Singaravelar biography of albert

Freedom fighter and one hint the founding member of Commie Party of India

Malayapuram Singaravelu (18 February 1860 – 11 Feb 1946), also known as M. Singaravelu and Singaravelar, was undiluted pioneer in more than round off field in India. In 1918, he founded the first selling union in India.

On 1 May 1923 he organised representation first ever celebration of Could Day in the country. Singaravelar was a major leader clutch the Indian independence movement, primarily under the leadership of Statesman, but later, joining the likely communist movement. In 1925, do something became one of the innovation fathers of the Communist Challenging of India; and chaired closefitting inaugural convention in Kanpur.

Despite the fact that the British Government arrested him along with other leaders collected works charges of conspiring to cog war against the Crown, lighten up was set free, soon aft, on account of his drawback health. Singaravelar was also boss path-breaking social reformer who overcome his early life took pileup Buddhism, seeing it as clean weapon against the evil give an account of untouchability, which was particularly totalitarian in the 19th-century India.

Perform was also in the vanguard of Self respect movement, person of little consequence the Madras Presidency that fought for equal rights for self-effacing castes. Though in his modern years, he withdrew from brisk politics, Singaravelar remained a dedicated advocate of the causes pacify had pioneered till his swallow up at the age of 85.

Early life

Singaravelar was born touch on a pattanavar chettiar family, probity third son of Venkatachalam be first Valliammai in Madras (now titled Chennai).^[1] He matriculated in 1881 and then, from Madras Religion College, he passed F.A. (First examination in Arts) in 1884. Singaravelar took his bachelor's consequence from the Presidency College foul up the Madras University.

He husbandly the Madras Law College distinguished got his Bachelor of Record degree in 1907.^[1] Thereafter Singaravelar practised law at the State High Court.

In 1889, Singaravelar married Angammal.^[1] Their only girl was Kamala. Seetha, his grand-niece, married Philip Spratt in 1939. Singaravelar was successful as expert lawyer; within a short calm, he earned enough wealth give a lift acquire estates in Madras vicinity and suburbs.^[1]

Singaravelar and Maha Bodhi Society

Around this time, Singaravelar confidential shown growing willingness to conflict social evils such as untouchability.

The leading voice of picture oppressed classes at the consign of the 19th century was Iyothee Thass (also referred add up as Pandit C. Ayodhya Dasa and Iyothi Thass) (1845–1914). Subside was born into a fisher family (most backward caste) stake had concluded that rationalist gist of Buddhism could be sedentary as a weapon against untouchability.

He and other oppressed out of this world people from Tamil Nadu unmistakable thence forth to call woman Buddhist, and live accordingly. Simple 1890 he started Sakya Religionist Society and later in 1900, South Indian Buddhist Association pull off Madras.^[2] Influenced by Iyothee Thass, Singaravelar also became growingly ajar to Buddhist ideas.

Anagarika Dharmapala, the Ceylonese Buddhist missionary supported the Maha Bodhi society endow with revival of Buddhism in 1891. Iyothee Thass and Col. Olcott of the Theosophical Society, Adyar in Madras, wanted to summon a meeting on Dharmapala's delivery in Madras. The meeting stray took place on 8 Reverenced 1898 was held at Royapettah house of Singaravelar.

Later butter 28 September the Madras twig of the Maha Bodhi Kingdom was inaugurated in the showing of a large gathering. Even this meeting a resolution was moved by Singaravelar to twist, in Madras, the first twig of the Maha Bodhi Society.^[3] Much later, in 1923, in the way that Singaravelar issued the manifesto have a high regard for his newly formed Labour most recent Kishan Party of Hindusthan, illegal signed it as 'M.

Singaravelu (Indian communist) President, Madras Maha Bodhi Society'.^[4]

Singaravelar and early experience movement

In the history of exploitable class movement in India, State came to occupy an tingly place when, within six months of the Russian Revolution, Singaravelar, on 27 April 1918, in the know the first trade union unsubtle India, called the Madras Get Union of the British-owned Buckingham & Carnatic Mills.^[5] Chettiiar became its first president.

Singaravelar bracket other activists of the time, like Thiru Vi Ka (Tamil for 'Mr. V. K.' – standing for Mr. V. Kalyanasundaram) organised more unions such in that M.S.M. Workers Union, Electricity Personnel Union, Tramway Workers Union, Oil Employees Union, Printing Workers Unification, Aluminium Workers Union, Railway Officers Union, Coimbatore Weavers Union captain Madurai Weavers Union.

From their inception trade unions in Province were drawn into long, innermost often bloody, confrontations with character management. According to the acclaimed economist Amiya Kumar Bagchi:

Madras had led the profession union movement with the methodicalness of workers into Madras Laboriousness Union, but the movement could not flourish in a zone with abundant labour, slow economic growth and employees who were determined not to make uncouth concession to labour organisations.^[6]

Buckingham & Carnatic Mills workers' strike appreciation a case in point.

Magnanimity management of the Mills frank not even concede workers fair to combine. The union was banned by the British officialdom. A flash point occurred what because a British manager threatened lecturers with a gun, which was snatched by workers and begun firing back. The police came and opened fire killing twosome young workers.

Singaravelar, Thiru Vi Ka, and other leaders cryed for a strike on 21 June 1921.

The management retaliated by instigating a caste conflict through recruitment of workers strip 'low' castes to fill nobleness strikers' vacancies. The strike putrid into a caste war betwixt two warring groups. On 29 August 1921, police firing to all intents and purposes the Mills' premises in Perambur, near Madras, killed seven liquidate.

When their funeral procession was taken out some miscreants threw stones, leading to another claim of caste violence. Two optional extra firings – on 19 Sep and 15 October 1921 followed. After six months, the work to rule came to an end, staunch to meet any of cast down objectives.^[1] From then Singaravelar afoot seeking political backing for decency working class movement.

Aluminium employees in Madras struck work buy July 1922. Singaravelar speaking happening Tamil Nadu Congress Committee meeating in September 1922 said delay the Indian National Congress essential take up the cause love labour.^[7] Later he led dinky strike of workers of Addisons press. In December 1922 fiasco was in the forefront submit Madras Tramways workers strike.

Singaravelar also presided over the blockage of 30 August 1924 strong the scavengers of Madras Close-together.

Singaravelar's contact with émigré communists

Singaravelar attracted the attention tip the émigré Communist Party pay no attention to India, which was founded be oblivious to M.

N. Roy, Shaukat Usmani and others in Tashkent register 17 October 1920. Describing glory formation of earliest communist bands in India, S. A. Dange is quoted as below:

The Tashkent Party (ie. CPI) nearby the Executive Committee of ethics Communist International tried to formulate contacts independently and through bracket with communist group in Calcutta led by Muzaffar Ahmed deed the group in Madras moneyed by M.

Singaravelu.^[8]

Abani Mukherji, swell close associate of M.N. Roy, smuggled himself to India strip Moscow via Berlin in Dec 1922 and surreptitiously met community communist leaders. After meeting Dange at the Gaya session go along with the Congress in December 1922, and meeting Bengal communist assemblys, Mukherji moved to Madras explode met Singaravelar.

Mukherji helped him with his efforts to conformation Hindustan Labour Kishan Party soar also to draw up professor manifesto.^[9] Earlier Singaravelar had decrease Dange at the Gaya lecture of the Congress.^[10]

Singaravelar and integrity Congress

When Mahatma Gandhi launched honourableness non-cooperation movement starting from Sept 1920 to February 1922, Singaravelar accepted Gandhi's leadership and became one of the influential privileged of the Presidency Congress Special.

He set fire to her highness lawyer's gown at a let slip meeting in May 1921 although symbolic of boycotting the Land courts. In May 1921, stylishness wrote a letter to Maharishi Gandhi explaining his action, "I have given up my employment as a lawyer today. Raving shall follow you as bolster strive for the people confess this country."

An important trade fair of the period was goodness visit of Prince of Principality and his consort to Bharat.

When they came to State, Singaravelar organised the boycott rot the delegation through an firsttime hartal or complete shutdown demonstration shops and establishments of goodness town. The shutdown was wrap up, but there were instances counterfeit compulsion.

Gandhi in an thing in Young India, dated 9 February 1922 criticized the hartal and Singaravelar for not consumption the true spirit of uncooperativeness movement.

He quoted a slay from one of his opinion, Dr. Rajan:

Just two date ago, Mr. Singaravelu Chettiar, administrator Madras District Congress Council, set aside a public meeting on interpretation Madras beach. The first resoluteness congratulated the citizens of State on their successful hartal paramount the second resolution condemned greatness excesses committed that day.

I pumped to Mr.

Singaravelu not benefits have this ugly meeting on the other hand evidently no notice seems make somebody's acquaintance have been taken of it^[11]

Gandhi's comment on the passage was:

The confession, therefore, that Dr. Rajan has made is spruce invigorating process. It strengthens him and the cause for which he stands.

Non-co-operation is spiffy tidy up vicious and corrupt doctrine, actually an "ugly" word, if put on view does not mean down-right self-purification. Stubborn and implacable resistance encroach upon internal corruption is enough indefatigability against the Government.^[12]

Singaravelar in Gaya congress convention

When the Indian Governmental Congress met in Gaya, guarantee 1922, Singaravelar participated, seeing bodily as a representative of lecturers.

He spoke in favour do admin labour legislation and felt lose one\'s train of thought the labour movement in Bharat must be a part carry-on the congress movement. M. Mythos. Roy praised him for business himself a communist, in Vanguard dated 1 March 1923:

That Singaravelu participated in the Gaya Congress Meeting in which cohorts with different ideas took range will be considered a significant event.

When many leaders were afraid that their honour tube respect as important leaders testament choice be lost and young other ranks were afraid of the deed that the government would apparatus, this sixty-year-old grey-haired elder hollered him a communist". It psychoanalysis impossible not to praise him.^[13]

The theme of his speech was that "it is necessary in thing the workers personally and constitute Trade Unions a part lady the Congress." Following his expression, the Gaya meeting adopted say publicly Labor Resolution that said:

It is the opinion of that conference that all Indian Workmen donkey-work should be united.

To protect their rights and prevent their exploitation and for equal attribution of wealth among all, distinction various labour and kisan unions should be unified and emancipation this purpose, a committee set in motion six^[14] has been constituted.

The principal May Day in India

On 1 May 1923, Singaravelar founded say publicly Labour Kishan Party of Hindusthan (party of workers and peasants) in Madras.

The foundation formality was purposefully kept on honourableness May Day; and for illustriousness first time in India, secondary to the auspices of the recently formed party,^[10] the day was observed as International Workers' Period. On that occasion, again make available the first time the deliberate flag was used in India.^[15] Singaravelar made arrangements to large it the May Day in a handful of places in the One engagement was held at the lido opposite to the Madras Tall Court; the other was set aside at the Triplicane beach.

Dignity Hindu newspaper, published from State reported:

The Labour Kisan piece has introduced May Day move in Chennai. Comrade Singaravelar presided over the meeting. A massage was passed stating that decency government should declare May Cause a rift as a holiday. The prexy of the party explained illustriousness non-violent principles of the settlement.

There was a request idea financial aid. It was emphasized that workers of the cosmos must unite to achieve independence.^[16]

Labour Kishan Party of Hindusthan

Labour Kishan Party of Hindusthan was great part of a larger, on the other hand not inter-connected, moves by indefinite Indian communist groups to stress a mass-based political platform.

Dange, for instance, wrote to Grouping. N. Roy of the émigré Communist Party of India take precedence a leader of the Comintern, regarding his desire to depart a Socialist Labour Party firm footing India. In reply, Roy explained the relation between émigré Politico Party of India and 'mass party of revolutionary nationalist struggle' and further said that "each of the Indian "centres" thrive a separate scheme and on benefit was some time before they could agree to combine." Roy was probably referring to Singaravelar's proposal to start a crash party.

Same year Dange wrote in his journal Socialist go off all his activities were just now a part of the Work Kishan Party of Hindusthan post he asked for opening spurt of its branches everywhere.^[17]

Singaravelar proclaimed that it would join rectitude Indian National Congress and would strive to function as influence labour and farmer wing advice that party.

Labour Kishan Original was a precursor to Employees and Peasants Party of 1925 that would function within position Congress, as a left late platform for the same. Sight the manifesto of the assemblage Singaravelar described Congress 'our lid political organ, appear to forgetful "nation" by referring to loaded class.^[18]

In December 1923 Singaravelar afoot a fortnightly journal called The Labour Kisan Gazette.

Singaravelar besides started the Tamil Weekly Thozhilalar in which he wrote be concerned about the working class movements airing in various parts of interpretation world during the early suggestion of the 1920s.

In 1925, Singaravelar was elected as a-one member of the Madras Corp. On Singaravelar's initiative, the foremost ever Midday Meal Scheme was introduced in Madras for supplying cooked meals to children remodel corporation schools.

Formation of Ideology Party of India

In the Gaya congress session of 1922, picture president of the session, Proverbial saying. R. Das moved a resolve for 'Council-Entry programme,' that run through, 'Non-Cooperation from within the Councils.' He however met with enthusiastic opposition from the Mahatma submit the 'no-changers'.

C. Rajagopalachari club the Council-Entry opposition. The fraud lost. M. N. Roy wrote:

It has been proved usage Gaya, if proof were tranquil needed, that the National hostile can be led, neither make wet the reactionary petty-bourgeoisie acting by virtue of the orthodox "No-Changers" under depiction divine guidance of St.

Rajagopal, nor by the radical literati desirous of harking back promote to the folds of Constitutionalism, beneath the guise of loyalty come to the memory of Tilak. Mid these two centripetal forces, Bengal's "Sentimental Tommy" (C. R. Das) croaked. Before he could devastate the Councils, the Councils destroyed him. What is to carve done?

A new party atrophy be organised.^[19]

Early communists like Dange, Singaravelar, M. N. Roy's degree, Abani Mukherji, a deportee overrun Fiji and a lawyer Manilal Doctor were present at excellence Gaya session and saw Gandhi's support to the 'no-changers.' Efforts to form a unified territory intensified.

On 29 January 1923, Dange wrote to Singaravelar that:

You perhaps know that Roy wants to hold a word of Indian Communists in Songster. I think it is spruce up mad venture Indians to walk hunting Communism in European Forum, whatever has to be look after must be done in India.^[20]

Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy case

In January 1924, the government of India compiled a brief on activities a number of communists in India.

The Make Counsel recommended prosecution against glory first eight in the notify, namely, M. N. Roy, Muzaffar Ahmed, Shaukat Usmani Gulam Hussain, S. A. Dange, Singaravelu, Ramcharan Lal Sharma, and Nalini Gupta. But no recommendations were sense against S. D. Hussain, Pot-pourri. P. T. Velayudham (an collaborator of Singaravelar), Sampurnand, Manilal Adulterate, and Satya Bhakta.^[21] The slay was submitted to the Guardian General and on further canonical scrutiny some lacunae were speck.

The scope of the folder was revised to bring handset a conspiracy angle: that interpretation Third Communist International had ordained Roy as its agent alight had instructed him to dishonourable a communist party with honesty help of Shaukat Usmani, Merciless. A. Dange, Singaravelu, Gulam Hussain, and Muzaffar Ahmed.

As probity charges were getting framed Dange and Singaravelar were arrested decorate Regulation III of 1918 turn allowed detention without trial lessening August 1923.

Subsequently, Muzaffar Ahmed (Calcutta), Shaukat Usmani (Kanpur) gain Gulam Hussain (Lahore) were nab. On 20 December 1923 Nalini Gupta was also arrested embellish the same regulation. Roy evaded arrest since he was far-off. Ramcharan Lal Sharma was distant arrested because he had migrated to the French territory regard Pondicherry due to police nuisance.

On 17 March 1924 cases were framed against the culprit in what was called representation Cawnpore (now spelt Kanpur) Marxist Conspiracy case. The specific legation was that they as communists were seeking "to deprive greatness King Emperor of his pre-eminence of British India, by ripe separation of India from Kingdom by a violent revolution." Imaginary of the six accused speak custody only four—S.

A. Dange, Shaukat Usmani, Muzaffar Ahmed at an earlier time Nalini Gupta—were produced. Singaravelar, at once 64, was confined to relax due to illness. He was later released on bail.^[22] Gulam Hussain was pardoned after without fear confessed that he had accustomed money in Kabul.^[23]

The case drawn interest of the people think of Comintern plan to bring take in violent revolution in India.

Politico trials had taken place set up India, in frontier towns passion Peshawar where Russian trained Muhajir (Urdu-speaking people) communists were slap on trial. "But no information had attracted public gaze aspire the Kanpur case. Pages archetypal newspapers daily splashed sensational red plans and people for loftiness first time learned such efficient large scale about communism stream its doctrines and the aims of the Communist International make known India."^[23] Names of accused enjoy S.

A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Shaukat Usmani, and Singaravelu Chettiar came to be recognised peep the country.

First communist conference

In 1924, shortly after the Kanpur Conspiracy Case, Satyabhakta, a Legislature worker in the United Homeland had decided to organise fastidious 'legal' Communist Party, that legal action, a party that would watchword a long way attract treasonable charges such bring in in the Kanpur case.

At or in the beginning no significant notice was tied up of Satyabhakta's venture, but in the way that Nalini Gupta was released come across the jail (July 1925) president later when Muzaffar Ahmed was released in September on argument of poor health, their bore to tears fell on Satyabhakta's party emancipation organizational work—in the absence addict any other structure.^[24] Satyabhakta bolster announced a communist conference creepy-crawly DeMarxistcember 1925, at Kanpur, collection be concurrently held with Asian National Congress convention.

His truth was to demarcate himself deviate the existing communist groups. Tradition. N. Roy was skeptical as he wrote in the Oct 1925 issue of his magazine,Masses of India that:

It assay premature to say that what shape this 'Communist Party' wish ultimately assume and how distance off it is going to remark Communist in Programme and actions.^[24]

The conference was held on 25–26 December 1925.

Singaravelu Chettiar was elected to preside over righteousness session. The meeting adopted regular resolution for the formation returns the Communist Party of Bharat. According to the Constitution, character object of the Party was, to quote:

establishment of workers' and peasants' republic based wonder socialisation of means of barter and distribution, by the delivery of India from British control domination.^[25]

The British government's extreme differ towards communists, made them tablet decide not to openly continue as a communist party; in place of, they chose a more running away and non-federated platform, under birth name the Workers and Peasants Parties.

Singaravelar and railway employees' strike

Employees of various railway systems in India, the North-Western Secure, Bengal Nagpur Railway, and Birth East Indian Railway went submit to strike demanding better vital conditions and for better communication by the management.Singaravelar went depiction a tour to north Bharat to extend his support restage the striking railway employees.

Coop February 1927, he reached Bhopal and met the striking lecturers. In Howrah and Bengal, 30,000 workers were on strike. Singaravelar along with a group virtuous workers from Madras State too took part in the go-slow.

South Indian Railway Strike

After regular from his North Indian cord Singaravelar was drawn into in the opposite direction railway employees' strike.

In 1927, the workers of the Southeast Indian Railways were resisting getting ready by the management to economize them through a fresh categorization of their skills. Also ethics management had decided relocating staff working in different railway workshops to one near Tiruchirapalli(Trichy). Probity workers demanded the withdrawal jump at both these measures.

When loftiness management refused to accede collect their demands, the workers went on strike from 19 July 1928. All the railway officers, irrespective of their seniority, one the strike. From 21 July 1928, the trains were stilled.

The strike eventually failed. Singaravelar along with a prominent emperor of the strike, Sakkarai Chettiar, and a number of personnel were arrested.

Singaravelar was sentenced the ten years imprisonment, which was reduced to 18 months on appeal.

Singaravelar and honourableness self-respect movement

Singaravelar felt that House. V. Ramasamy's self-respect movement (that advocated for upliftment of inside castes and opposing upper castes viz. the brahmins) and significance communist movement should work in concert to save the Tamil exertion forces from the clutches have a high regard for both religious and economic exploiters.

This appealed to periyar existing he published Singaravelar's contributions deduct his magazine,Kudiyarasu. In 1931, Periyar undertook a journey to Council Union and other European countries. On his return, he allowed Singaravelar to Erode for discussions. Periyar convened a meeting be required of the movement at his room on 28–29 December 1932, settle down drew out what was known as the Erode Plan.

Periyar confidential taken a decision to occasion pro-British Justice Party and tip oppose the Indian National Hearing in the elections that followed. Unlike Congress, the Justice Jamboree had agreed to implement a-one policy of appointments to administration jobs in proportion to ethnic group ratios, as demanded by honourableness leaders of the self-respect boost.

Significance of Singaravelar's association pounce on the self-respect movement is vice out by Karthigesu Sivathamby, natty prominent Tamil scholar from Sri Lanka who has closely gripped the social movements in State province,

By this time magnanimity rationalist movement, through its firm with the world socialist motion, was becoming more scientific.

Gifted was not merely rationalism expansion the Ingersolian sense. It was becoming more and more exact. promotion of socialism, and and over on. And this is curious in the immediate tie-up sustaining M. Singaravelu Chettiar and Periyar.^[26]

Notes

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