P. Jeevanandham

P. Jeevanandham

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Category: Politics

P. Jeevanandham Profile

  • Name:
  • P. Jeevanandham
  • Born:
  • August 21, 1907
  • Died:
  • January 18, 1963

P. Jeevanandham Biography

P. Jeevanandham, fondly called Jeeva was a social reformer, activist, writer and political leader associated with Communist party of India. One of the pioneers of Communist and socialist movements in Tamil Nadu in the 1930s and later, it can be said that no other communist leader from Tamil Nadu has received as much a stature and respect from different sections of people as Jeeva. Its best instance is the huge mass of not less than 20 lakh people attended his funeral held at Kasimedu cemetery in Chennai, following his unexpected death on the morning of January 18, 1963 at the age of 56. He stood for dalits where he fought against untouchability and denial of temples and public places for dalits.

 

He belonged to Bhootapandi near Nagercoil of Kanyakumari District, then a part of Royal Travancore. He was born on 21 August 1907. His original name was Sorimuthu, named after his clan god of the same name. He was exposed to literature, devotional songs and the arts, early on in his life since he was born into a religious orthodox family. During his childhood he couldn’t tolerate untouchability and humiliations towards dalit. Got influenced by Gandhi’s ideas, he wore khadi since younger days and joined nationalist movement. He used to take his dalit friends to public places where they were restricted, at a time when dalits were not allowed in temples. It earned displeasure from his family and high caste members of the society. Later he left home.

 

He participated in Vaikom Satyagraha and similar protests in Suchindram temple, demanding the entry of dalits in public paths and temples. When the Madras Provincial Congress Socialist Party was formed in 1937, Jeevanandham became its first secretary. He joined communist party of India in 1939. He was one of the leading members of the party who stood active when the party was banned in India. In the first general elections after independence, he got elected to state assembly from the Wasermanpet constituency in Madras. He played a key role in making Tamil an official language in the state. He was the founder of Thamara, a Tamil literary magazine. He translated Bhagat Singh’s classic essay "Why I am an Atheist" in 1933 to Tamil. He and Rajaji were always political rivals, still respected each other while he was a close friend of K. Kamaraj.

Published: N/A

Updated: January 18, 2016

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