C. Natesa Mudaliar

C. Natesa Mudaliar Biography

C. Natesa Mudaliar was a prominent politician from south India in Madras presidency. He lived during the period, 1875–1937, and was simply called Mudaliar. He was a founding member of Justice Party, officially the South Indian Liberal Federation, best known for the ideologies of Socialism and Anti-Brahminism. He advocated for the ideologies of Anti-Brahminism, and the other founding members of Justice Party are P. Theagaraya Chetty and T. M. Nair. The trio founded Justice Party in 1916, which had a long run in the pre-independent era of South India, before it was changed to Dravidar Kazhagam. The formation of the party is seen as the start of the Dravidian Movement.

C. Natesa Mudaliar was born in the year 1875. His education was completed from Chennai, and he also completed his medical studies from Madras Medical College. He started his professional career as a doctor, before he turned active in politics. Natesan also worked as a lecturer in Pithapuram Maharaja College before doing his medical studies. In 1914, he started a hostel for non-Brahmin students in Madras Presidency. It was his first stint with social activities and politics.

When Madras United League was formed in 1912, he became one of its founding members. He also served as its secretary. Many government employees joined the league, which aimed at educating non-Brahmins of the society. Two years later it was renamed as Madras Dravidian Association and Panaganti Ramarayaningar got elected as President. Through his efforts, political opponents Sir Theagaroya Chetty and Dr. T. M. Nair came together and together formed an organization representing the non-Brahmins of the Madras Presidency. He was expected to contest in the 1937 elections to the legislative assembly of Madras. But he died unexpectedly.

Published: November 29, 2018

Updated: November 29, 2018