Some Places Named After Personalities In Madras.

1. M.C. Rajah Hostel for Men, Saidapet.

2. M.C. Rajah Street, Alandur.

3. Nandanar Street.

4. L.C. Gurusamy Street, Perambur.

5. Mayor Sivaraj Street, Royapettah.

6. Rettamalai Srinivasan Street, Thiruvalluvar Street and Ambedkar Street.

7. Meenambal Sivaraj Street, Siva Shanmugam Pillai Street, Kakkanji Street, Ambedkar Street and Valliammal Street.

8. Meenambal Road and Dr Ambedkar Street.

9. V. I. Munusamy Pillai Street.

10. Dr Ambedkar Governmnet Arts College, Vyasarpadi.

11. Babu Jagjivanram Road.

12. Parameshwaran Nagar and Kakkan Nagar.

13. Jyothi Venkatachalam Nagar Road.

14. Sathyavani Muthu Street.

15. Natarajan Thalamuthu Street.

Outer Madras:

1. Ayothidas Pandithar Siddha Hospital (National Institute of Siddha).

2. M.C. Rajah Street, Chromepet.

3. H. M. Jaganathan Street and Valluvar Street, Pallavaram.

Ambeth அம்பேத்
Dharmapuri,
Tamil Nadu.

Perunthalaivar Prof. M.C. Rajah's Effort For The Representation of The Scheduled Classes In The Late 1910s.

 

Prof. M. C. Rajah: India's First Scheduled Classes Legislature. 

Almost one and a half years before the formation of the Justice Party Government with the help of the Scheduled Classes in the erstwhile Madras Presidency (Present-Day Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Odisha), Perunthalaivar Prof. M. C. Rajah was nominated to Madras Legislative Council in August 1919. He was the first member of the Scheduled Classes to be appointed to any Legislative Council in India. He was appointed by Mr. Willingdon, the then Governor of Madras. In 1918, Prof. M. C. Rajah met the South Borough Committee and appealed for the right to vote and representation in the legislatures. The Montagu-Chelmsford report recognised the Scheduled Classes and mention that provision must be made in the Constitution for their protection. On this basis, they were given nominal representation in the legislatures. It was the effort taken by the Adi-Dravida Mahajana Sabha under its General Secretary Prof. M. C. Rajah, further 4 members of the Depressed Classes including Rao Saheb L. C. Gurusamy were nominated in 1920. In a conference of the Madras Domestic Servants of the European Employers on April 28, 1920, Prof. M. C. Rajah said, "As regards the representation in the Legislative Council, though the Joint Parliamentary Committee had recommended six seats for us, you do not know what amount of difficulty I had in getting five seats reserved for us." However, he demanded for the direct election mode of representation based on their population. In 1923 and 1926, it was further increased to 5 and 1 members respectively. Thus totally 10 members were nominated to Madras Legislative Council in 1930 and 1934 elections. Since the implementation of the Government of India Act 1935, the Scheduled Classes members have been elected by direct election.

Newspaper: The Near East.

Place of Publication: Devonshire Square, London.

Date: 8 August 1919 (Friday).

News Content: Mr. M. C. Rajah, Secretary of the Adi Dravida Jana Sabha, has been nominated a member of the Madras Legislative Council, the first member of the Panchama (“depressed community”) to be appointed to any Legislative Council.

Ambeth அம்பேத்

Dharmapuri,

Tamil Nadu.

தாமரைகள் விழித்திருக்கட்டும் ! Om Mani Padmaye ! May the Lotuses Awake ! (Enlightenment).

Perunthalaivar Prof. M.C. Rajah's Death (23 August 1943), And Condolence Resolution of The All India SCF And The Justice Party.

Prof. M.C. Rajah (17 June 1883 - 23 August 1943)

On Monday, 23 August 1943, Prof. M.C. Rajah died in Madras. He was one of the most prominent leaders of pre-independent India. He was the first leader who organized the Scheduled Classes at the national level, and the pioneer of Mid-day Meal Scheme in India. The death occurred at the age of 60 at his L'allegro residence in Alandur (St. Thomas Mount).

Here is the tribute of various leaders to Perunthalaivar MC Rajah:

* On behalf of Thatha Rettamalai Srinivasanar, Rao Bahadur Dharmalingam Pillai read a condolence letter.

* Prof. Thanthai Sivaraj, President, All-India Scheduled Castes Federation, in a statement on the death of Perunthalaivar: "His death has removed from our midst an old and experienced leader at a time when his services would undoubtedly have been a great help to the country in its struggle for political recognition on a just basis".

* Thandri B.S. Murthy, India's first Scheduled Classes 'Parliamentary Secretary' said:- 

"The news of the sudden demise of Dewan Bahadur M.C. Rajah comes as a great shock. He was foremost amongst our leaders and it was his proud privilege to spend all his life in the unstinted service of the Scheduled Classes Community. The progress and advancement seen at present among the Scheduled Classes in India are, to a large extent, due to his ceaseless endeavours. He was a bold and sagacious leader and his death is an irreparable loss to the community and country."

* Advocate C Rajagopal (Rajaji): "I am deeply sorry for the Scheduled Castes of India who have lost one of their valued leaders."

* Lord Hope, the then Governor of Madras Presidency sent a message of condolence. The message referred Perunthalaivar's work as a member of the Round Table Conference, and the National Defence Council. His services to the country and the Scheduled Classes were also praised by the Governor.

* Editorial of "The Indian Express": 

"The passing away of Mr. M.C. Rajah deprives the Scheduled Castes of a selfless front-rank leader. He made the all-round uplift of his community his life's mission and dedicated himself to the task with rare zeal and devotion. He had a full share of honours and offices, but they never detracted him from the high sense of duty. He always brought to bear on anything he undertook. In the local bodies and in the Central and Provincial legislatures, he put up many a memorable fight for what he considered to be right......" 

To honour his works, B.S. Murthy of East Godavari (erstwhile Madras Presidency) was instrumental in founding the M.C. Rajah Memorial Hostel for the college students of the Scheduled Classes in 1944 at Saidapet in Madras.

The Second session of the All India SCF Conference was held in Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) on the 29th and 30th January, 1944 under its President Prof. Thanthai Sivaraj. This Conference adopted the seven resolutions on 30th January 1944. Prof. Thanthai Sivaraj moved a resolution of condolence on the death of the late Prof. M. C. Rajah, which was passed, all standing. This was the first resolution out of seven.

The 16th session of the Justice Party Conference held in Madras on the 8th May 1945 under the Presidency of Dr. R.K. Shanmukham. He moved a condolence resolution on the deaths of Prof. M.C. Rajah, Mr. S.S. Rajan etc., was adopted, all standing. (Note: Periyar E.V. Ramasamy's faction of Justice Party became the Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944)

Ambeth அம்பேத்.

Dharmapuri,

Tamil Nadu.
தாமரைகள் விழித்திருக்கட்டும் ! Om Mani Padmaye ! May the Lotuses Awake ! (Enlightenment).