14 The Central Government decided to
impose Hindi as a National Language. The opposition parties of Tamil Nadu were
against the Central Government Policy of imposition of Hindi. Anti – Hindi
Agitation paralyzed the state’s machinery under the grave economic situation.15
During
the Administration of Bhaktavasalam, the opposition parties united together
under a common policy and made hectic preparation to overthrow the Congress Ministry
from power.
Growth
of Education
In 1962,
Bhaktavatsalam became the Education Minister
in the Ministry of K.Kamaraj. He enforced Three Language Policy – Tamil,
English and Hindi. As a Chief Minister
from October 1963 to February 1967, be retained with him the Department of Education.
His main interest was that all the sections of the people should enjoy the
fruits of education.17
Primary
Education
During
his period, primary schools and school pupils also increased. He extended
midday meals in schools. During 1965-1966, sixteen lakhs of Children were
provided with mid day meals. The Government gave merit scholarships to primary and
secondary school students, belonging to Harijan and Backward classes. He
announced the distribution of free books and clothes for poor elementary school
pupils.18
Secondary
School
During
1962-1963, under Bhaktavatsalam Ministry eligibility income limit for free
education upto secondary level was
raised to 1,500 per annum.19 Eighteen Percent of boys and girls
enjoyed fee concessions. His Ministry
period witnessed with the increase in number of schools. Before his Ministry,
instruction in English medium was imparted only in few schools of Madras City.
In his period, he extended it throughout the State.20
Collegiate
Education
In his
Ministrial period, a lot of Colleges opened in Tamil Nadu such as, Teacher Training
College in Madras (Saidapet), Siddha College at Cutrallam, Medical College at
Chengalput, Tirunelveli, 12 Engineering Colleges in the State including IIT,
and also Institute of Catering Technology. The educational policy of government
was mainly aimed at reaching education to ordinary people.21
Industrial
Development
During
Bhaktavasalam Ministry, R.Venkataraman was the Industry and Electricity
Minister. Under him, many steps were taken to improve the industrial production
and power generation. Several industrial estates and weaving mills were opened
in the State. Under his Ministry, the State faced serve shortage in power
generation. During 1964-1965, the Government allotted rupees 6.75 crores for
the Kundah Major Project. The Mettur Tunnel Hydro – Electric Scheme,
Parambikulam Hydro – Electric scheme, Atomic power station at Kalpakkam, and Thermal station at Ennore
and Madras were the other important schemes.. During the two plan periods from
1956 to 1965, the industries were developed all over the Country. Textile Industry and Neyveli Lignite Project started and also
Ennore Petroleum Refinery. They were all public sector projects. Under his
administration, private sector projects also improved such as automobile
products, sugar mill and roller mill. In 1965 Aluminum Factory started in
Mettur with the capacity of 10,000
tones. The cottage industry and handloom
industry were developed, employing nearly twenty lakhs of people.22
Agricultural
Development
When
he assumed power, the food situation was acute crisis due to failure at
monsoon. Price level of essential commodities were increased. The Government took stern measures to control the price
level through crash programmes, cooperative movements and subsidy schemes. Waste
lands were brought under cultivation and also introduced the scheme of distributing consumer goods through
village co-operative and marketing society. Land Ceiling Act was introduced
during his period, and pattas of lards were issued to the poor formers for
cultivation. Bhaktavatsalam took part in
the regional conference on agricultural production organized by the Government
of Kerala.23
On April 1964, Kamaraj inaugurated two
reservoirs of Pechiparai Dam, and Perunchani Dam. In 1965, the Parambikulam
Aliyar Dam was commissioned, thousand acres of lands were brought under
cultivation.24
Welfare
Activities
During
Bhaktavatsalam Period, the development of welfare activities like insurance
scheme, education and construction of houses for the poor were initiated.
Disputes between workers and owners of factories were solved. He sanctioned
maternity leave for working ladies. As a Labour Minister, he passed laws
granting leave for workers.25 On 21 April 1961, the Government, launched
a statutory Housing Board Scheme and alloted 200 lakhs for this scheme.26
In 1964 the Government opened 120
Primary Health Centers and gave priority
to Family Planning Programe and appointed male nurses. On the same year, it launched the scheme immunization
of pre-school children with triple vaccine and also implemented a scheme of School Medical Inspection.27
Schools were advised to construct latrines and urinals, and to train the
students to maintain them.28 The Post Office Savings Scheme became
very popular among rural people.29 Government allotted twenty nine
crores of rupees for fisheries and supplied
boats and nets under crash programme.30 In 1964, he
introduced old-age pension scheme. His Government
maintained law and order in every branch of administration.31
Anti
Hindi Movement
The
Anti Hindi agitation during the administration of Bhakthavatsalam marked a very
significant event in the history of Tamil Nadu. The movement had its
beginning during the Ministry of Rajaji
in 1938.32 In 1965, Hindi continued as official language and English
as subordinate language.
In
1949, C.N. Annadurai left the Dravida Kazhagam and founded Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam and it opposed the three language policy.33 On 17th
November 1963, the 17th section of Constitution was burnt by C.N
Annadurai and other leaders of D.M.K. like K.A. Mathiazhagan, Anbazhagan,
Asaithambi, Karunanidhi and also vigourously
participated in Anti-Hindi Agitation.34
On 17th
January 1965, anti- Hindi conference held at Thevar Hall, Trichy. The Central Government
and the Congress Leaders strongly imposed Hindi as a national language. The
year 1965 onwards, students, lawyers, doctors largely
participated in the activities
against the Government. The police severely charged the students with by
lathis. The students raised slogan against Hindi.
Educational institutions observed
large scale of fasting. No Hindi films at Cinema Theaters were allowed. Courts,
schools, and Hospital were closed. Simultaneously, the State Government severely
suppressed agitation. Due to various problems
in the State, people voted in favour of D.M.K.in the General Election which
held in 1967.35
Decline
of Congress Party
The
1967 General Election marked a change in the political leadership in Tamil Nadu from Indian National Congress to D.M.K.. A variety
of factors led to the defeat of Congress. Scarcity of food production, power
cut, drinking water, and anti - Hindi
agitation paved the way for D.M.K. to
depose the Congress Ministry from power. The Congress Ministry submitted its
resignation on 23rd February 1967. The D.M.K. under C.N Annadurai took charge on 6th
March 1967.
Conclusion
When Bhaktavatsalam assumed power as the Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu in October 1963, the political and economic condition in
India appeared unfavourable for conducting a good administration. The political
unrest prevailed over the Tamil Nadu as a result of the Anti Hindi Agitation.
The administration was condemned for taking
vigorous police action against the anti-Hindi agitators. This reduced
the image of the Congress Government. The D.M.K. Election Manifesto promises
attracted the people who wanted a change
of administration. In General Election
of 1967, DMK won and formed the
Ministry under the leadership of C.N. Annadurai. 36
End
Notes and References
1.
Karuppiah,A.,
Nirvagamethai,(Administrative Expert) (Tamil), Madras, 1996, p.11.
2.
Karuppiah,
A., Bhaktavatsalam
Valkai Varalaru, (Bhaktavatsalam Life History) (Tamil), Madurai, 1964,
pp.20-21.
3.
Ibid., p.36.
4.
David
Arnold, The Congress in Tamil Nadu Nationalist Politics in South India
1919-1947, New Delhi, 1977, p.84.
5.
Karuppiah,A.,
Nirvagamethai, op.cit., p.35.
6.
David
Arnold, op.cit., p.146.
7.
Karuppiah,
A., Bhaktavasalam,
Valkai Varalaru, op.cit., p.45.
8.
Rajayyan,K.,
Selection
from History of Tamilnadu, 1565-1965, Madurai, 1978, pp.292-293.
9.
Karuppiah,A.,
Bhaktavasalm, Valkai Varalaru, op.cit., p.73
10.
Ibid., pp.74-75.
11.
Narasimhan,V.K.,
Kamaraj
-A Study, Bombay, 1967, p.49.
12.
Karuppiah,
A., Bhaktavasalm,
Valkai Varalaru, op.cit., pp.78-89
13.
Narasimhan,V.K.,
op.cit.,
pp.85-93
14.
Indian Express, 5 October,
1963, p.3
15.
Ibid., p.2
16.
Ibid., 4 October, 1963, p.3
17.
Karuppiah,
A., Bhaktavasalm,
Valkai Varalaru, op.cit., pp.82-85
18.
Kanchi
Amuthan, Perunthamizher Bhaktavatsalam, (Great Tamizhar Bhaktavatsalam,
(Tamil), Madras, 1964, p.208.
19.
Karuppiah,A.,
Bhaktavasalm, Valkai Varalaru, op.cit., p.85
20.
Kanchi
Amuthan, op.cit., p.88.
21.
Ibid., p.210.
22.
Madras Information, Madras, January
1964, p.3.
23.
Ibid., Madras, December, 1963, pp.8-10.
24.
Ibid., February, 1964, p.26
25.
Ibid., pp.87-88
26.
Ibid., p.89
