P. Rajagopalachari Biography 
P. Rajagopalachari was an Indian administrator. He was the Diwan (chief minister) of Cochin State from December 1896 to August 1901 and of Travancore from 1906 to 1914. His full name is Diwan Bahadur Sir Perungavur Rajagopalachari and also known by the title - Sir P. Rajagopala Achariyar. In his biography, Vakkom Moulavi, calls Rajagopalachari's administration "authoritarian". Rajagopalachari has found a place in the historic map of Kerala following the ban of Swadeshabhimani newspaper in Travancore and sealing of its press in 1910. He even exiled its editor Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai from Travancore state to Tamil Nadu, following the open criticisms against Travancore administrations and Diwan.
Rajagopalachari was born in Chennai on 18 March 1862. His education was completed at Presidency College and Madras Law College. He joined the Judicial Department of Indian Civil Service in 1886 and was appointed deputy collector in 1887. During the period 1890 to 1896, he served as assistant collector and magistrate in Madras Province. In December 1896, Rajagopalachari was appointed Diwan by Maharaja Rama Varma of Kochi and he served the sate till 1901. He founded Cochin Native Merchants Association, which later became Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Kochi. In 1901, he was appointed Registrar of Co-operative Credit Societies in the Madras Presidency followed by Assistant Collector position next year and he was appointed Diwan of Travancore state in 1906.
During his tenure, he supported Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham established for the education of dalits. In 1907 the government of Travancore passed an order for the admission of Dalit children in schools. But it received opposition from upper caste people. In 1910, Rajagopalachari and Mitchell, who headed the education department, made the order for admission of Dalit children public, thereby putting an end to the controversy. It was during his tenure when dalits were included in administration for the first time. Thus Ayyankali became the first Dalit member to be nominated to the Travancore State Assembly. He also donated 8acres of land for the construction of an Islamic college.
In 1914, Rajagopalachari returned to Chennai as Secretary of the Judicial Department, the first Indian to hold the post. In 1917, he was appointed to the Council of the Governor of Madras. In 1920, he was appointed as the first president of Madras Legislative Council.
Published: N/A
Updated: March 20, 2014
