RAJAGOPALACHARI

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Context

About

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari popularly known as Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and independence activist.

Contribution

During the Freedom Struggle

After Mahatma Gandhi, he was the one who joined the Independence movement and became his utmost follower.
After 1919 Rajaji participated in Non-Cooperation movement.
In 1921 was elected as member of Congress Working Committee and became the General Secretary of the party.
During 1922 as a leader of INC session in Gaya he made his first breakthrough and led the entire group with the title ‘No-Changers’ and contested elections for Imperial Legislative Council Party.
He issued Agricultural Debt Relief Act, to lessen the load of debt on peasants.
He laid several prohibitions on sales tax and banned alcohol but his image was still not positive as he made Hindi compulsory in all educational institutions.
Rajaji participated in agitations against Rowlatt Act, joined the Non-Cooperation movement, the Vaikom Satyagraha, and the Civil Disobedience movement.
He was imprisoned during the Salt Satyagraha wherein he led the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha.
In 1939, Rajagopalachari took a step to abolish untouchability and caste prejudice and issued the Madras Temple Entry Authorisation and Indemnity Act.
During the Quit India Movement, Rajagopalachari opposed Gandhi

Independent India

When India got freedom, Rajaji became the first Governor of West Bengal but his appointment was opposed by Sarat Chandra Bose (brother of Subhas Chandra Bose).
During Rajaji’s tenure his duties were to deal with refugees and create peace and stability, especially during Calcutta riots.
He was the last Governor-General of India and the only Indian candidate to hold such an esteemed position.
He took over as the chief minister of Madras in April 1952.
During his tenure, he actively participated in reforming the education system and bringing changes in the society. He also made Hindi a compulsory language in Tamil schools.
He was a social conservative but advocated a free market economy.
He wanted to reintroduce the Varna system into society.
Rajagopalachari was made Home Affairs Minister after the death of Sardar Patel in 1950.
In 1959, he resigned from the Indian National Congress and founded the Swatantra Part along with Murari Vaidya and Minoo Masani.
He also signed a resolution that endorsed continuation of English as an official language in India.