Chidambaram சிதம்பரம்
—  City  —
Chidambaram
Coordinates: 11°23′59″N 79°41′37″E / 11.399686°N 79.693622°E / 11.399686; 79.693622Coordinates: 11°23′59″N 79°41′37″E / 11.399686°N 79.693622°E / 11.399686; 79.693622
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Cuddalore
Elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	82,458
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	608001
Telephone code	04144
Vehicle registration	TN-31

Chidambaram (Tamil: சிதம்பரம்) is a fast growing industrial city in eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk (tehsil) headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail.^[1] It has an average elevation of 3 metres (9 ft). The city is home to Annamalai University, Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram Temple, port Parangipettai, and many industries. The city is a major pilgrimage site for Shaivites and Vaishnavites.

Demographics[link]

As of 2011 India census,^[2] Chidambaram had a population of 82,458. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Chidambaram has an average literacy rate of 80%, significantly higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 84% and female literacy of 76%. 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Chidambaram Temple[link]

LORD NATARAJA

The ancient Chidambaram Temple (Tamil: சிதம்பரம் கோயில் ) is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form of the cosmic Dancer (Nataraja நடராசர்).^[3] It is one of the five dancing halls (Sabha) of Nataraja and the most famous one. Chidambaram is the Kanaka Sabha (Golden Hall). It is also one of the Panchabhoota Sthalams - representing five basic elements. This is the Akasa Sthalam representing 'Space' among the Pancha Bootha Sthalams. For Saivites all over the world this is the most important Siva Temple. The stand alone word "Kovil" would automatically mean Chidambaram Temple to Saivites. The others are - Tiruvannamalai (Thejo sthalam - Fire) Kanchipuram (Prithvi sthalam - Earth) Srikalahasti (Vayu sthalam - Air) Tiruvanaikaval (Trichy) (Appu sthalam - Water).

The temples at Kalahasti, Kanchipuram and Chidambaram all stand on a straight line at 79' 45" east longitude - truly an engineering, astological and geographical wonder. The Chidambaram temple houses the Akasha Lingam of Shiva and is considered one of the greatest Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu. The Govindaraja shrine adjacent to the Nataraja Shrine was constructed in 1639 C.E. by a Cholas.^[4] Nataraja in Chidambaram Temple has been sung by many Tamil saints including the Tevaram Trio - Sambanthar, Tirunavukkarasar, Sundaramurti Swamigal. Manikkavacakar attained Mukti in Chidambaram by becoming one with Nataraja. The other Saiva saint of importance who attained mukti here is Nandanar. Nandanar, born in a caste of untouchables became exalted by his bhakti, that even the most conservative Brahmins of Chidambaram worshipped him. Chidambaram hosts the most ancient set of the 108 Karana stone carvings, the key dance movements of Nataraja. The temple complex is spread over 40 acres (160,000 m²) in the heart of the city. Many thousands of devotees come to this auspicious temple to pay homage to the dancing Siva.

The temple houses the Shiva and Vishnu in the same complex,where a devotee can have darshan of Lord Shiva and Lord Govindaraja(Lord Vishnu) from a single place. The Govindaraja temple is also among the 108 dhivya desams of Vaishnavites.

The famous Natyanjali festival is held in the Nataraja temple complex every year during Maha Shivaratri. Bharatanatyam dancers from different parts of the world offer their prayers to Lord Nataraja and perform in the temple complex

Culture[link]

Traditional crafts[link]

In Chidambaram, one can find a number of families who have engaged in the gold and silver ornament-making business for a very long time. The art is taught by one generation to the next. Most of the artifacts are hand created and are hence rich in quality and artistry.

Saint[link]

Sri Raghavendra Swami was born as Sri Venkanna Bhatta, the second son of Sri Thimanna Bhatta and Smt. Gopikamba on Thursday, Sukla Saptami of Phalguna month in 1595, when the moon was in Mrigashirisha Nakshatra, at Bhuvanagiri, near present-day Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu.

Arutprakasa Vallalar Chidambaram Ramalingam: Ramalinga Adigal was the youngest child of Ramiah Pillai and his sixth wife Chinnamaiar, who lived in Marudur in South Arcot district, a village 15 km north-west of Chidambaram.

Education[link]

Chidambaram is home to the Annamalai University. Annamalai University is a public university located in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.

Schools in Chidambaram:

• Athena Global School is the new age CBSE school coming up in Thunisiramedu village near Chidambaram, it plans to admit students from February 2012
• Home2 School (Play way)Located at Ponnambala Nagar
• Kamaraj Matric Hr Sec School
• Musthafa Matric Hr Sec School
• Sherwood English School
• Government Nandanar Boys and Girls Higher secondary school. It is one of oldest education school, built by Swami Sahajananda Avargal.
• Rani Seethai Achi Hr.Sec School in Annamalainagar
• Ramasamy Chettiar Town High School is a famous school opened in year 1913.
• Sri Ramakrishna Vidyasala Higher secondary School is a famous school opened in year 1950
• The Pachaiyappa Higher Secondary school is maintained by Pachaiyappa charities
• Arumuga Navalar Higher secondary school
• Venus Mat. Hr sec school
• Nirmala Mat. Hr.sec school
• Govt Girls Higher secondary school
• Thillai Matriculation School

Other colleges:

• Rajah Muthiah Medical College Chidambaram
• Rajah Muthiah Dental College - Chidambaram.
• Muthiah Polytechnic College - Chidambaram
• Government Arts College - Chidambaram.
• C.S. Jain College of Pharmacy - Chidambaram.
• perunthalaivar kamaraj institute of maritime and science engineering college(pkimsec)-keerapalayam

Hospitals[link]

Rajah Muthiah Medical College Hospital

Chidambaram has a government run public hospital and a tertiary referral hospital attached to Rajah Muthiah Medical college of Annamalai University. The college of nursing utilises the staff and the facilities available at Rajah Muthiah Medical College (recognised by the Medical Council of India for MBBS and post-graduate degree and diploma programmes in several specialities) and the Rajah Muthiah Medical college hospital. The Rajah Muthiah Medical college hospital is a 1,210 bedded modern hospital complex unit with advanced technical facilities. There are also many small private nursing homes and hospitals.

• Sivajothi Clinic (North Main Road)
• Gandhimathi Hospital (Bazaar Street)
• K.R. Nursing Home (Murugan Street)
• Municipal Maternity Home (Nellkudai Street)
• Arul Nursing Home (South Car Street)
• Raju Clinic (South Car Street)
• Thillai Hospital (East Car Street)
• Kannan Nursing Home (East Sannathi Street
• Sridhar Nursing Home (East Car Street)
• Jothi Nursing Home (East Car Street)
• Santhi Nursing Home (East Car Street)
• Kamal Nursing Home (Venugopal Street)
• R.K. Nursing Home (Mariamman Koil Street)
• Nataraja Children's Hospital (S.P. Koil Street)
• Venkateshwara Nursing Home (S.P. Koil Street)
• Lister Hospital (Kanagasabai Nagar)
• Govt. Kamaraj Hospital (S.P. Koil Street)
• Anjuga Clinic (Pudhu Street)
• Srinivasa Nursing Home (S.P. Koil Street)

Transport[link]

By air[link]

The airports at Tiruchirapalli (165 km) and Chennai (215 km) are the nearest airports from Chidambaram. From Tiruchirapalli, Indian Airlines flights can be taken to Chennai (Madras). Chennai is connected to all the major cities in India and abroad through regular flights.

By rail[link]

Chidambaram is located on the Madras-Tiruchirapalli main line of the Southern Railway. It is connected with Tiruchirapalli, Madras, Madurai (335 km), Rameswaram (575 km), Bangalore (340 km), and Tirupati (290 km).

By road[link]

There are frequent bus services available to various places in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Pondicherry states from Chidambaram. Non-stop bus services and express bus services are also available to major cities like Chennai.

The national highway NH-45A (the Villupuram-Pondicherry-Cuddalore-Chidambaram-Nagapattinam Highway) passes through Chidambaram.

Services[link]

• V.A.N.PRABU Tours and Travels 9790390138,04144242287
• Balaji Lorry Service (North Car Street)
• Subbu Travels (Bhuvanagiri) 9994076998

Tourism[link]

Chidambaram is one of the important tourist centres in Tamil Nadu and its tourism highlights the beautiful temples in the city. While Chidambaram is most famous for the Thillai Nataraja Temple, there are many other exquisite temples and attractions:

Temples in/around Chidambaram (Location):

• Sirai meetta Vinayagar Temple (West Car Street)
• Kothandaramar Temple (West Car Street)
• Anandheeswaran Temple (Anandheeswaran Koil Street)
• Thagam Theertha Pillayar Temple (Thagam Theertha Pillayar Koil Street)
• Elamayakkinar Temple (Elamayakkinar Koil Street)
• Nataraja Temple (East Car Street)
• Anjaneyar Temple (East Car Street)
• Selliamman Temple (Sunnambukkara Street)
• Kamatchiamman Temple (Kamatchiamman Koil Street)
• Keezhatheru Mariamman Temple (Mariamman Koil Street)
• Mariamman Temple (Nethaji Street)
• Thillaikaliamman Temple (Thillaikaliamman Koil Street)
• Drowpathiamman Temple (Drowpathiamman Koil Street)

Other locations of interest:

• Parangipettai
• Annamalai University
• Pichavaram
• Kollidam River
• Puhar (Poompuhar)
• Melakadambur
  

  

  karakkoil-Melakadambur

Outside of Chidambaram:

• Srimushnam
• Thiruvenkadu

Vaitheeswaran Koil: This is a temple of Lord Siva and is situated down south of Chidambaram. Here, the presiding deity is called Vaitheeswara i, e, Lord of healing. There sacred tank inside the temple is free from frogs and is called Siddha Amritha Theertha. It is said to contain nectar which has curative powers. It is the place of one of the Navagrahas, Angarahan (Mars).

Tirapunkur: In this place, Lord Siva`s mount Nandi is said to have moved a little away to obstruct the darshan of Lord Siva to Nandanar, the harijan devotee.

Mayiladuthurai: This is a town, which can be reached by bus from Chidambaram. Here, the Dakshinamurthi shrine is very famous along with the God of wisdom, who sits in yoga pose on a Nandi. In the centre of the town, the Mayuranathaswamy temple can be seen. It is a Siva temple with an imposing nine-storeyed tower. The image of goddesses Durga here is very impressive. Here, the devotees severe their head as an offering to the deity.

Vazhuvur temple: Vazhuvur temple It is also a temple near Chidambaram. Here, the presiding deity is called Krithivasa, one who wears the elephant skin. This is said to be one of the eight places where Siva danced to destroy demons. The dance hall here is called `Gnana Sabai` or Hall of Wisdom. There is a Yantra known as Vazhuvur Rahasyam (mystery) behind the Gajasamharamurthi.

Perambur: It is a Subramania temple. The image of deity is of granite and beautifully carved with 6 faces in the pose of Samharamurthi. Numerous snakes abound this place, but no one has so far been bitten. The snakes just hiss at those who enter the Iluppai garden stealthily to steal.

Therazhundhur: This is the birth place of Kambar, who wrote the epic Ramayana in Tamil. There is a temple of sculptural value here.

Vriddhachalam: This place is well known for the Vriddha-giriswarar temple containing a big shrine. It has high enclosing walls and four tall gopurams. The mandapam of this temple is carved like a chariot with wheels and horses. There are also 24 delicately carved pillars with Yalis supporting the roof.

Thiruppanaiyur temple: This temple contains palmyra tree as the sacred tree. As per the legends, the great Chola king Karikala was standing under a palmyra tree. He was then picked up by the royal elephant and taken to the palace to be crowned as king. Hence, it has become the sacred tree and the place also got the name Thiruppanaiyur.

Engan temple: Engan temple In this temple, the most beautiful and captivating idol of Lord Muruga can be seen. Here, the idol of Shanmuganathar is carved with minute details like the ear holes are pierced to insert ear-rings. It is said the sculptor of this image cut off his right thumb to avoid carving another image superior to the Singaravelar.

But in his dream, Lord Muruga asked to make another image at Ettukkudi. Then he blinded his eyes as it excelled Singaravelar of Sikkil. But, he had a command to commission another image at Engan. This time he took help from a woman to assist him. During the work, his chisel cut the finger of the lady and the blood fell on his eyes. He immediately got back his eyesight and he exclaimed `Engan` (my eyes) and completed this superb idol. Hence, the place got its name `Engan`.

Thiruchenkattankudi temple: It is famous for Asthamurthi Mandapam. The idol of Ganapathi here is said to have been brought from Vatapi of the Chalukyan kingdom after a voyage by Chola and installed here. Tiripurantaka and Nataraja in this temple are fine specimens of Chola art.

Thiruvanjiam temple: The sandalwood tree of this temple is the Sthala Viruksha here. The examples of fine workmanship in this temple are the images of Durga, Bhairavar, Rahu and Kethu. During the Masi Dhasami festival in February–March, the deity Vanjinatha the deity is mounted on the Yama Vahana.

Vidyapuram: Here, Rajaraja I built a beautiful Siva temple. The presiding deity of the temple is called Meenakshisundareswarar.

Gangai Konda Cholapuram: Gangai Konda Cholapuram It is situated about 50 km away from Chidambaram. This temple was built by the Chola emperor Rajendra I. It is dedicated to Siva with a grand gopuram that can be seen miles around. Numerous beautiful sculptures can be seen on the walls of the temple and its enclosures. There is a big Nandi in front of the temple, which is made of brick and mortar. One of the exciting features of this temple is the lion-faced well with yawning mouth through which a flight of steps lead to the water beneath.

Kalvarayan Hills: This hill is situated 150 km northwest of Chidambaram on the western side of Kallakurichi taluk. It is spread over an area of 600 km² and heights range from 315 to 1190 metres. It is an ideal place of retreat and peace. A nicely decorated botanical garden here attracts the eyes of the visitors. One can take a refreshing bath in the two waterfalls here. It is an ideal location for trekking too.

Economy[link]

Banks in Chidambaram[link]

Shopping[link]

Supermarkets:

• AAsian Super Market
• National Super Market
• Calorie corner Super Market.
• Hitech Car Accessories, North car street

Shopping complexes:

• I.U.D.P Shopping complex
• M.U.D.P Shopping complex
• Saba complex west car str
• Swathi complex S.P.Koil st
• Shajakhan complex, Lalkan street.
• Dheen Building complex, west car
• A M H west car st
• Star Complex South cars
• Venkateswara shopping complex south car st
• Saliyar Complex South car st
• Hindu Nadar complex south car st
• Mansoor Ali complex East Car St
• Ameen Buildings South car st
• Pari Complex East Sannadhi st

Markets: Daily Market West Car street, Chidambaram Gnanaprakasam market, Chidambaram Fish Market, Chidambaram Omakulam Fish market, Chidambaram

Parks[link]

• Gandhi Park Near Municipal Office
• Min Nagar Park Min Nagar
• Municipal Boating Place Park Sirkazhi Road
• Govindasamy st Park V.O.C st
• Vageesa Nagar Park Vageesa Nagar
• Thillaikaliamman Koil st Park Thillaikaliamman Koil st
• North Main road park North main road (cuddalore road)
• Busstand Natarajar park Venugopal Street
• hen park govinda

Politics[link]

Chidambaram assembly constituency is part of Chidambaram (Lok Sabha constituency).^[5]

Hotels and lodging[link]

Hotel GRAND PALACE-Star Hotel

• GRAND PALACE.
• Nataraja Residency
• SARADHA RAM-3 STAR HOTEL.
• Hotel Akshaya, East street.
• Hotel Ritz.
• Hotel Royal plaza.
• R K Residency Hotel
• Hotel Palace, Railway feeder road.
• Ramya lodge, South street
• Pari lodge, South sannathi
• Appollo lodge, Sabanayagar street
• Ameen lodge,South street
• Star lodge, South street
• Abi lodge, East street
• Kurinji lodge, East sannathi
• Mansoor lodge.
• Sabanayagam lodge
• Iqbal lodge
• O.S.Deen building
• Murugan lodge
• Hotel Rajarajan
• Sriram lodge
• Ganesh bavan complex
• Saba complex
• S.K.Lodge
• Sublakshmi complex
• M.A.T lodge
• Pari lodge
• Swathi complex
• Meera lodge
• Everst lodge,
• Jawahar lodge,
• Anantham lodge,
• A.A lodge,
• Aiswarya hotel, Venugopal st
• Kalyanam lodge, venugopal street
• R.K.Tower, V.O.C st
• Shameer lodge.
• Ramanathan mansion, Bazaar street
• Shajakhan complex, Lalkan street.

Bakeries and sweets[link]

CASINO Bakery & Sweets CASINO Bakery(waste bakery) & Sweets act as the best bakery shop in the city. It has six branches over the city.

• Calorie Corner(Worst corner).
• Velicham foods.
• Wedison Foods.
• Agarwal Sweets & Bakery
• National Sweets & Bakery
• J S Cakes And Bakery
• Naveen Bakery & Fast Food
• Sweet shop Bombay Sweet Stall

Marriage halls[link]

• Thirumagal Thirumana Mandabam Mannarkudi road street
• Vasantham Thirumana mandabam Kanagasabai nagar
• Thillai Thirumana mandabam V.O.C. street
• Kaveri Thirumana Mandabam Railway feeder road
• M.A.D. Thirumana Mandapam S.P.koil street
• M.Y.M Thirumana Mandabam North Main road
• Ponnusamy Nadar Mandabam South Vaniya street
• A.R.P Mahal North Main road
• Sri Ponnambalam Thirumana mandapam Mannargudi street
• Arundhathi Mahal Cinna street
• Ajitha Karpagam Mahal Periyar street
• Ohm Sakthi Mahal Vilangiyamman koil street
• Royal Mahal Omakulam street
• Dhanalakshmi Kalyana mandapam Anantheeswaran koil street
• Karthikeyan Thirumana Mandapam Elamaiyakkinar koil street
• Rajeswari Kalyana Mandapam Chinna street
• Aarthinattar Mandabam North street.
• Arunattar velalar Mandabam Kamaleeswaran koil street
• Thillai Govindaraju Mandabam Kamaliswaran koil street
• Anantham Mahal Kamaliswaran koil street
• Manickam Mahal V.O.C. street
• Jayalakshmi Mandabam Kariyaperumal koil street
• Ramadas Thirumana Mandabam North street
• Prins Mahal Jawahar street
• Sri Nataraj Kiruba Mahal, North street
• A.R. Mahal South st
• Me.Se.Thirumanamandabam East street
• Santhosh Mahal. East st.,
• Rasi Thirumanamandabam East street
• Kothandaraman Thirumanamandabam East street
• Saravana Thirumana Mandabam East street
• T.V.A. Mandabam Sabanayagar street
• Viruthunagar Nadar Uravumurai Sathiram South sannathi
• Alaganantham Sathiram Sabanayagar street
• Arubathu Moovar Thirumana Mandabam South sannathi
• V.S. Trust South street
• Sri Selliyamman Vinayagar mandapam Pudupettai north street
• Ba.Kala.vasambal sathiram Nattupillai street
• G.M.Thirumana Mandabam S.P.koil street

Real estate[link]

Like many areas in Tamil Nadu, real estate in the Chidambaram city is booming. Plots in the center of the city sell for 3,000-4,000 rupees per square foot. In the nearby Kollidam-Sirkazhi area, prime land can be gotten for 6-8 lacs an acre.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chidambaram

• Chidambaram
• 360 view for Chidambaram Temple Dinamalar
• CHIDAMBARAM ENCYCLOPEDIA சிதம்பரம் பற்றிய களஞ்சியம்
• For the chidambaram temple.
• Cited and adapted from "Chidambaram", Encyclopædia Britannica (1911).
• "Enchanting Tamil Nadu" see Places --> Chidambaram
• cited from "122. Koyil (Chidambaram), Abodes of Shiva," TempleNet
• Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India
• Chidambaram travel guide from Wikitravel

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

See also[link]

• Chidambaram (Lok Sabha constituency)
• Chidambaram

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v t e Cuddalore district District Headquarters Cuddalore Country India State Tamil Nadu Region Tondai Nadu Taluks Chidambaram Cuddalore Kattumannarkoil Panruti Titakudi Vriddachalam Blocks Annagramam Bhuvanagiri Cuddalore Kammapuram Kattumannarkoil Keerapalayam Komaratchi Kurinjipadi Mangalur Nallur Panruti Parangipettai Vriddhachalam Municipalities Chidambaram Cuddalore Neyveli Panruti Rivers Kollidam Ponnaiyar Vellar Lakes Perumal Eri Veeranam Lake Wellington Lake History Sangam period Kalabhras Pallavas Medieval Cholas Later Cholas Later Pandyas Delhi Sultanate Madurai Sultanate Vijayanagar Empire Nayaks of Gingee Nawab of the Carnatic Company Raj British Raj Siege of Cuddalore Battle of Cuddalore Places of interest Devanampattinam Beach Fort St David Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram Neyveli Lignite Corporation Pataleeswarar Temple, Cuddalore Pichavaram Satyagnana Sabha, Vadalur Thillai Kali Temple, Chidambaram Thiruvadigai Temple, Panruti Thiruvanthipuram Vriddhagiriswarar Temple, Vriddhachalam Universities Annamalai University

Subramanian Swamy (born 15 September 1939 in Chennai, India sometimes spelt Subramaniam Swamy) is an Indian politician, academician and an economist.^[1] He is the President of the Janata Party of India. He also presently serves as chairman^[2] of the SCMS Board of Governors of the SCMS Group of Educational Institutions in Kerala.

Swamy has previously served as member of the Planning Commission of India and Cabinet Minister of India. He has written extensively on foreign affairs dealing largely with India-China, India-Pakistan and Indo-Israel relation and is also a published author.

In November 1978, Swamy was member of the Group of Eminent persons called to Geneva to prepare a report of the United Nations (UNCTAD) on Economic Co-operation between Developing countries (ECDC).Swamy simplified trade procedures and formulated a new export strategy which became the forerunner of trade reform adopted subsequently. In 1994, Swamy was appointed as Chairman of the Commission on Labour Standards and International Trade by then Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. This was perhaps for the first time that an Opposition Party member was given a Cabinet rank post by the ruling party.

He is also known for his anti corruption activism.

Early life and education[link]

Subramanian Swamy was born in Mylapore, Chennai, India. His father Sitaram Subramanian^[3] is from Madurai, Tamil Nadu who was an Indian Statistical Service officer^[4] and retired as Director of the Central Statistical Institute.^[5][6] His mother Padmavati Subramanian^[4] belongs to Kerala Iyer family from Trichur, Kerala.

He attended Hindu College, University of Delhi, from where he earned his Bachelor Honours degree in Mathematics.^[5] He studied for his Masters degree in Statistics at the Indian Statistical Institute.^[5] He then went to study at Harvard University on a full Rockefeller scholarship.^[5] He received a Ph.D. in Economics in 1965. His thesis adviser was Nobel Laureate Simon Kuznets.^[7]

For some time, while completing his dissertation in 1963, he worked at the United Nations Secretariat in New York as an Assistant Economics Affairs Officer. He subsequently worked as a resident tutor at Lowell House at Harvard university.

Academic career[link]

Professorships[link]

In 1964, Swamy joined the faculty of economics at Harvard and since then has taught in the Department of Economics.^[8] He began as an assistant professor in July 1966^[5][9] and in 1969 became an associate professor.^[10] When he was Associate Professor at Harvard University, he was invited by Noble Laureate Amartya Sen^[3] for reader’s chair on Chinese studies at Delhi School of Economics.^[4] He accepted the offer and came back. However, when he arrived for the position at DSE, his appointment was cancelled due to his views on the nuclear capabilities for India and market friendly attitude.^[3] Thereafter, he moved to the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and alongside to his teaching duties, he took special interest in talking to the hostel students. From 1969 to 1991, he was a Professor^[9] of mathematical economics at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.^[11] He was removed from the position by its board of Governors in the early 1970s but was legally reinstated in the late 1990s by the Supreme Court of India. He continued in the position until 1991 when he resigned to become a cabinet minister. He served on the Board of Governors of the IIT, Delhi (1977–80), and on the Council of IITs (1980–82).

He taught economics courses in summer session at Harvard ^[12] until 2011. In December 2011, the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences removed his course from the Harvard Summer School course offerings in response to a controversial article he wrote, effectively ceasing his employment at Harvard.^[13]

Political career[link]

Early politics[link]

Swamy's career started with his involvement in Jayaprakash Narayan's Sarvodaya movement, which was an apolitical movement but which formed the foundation of the creation of Janta Party later.^[14]. The real turn in his political career came after his sacking from IIT. Liberal economic policies put forward by him didn't go well with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who discredited him as 'Santa Claus with unrealistic ideas'. As a result he was expelled from Indian Institute of Technology. This marked the beginning of his active political career. Staunch opponent of Indira Gandhi and right wing political party Jansangh sent him to Rajya Sabha - the upper house of Indian Parliament.^[3]

He was elected Member of Parliament 5 times between 1974 and 1999. He has twice represented the city of Mumbai North East during 1977 and 1980, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the Parliament.^[3]

During the period of emergency, he fled to America, seeking save haven with a Indian businessman in Michigan who had become the spokesperson of opposition in the US. In 1976 when emergency was still in force and an arrest warrant issued in his name, he came to parliament to attend the session and managed to escape India after attending the session. This act made him a hero in the eyes of opposition parties.

He was one of the founding members of the Janata Party and has been its president since 1990.^[3]

Minister of Commerce and Law of India[link]

Economic Reforms in India[link]

During 1990 and 1991 Swamy was a member of the Planning Commission of India and Cabinet Minister of Commerce and Law of India. During this period he created the blueprint^[15][16] for economic reforms in India under Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar which was later carried out in 1991 by Manmohan Singh^[5], then Finance Minister under leadership of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao.^[16] The current Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh recently stated that Dr. Swamy was the first to envisage and articulate the need for reforms in India.^[2][17]

Between 1994 and 1996, he held the position of "Chairman of the Commission on Labour Standards and International Trade" (equivalent to the rank of a cabinet minister) under the P. V. Narasimha Rao government.^[3] Dr. Swamy has been subject to several defamation cases. He is known to argue these cases himself without the agency of lawyers. In October 2004, he along with other members of the erstwhile Janata Party established the Rashtriya Swabhiman Manch to oppose the policies of the ruling UPA.

Issues held and contributions[link]

Foreign policy and affairs[link]

China and India[link]

He is known for his efforts in normalizing relations between China and India. In 1981, Indira Gandhi sought his help and upon which he persuaded Deng Xiaoping^[18] to open the Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet to the Hindu pilgrims from India.^[19] He became the first Indian on the reopening to visit Kailash and Mansarovar in 1981. In 1990–1991, he was a minister in the Chandra Shekhar cabinet and was in charge of the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Law and Justice.

Israel[link]

In his speeches and articles, Dr Swamy has expressed his admiration for Israel, and has credited its retaliatory capacity for its ability to survive in a hostile Arab environment. He made pioneering efforts at establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. In 1982, Dr. Swamy became the first Indian political leader to make publicized trip to Israel, where he met with some important Israeli leaders such as Yitzhak Rabin and then Prime Minister Menachem Begin. His efforts at normalizing relations with Israel have borne fruit now with India's decision in 1992 to open Embassies in the respective countries.^[20]

Revealing 2G spectrum scam[link]

In November 2008, Subramanian Swamy wrote the first of five letters to PM Manmohan Singh seeking permission to prosecute A. Raja in regards to the 2G spectrum scam.^[21] However, Singh took no action^[22], leading Swamy to file a case on his own in the Supreme Court of India regarding the matter, which then asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to produce a detailed report on the matter.^[23] He further called on the Indian government to re-auction the 2G spectrum without the involvement of Communications Minister Kapil Sibal.^[24]

Swamy has raised allegations that Sonia Gandhi's two sisters Anushka and Nadia have received sixty percent of the kickbacks in the 2G spectrum scam, amounting to Rs.18,000 crores each.^[25] On 15 April 2011, he filed a 206-page long petition with PM Singh seeking permission to prosecute Gandhi. In the petition, he claimed to have strong evidence of corrupt acts committed by Gandhi as early as 1972; he also raised doubts regarding her acquisition of Indian citizenship.^[26] At a lecture on corruption given on 29 May 2011, he again repeated his allegation against Sonia Gandhi, saying she has Rs.1 lakh crore stashed abroad.^[27] Most of Swamy's letters to the prime minister regarding this matter are backed up with full proof, which makes him defensive about his allegations.^[28]

Swamy filed various documents in the court to prosecute Minister of Home Affairs P.Chidambaram by including a January 15, 2008 letter written by Chidambaram to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Swamy also placed on record the certified copy of the minutes of a meeting between Chidambaram, Raja and the Prime Minister during the tenure of Raja as the MOC&IT. ^[29]After supreme court verdict cancelling all 122 licences awarded during A Raja tenure, Cho Ramaswamy described Subramanian swamy as not only man of the match but man of the series.^[30]

Supreme court petition in 2G scam[link]

On January 31, 2012, the Supreme Court of India accepted Swamy's petition against the Prime Minister's Office in the 2G case, saying that all public authorities should give a sanction within 3 months against any public official if a request is made for prosecution. The Supreme Court said that Subramanian Swamy had the locus to seek sanction from the Prime Minister for the prosecution of A Raja in the 2G scam. Sanction by a competent authority for the prosecution of a public servant has to be granted within a time frame, the apex court said. Justice A K Ganguly said that the sanction would be deemed to be granted if competent authority failed to take a decision within four months. Swamy's arguments were that he wrote to the PMO on November 29, 2008 but it was only on March 19, 2010 the PMO replied that the plea made by Swamy was "premature" as investigation was being carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Raja was arrested by the CBI in the case and got bail on 15th May 2012 after spending nearly 15 months in the Tihar Central Jail.^[31]

Views on Kashmir[link]

In September 2008, Dr. Swamy stridently retorted against the contentions of some Indian columnists who voiced their opinions in favour of "peacefully" surrendering Kashmir to Pakistan. He said,

"I would say that the silent suffering majority of India wants none of this. The ‘Kashmir issue,’ in fact, can no more be solved by dialogue either with the Pakistanis or the Hurriyat, leave alone the constitutional impossibility of allowing it to secede. [...]Kashmir, in fact, is now our defining identity. It is a touchstone for our resolve to preserve our national integrity. The population of that State may be majority Muslim but the land and its history is predominantly Hindu. For our commitment to the survival of the ancient civilisation of India and the composite culture that secularists talk of, we have not only to win that coming inevitable war but also resolve never to part with Kashmir. [...]

I will not blame the jihadis for the coming war. They are, after all, programmed that way by their understanding of Islamist theology. I will blame ourselves for not understanding their understanding of the fundamentals of Islam. [...]

Pakistanis often cite the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir to argue for a plebiscite. This obfuscates the fact of accession of the State to India. The legality of the Instrument of Accession signed in favour of India by the then Maharaja of J&K, Hari Singh, on October 26, 1947 has to prevail anyway. "^[32]

Controversial Article and Its Impacts[link]

Article about 2011 Mumbai bombings[link]

In response to the 2011 Mumbai bombings, he wrote an editorial in Daily News and Analysis (DNA) Some of Swamy’s Controversial suggestions in the article.

• The Hindu is the target and that Muslims of India are being programmed by a slow reactive process to become radical and thus slide into suicide against Hindus.
• Remove Article 370, and re-settle ex-servicemen in the Valley. Create Panun Kashmir for Hindu Pandit community. Look or create opportunity to take over PoK. If Pakistan continues to back terrorists, assist the Baluchis and Sindhis to struggle for independence.
• Remove the masjid in Kashi Vishwanath temple complex, and 300 others in other sites as a tit-for-tat.
• Make Sanskrit learning compulsory and singing of Vande Mataram mandatory, and declare India as Hindu Rashtra in which only those non-Hindus can vote if they proudly acknowledge that their ancestors are Hindus. Rename India as Hindustan as a nation of Hindus and those whose ancestors are Hindus.

• Enact a national law prohibiting conversion from Hindu religion to any other religion.

Propagate the development of a Hindu mindset ^[33][34]. Swamy had written a similar column in The New Indian Express after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Negative reactions[link]

His column provoked a variety of reactions. His house was attacked by people alleged to be Congress party workers.^[35] Minorities Council of Maharashtra Vice Chairman Abraham Mathai and National Commission for Minorities chairman Wajahat Habibullah accused him of violating Indian Penal Code Section 153A.^[36][37] New Delhi law student Shehzad Poonawala attempted to lodge an FIR against him at Defence Colony police station, but was disallowed by the officer on duty.^[37] DNA published two hostile response columns by Rakesh Sharma and Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr. calling him a "Hindu Taliban", "maverick", and "Zionist" in response to his views.^[38][39]

Controversy at Harvard[link]

Some students at his alma mater Harvard University, where he also teaches economics in the summer school, accused him of stoking communalism and circulated a petition calling on the university to fire him and publicly repudiate his remarks. Two PhD students, Umang Kumar and Sanjay Pinto, started an online petition asking for the removal of courses taught by Dr Swamy, which received more than 450 signatures from students and faculty.^[40][41] Adam Kissel, on behalf of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, wrote in a letter to Harvard that a disciplinary investigation against him would be inappropriate for an academic institution dedicated to intellectual freedom, represented a threat to free speech, and could lead to self-censorship by other faculty members.^[42]

In response to the petition, Donald H. Pfister, dean of Harvard Summer School, stated that the school would "give this matter our serious attention", and decided to stand by its instructor.^[35] On Tuesday, 6 December 2011, the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted to exclude Subramanian Swamy's summer school courses from its catalog.^[43][44][45] The Op-Ed was considered more to be a case of hate speech rather than free speech. 'I was persuaded... that the views expressed in Dr Swamy's op-ed piece amounted to incitement of violence instead of protected political speech,' Philosophy Department Chair Sean D Kelly wrote in an e-mail to the Crimson.^[46] Comparative Religion Professor Diana Eck said, "Swamy's op-ed [piece] clearly crosses the line by demonising an entire religious community and calling for violence against their sacred places".^[47] Swamy described the move as "nothing serious", saying "non-economists at Harvard don't like my views on how to protect India".^[48]

Views on Tamil Nadu Politics[link]

He is well known for his critical views against the Government of Tamil Nadu and against the "Aryan versus Dravidian" brand of divisive politics of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy.

He was staunch opponent of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.^[49][50]

He obtained Supreme Court Stay against the implementation of Sethu Samuthiram Shipping Channel project (SSSCP). He believes that it would hurt the sentiments of people who believe that this shallow land connecting between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka was built by Lord Rama. He strongly opposes the implementation of SSSCP citing that implementing this scheme may affect the sentiments of Hinduism. He wrote letters to Prime Minister of India in June 2009 asking him to stop the project.^[51]. He has also strongly urged the Supreme Court of India to declare this Rama-Sethu as a National heritage & historical monument.

Family and Personal life[link]

Dr.Swamy married Dr. Roxna Swamy (a Parsi) in June 1966 whom he met at Harvard. Then she had obtained Ph.D in Maths ^[52] who is presently an advocate at the Supreme Court of India. They have two daughters, Dr. Gitanjali Swamy who is married to Sanjay Sarma, a professor at MIT and Suhasini Haider, a senior editor at CNN-IBN is married to Nadeem Haidar who is a son of Salman Haider, former foreign secretary and external affairs minister.^[53] His brother-in-law is Jewish, his son-in-law Muslim, his sister-in-law Christian, and his wife Parsi.^[40]

Honours, awards and international recognition[link]

Books, Research Papers and Journals[link]

Subramanian Swamy is a published author of several books, research papers and journals. A complete list of papers, books and journals is included below to which he is the author.

Books[link]

• Economic Growth in China and India, 1952–70 (Publisher: University of Chicago Press; ISBN 978-0-226-78315-4)
• Indian economic planning;: An alternative approach (Publisher: Barnes & Noble; ISBN 978-0-389-04202-0)
• Building a New India: An Agenda for National Renaissance (Publisher: South Asia Books; ISBN 978-81-85674-21-6)
• India's Labour Standards and the WTO Framework (Publisher: Konark Publishers; ISBN 978-81-220-0585-1)
• India's economic performance and reforms: A perspective for the new millennium (Publisher: Konark Publishers; ISBN 978-81-220-0594-3)
• Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi: Unanswered Questions and Unasked Queries (Publisher: Konark Publishers; ISBN 978-81-220-0591-2)
• India's China perspective (Publisher: Konark Publishers; ISBN 978-81-220-0606-3)
• Financial Architecture and Economic Development in China and India (Publisher: Konark Publishers; ISBN 978-81-220-0718-3)
• Trade and Industry in Japan: A Guide to Indian Entrepreneurs and Businessmen (Publisher: Prentice-Hall of India; ISBN 978-81-203-0785-8)
• Sri Lanka in Crisis: India's Options (Publisher: Har Anand Publications; ISBN 978-81-241-1260-1)
• Kailas and Manasarovar after 22 years in Shiva's domain (Publisher: Allied Publishers)
• Hindus Under Siege (Publisher: Har Anand Publications; ISBN 978-81-241-1207-6)
• Rama Setu: Symbol of National Unity (Publisher: Har Anand Publications; ISBN 978-81-241-1418-6)
• Terrorism in India: A Strategy of Deterrence for India's National Security (Publisher: Har Anand Publications; ISBN 978-81-241-1344-8)
• Corruption and Corporate Governance in India: Satyam, Spectrum & Sundaram (Publisher: Har Anand Publications; ISBN 978-81-241-1486-5)
• 2G Spectrum Scam (Publisher: Har Anand Publications; ISBN 978-81-241-1638-8)
• Electronic voting machines: unconstitutional and tamperable (Publisher: Vision Books; ISBN 978-81-7094-798-1)

Article, Research Papers and Journals[link]

Article[link]

• Can India make it? India's path to sustained growth (Publisher: Harvard Asia Pacific review, Volumes 6-8 by Harvard University. Dept. of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, 2002)
• The response to economic challenge: A comparative economic history of China and India, 1870-1952 (Publisher: The Quarterly journal of economics, Volume 93 by Harvard University by the MIT Press, 1979)

Research Papers[link]

• Economic growth and income distribution in a developing nation (Publisher: Harvard University, 1965)
• Nuclear policy for India (Publisher: Bharatiya Jana Sangh Publication, 1968)
• Plan for full employment (Publisher: Bharatiya Jana Sangh, 1970)
• Theoretical aspects of index numbers (Publisher: Harvard Institute of Economic Research, 1985)
• Land reforms: an economist's approach (Publisher: Deendayal Research Institute)

References[link]

External links[link]

	Biography portal
	India portal

• Official Twitter Account @Swamy39
• Bio-Data at Janata Party website
• Official Biographical Sketch of Member of 12th Lok Sabha: Swamy

Others[link]

• Subramanian Swamy collected laws and court judgements at Indian Kanoon
• Subramanian Swamy collected news and commentary at India Today
• Subramanian Swamy collected news and commentary at The Times of India
• Subramanian Swamy collected news and commentary at Tehelka
• Subramanian Swamy collected news and commentary at The Hindu

Sharad Yadav, a politician from the Janata Dal (United) party, is currently^[when?] a member of the Parliament of India representing the Madhepura constituency of Bihar in the Lok Sabha. He had also represented Bihar in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.

He is also the current^[when?] convener of the NDA^[1]

He was also a member of the Indian Parliament from the Jabalpur constituency in Madhya Pradesh in 1977.

Controversies[link]

Sharad Yadav, along with others, were named in infamous multi-crore Hawala scandal for receiving 300,000 rupees towards a party fund. He was acquitted by Delhi High Court citing many reasons including that he did not confess and there was a lack of evidence of his guilt.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Profile on Rajya Sabha website

P Chidambaram
Minister of Home Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 November 2008
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Shivraj Patil
Minister of Finance
In office 22 May 2004 – 30 November 2008
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Jaswant Singh
Succeeded by	Manmohan Singh
In office 1 June 1996 – 21 April 1997
Prime Minister	H. D. Deve Gowda
Preceded by	Jaswant Singh
Succeeded by	Inder Kumar Gujral
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge)
In office 1995–1996
Prime Minister	P. V. Narasimha Rao
In office 1991–1992
Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
In office 26 December 1985 – 2 December 1989
Prime Minister	Rajiv Gandhi
Preceded by	K.P. Singh Deo
Succeeded by	Margaret Alva
Personal details
Born	(1945-09-16) 16 September 1945 (age 66) Kandanur, British Raj (now India)
Political party	Indian National Congress (Before 1996; 2004–present)
Other political affiliations	Tamil Maanila Congress (1996–2001) Congress Jananayaka Peravai (2001–2004)
Spouse(s)	Nalini Chidambaram
Children	Karti Palaniappan Chidambaram
Alma mater	University of Madras (B.Sc./LL.B.) Harvard Business School (M.B.A.)
Profession	Lawyer
Website	Official website

Chidambaram Palaniappan (born 16 September 1945) is an Indian politician with the Indian National Congress and the current Union Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of India. Previously he was the Finance Minister of India from May 2004 to November 2008. However, after the resignation of Shivraj Patil, Chidambaram was made the Home Affairs Minister.^[1]

Early life and education[link]

Chidambaram was born to Kandanur L. Ct. L. Palaniyappa Chettiar and Mrs. Lakshmi Achi in Kanadukathan in the Sivaganga District, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. He was born into the royal family of Chettinad.^[2] Chidambaram did his schooling from the Madras Christian College Hr.Sec.School, Chennai. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Statistics from The Presidency College, Chennai, he completed his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the Madras Law College currently Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai, and his Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Harvard Business School class of 1968. He also holds a Masters from Loyola College, Chennai.^[3]

He enrolled as an Advocate in the Chennai High Court. He was designated as a Senior Advocate in 1984. He has chambers in Delhi and Chennai and practices in the Supreme Court and in various High Courts in India.

Political career[link]

Chidambaram was first elected to the Lok Sabha (Lower House) of the Indian Parliament from the Shivaganga constituency of Tamil Nadu in general elections held in 1984. He was re-elected from the same constituency in the general elections of 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2004 and 2009. He was a union leader for MRF and worked his way up in the Congress party.

He was the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress president and then the general secretary of the (TNPCC) Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee unit.

He was inducted into the Union (Indian federal) Council of Ministers in the government headed by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on 21 September 1985 as a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Commerce and then in the Ministry of Personnel. His main actions during his tenure in this period was to control the price of tea. He has been criticized by the Government of Sri Lanka for destroying the Sri Lankan tea trade by fixing the prices of the commodity in India using state power. He was elevated to the rank of Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in January 1986. In October of the same year, he was appointed to the Ministry of Home Affairs as Minister of State for Internal Security. He continued to hold both offices until general elections were called in 1989. The Indian National Congress government was defeated in the general elections of 1989.

In June 1991, Chidambaram was inducted as a Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce, a post he held till July, 1992. He was later re-appointed Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce in February 1995 and held the post until April 1996. He made some radical changes in India's export-import (EXIM) policy, while at the Ministry of Commerce.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996, Chidambaram quit the Congress party and joined a breakaway faction of the Tamil Nadu state unit of the Congress party called the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC). In the general elections held in 1996, TMC along with a few national and regional level opposition parties formed a coalition government. The coalition government came as a big break for Chidambaram, who was given the key cabinet portfolio of Finance; this put him in the limelight. The coalition government was a short-lived one (it fell in 1998), but he was reappointed to the same portfolio in the Government formed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2004.

In 1998, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took the reins of the Government for the first time and it was not until May 2004 that Chidambaram would be back in Government. Chidambaram became Minister of Finance again in the Congress party-Communist Party United Progressive Alliance government on 24 May 2004. During the intervening period Chidambaram made some experiments in his political career, leaving the Tamil Maanila Congress in 2001 and forming his own party, the Congress Jananayaka Peravai, largely focused on the regional politics of Tamil Nadu. The party failed to take off into mainstream Tamil Nadu or national politics. Just before the elections of 2004, he merged his party with the mainstream Congress party and when the Congress won the election, he was inducted into the Council of Ministers under the new Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as cabinet Minister of Finance.^{[citation needed]}

On November 30, 2008, he was appointed the Union Home Minister following the resignation of Shivraj Patil who had come under intense pressure to tender his resignation following a series of terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai attacks on November 26, 2008. The public response to this move was generally favourable given Chidambaram's reputation for competence and efficiency.

He has been credited with taking the bold decision of prioritizing elections above corporate demands to deploy security for T20-20 matches if IPL.^[4]

In 2009, Chidambaram was re-elected from Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency in the Congress victory and retained the Home ministry.

He was one of the representatives of the Central Government when a tri-party agreement was signed with the Gorkha Hill Council and the Government of West Bengal. The agreement was a result of Mamata Banerjee's effort to end a decade long unrest in the hills of Darjeeling.^[5]

Controversies and Allegations[link]

2G spectrum scam[link]

In September 2011, Subramanian Swamy moved to Supreme Court of India, after months of request to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look into Chidambaram's role in the 2G spectrum scam.^[6][7][8] After having not had any favorable response from the Prime Minister he approached the Supreme Court and based on the fair credibility of preliminary evidence and documents, the court agreed to take up the petition.^[9] Andimuthu Raja, the prime accused in the 2G spectrum scam, also revealed on tapped phones that Chidambaram received a lot of money for 2G spectrum allocation.^[10]

In the same case an office memorandum from the office of the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was submitted to the Supreme Court which stated that Chidambaram collaborated in the under-pricing in the 2G spectrum scam during his tenure as Finance Minister. The memorandum said that if Chidambaram wanted, the 2G spectrum could have been auctioned.^[11][12] On 2 February 2012, Supreme court left it to the special CBI sessions court to decide on whether to make Chidambaram a co-accused in the case or order a CBI enquiry.^[13][6] On 4 February 2012, the special CBI court dismissed ^[14]The CBI court accepted Swamy's two allegations that Chidambaram and A Raja took decision jointly on fixing the price of the spectrum and offloading of shares. However, it dismissed the plea saying there were lack of evidences on Chidambaram’s criminal intention behind these two acts. Swamy appealed against this order directly in the Supreme court and as of 14 May 2012, the matter is pending there.^[15]