Jayalalithaa Opens Vanchinathan Memorial in Shencottah Interview By Ramanathan The long-felt demand of people of the State, particularly those of southern districts, for a memorial dedicated to freedom fighter R. Vanchinathan (1886-1911) was fulfilled on Monday with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa declaring open the memorial in Shencottah, a place from which the freedom fighter hailed. Like many other youngsters of his time, Vanchinathan was fired by the national movement for freedom. Hailing from the composite Tirunelveli district, he had observed the region experiencing violent scenes in 1908 in the wake of the arrest of V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, popularly known as VOC, and Subramania Siva. According to a publication of the Crime Branch - Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) released in 2011, Vanchinathan and other revolutionaries had a grudge against the then Tirunelveli Collector and District Magistrate Robert William D' Escourt Ashe for his role in scuttling the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, established by VOC in 1906. It was for this reason and Vanchinathan and some others had decided to kill the Collector. On June 17, 1911, Ashe and his wife Mary were on their way to Kodaikanal when their train made a halt at the Maniyachi railway junction, now in Tuticorin district. As they were waiting for their first-class coach to be attached to the Boat Mail that was to arrive shortly, Vanchinathan along with his accomplice, Madasamy, entered the compartment and fired at the Collector, using an automatic Belgian-made Browning pistol, the police document says. An hour later (11-30 a.m.), the Collector died of internal haemorrhage. In the meantime, a crowd at the railway junction chased them. While Madasamy could never be traced, Vanchinathan entered a toilet and shot himself dead. To perpetuate the memory of the freedom fighter, the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime had announced that a memorial would be built in Shencottah. It was left to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to translate the plan into a reality. An amount of Rs. 50 lakh was sanctioned for the memorial, which had a bust of the martyr. Describing Vanchinathan as one among those idealist youths who were willing to sacrifice their lives, A. R.Venkatachalapathy, Professor of the Madras Institute of Development Studies who has carried out research in the subject, says that the aim of such rebels was to resort to spectacular strikes so that consciousness of people was aroused and the then British regime was overthrown. "But, that backfired spectacularly as the repulse of the British was severe," Prof. Venkatachalapathy says. Selvi J Jayalalithaa Honble Chief Minister Date of Birth February 24,1948 Birth Place Mysore Education Matriculation Marital Status Unmarried Political Career Under the guidance of her mentor Puratchi Thalaivar Dr.M.G.R., she entered Politics and became a Member in A.I.A.D.M.K., in 1982; In January 1983 she was appointed as the Propaganda Secretary of A.I.A.D.M.K; In February 1983, she was chosen by Dr. M.G.R. to conduct her maiden election campaign for the A.I.A.D.M.K., candidate in the bye-election to the Tiruchendur Assembly Constitutency. Her election campaign was a trial blazer securing an astounding victory for the Party candidates agaisnst all odds; In 1984 she was elected as a Member of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha and retained the seat until she was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1989; When Dr.M.G.R., fell ill and was under medical treatment in the U.S.A., the A.I.A.D.M.K., had to fight the General Elections to the Lok Sabha and to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in December 1984. In the absence of Dr.M.G.R., she took his place and spear-headed the alliance of the A.I.A.D.M.K., and the Congress (I) securing a massive victory for the alliance. Contact Address 'Veda Nilayam', 81/36, Poes Garden, Chennai-600 086. Contact Number 044 24991222(R) , 044 25672345(O),EXTN-5666 Fax 044 25671441 Email cmcell@tn.gov.in Thiru P.G. Rajendran (AIADMK) 223. Alangulam, Tirunelveli District Date of Birth 26th May 1969 Place of Birth Thayarthoppu Education (M.A.) Marital Status Married; Two Children. Occupation Agriculture Political Career Member, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, 2001-2006; District Counsilor, Alangkulam from 2006-2011. Chennai: A1A, MLAs Quarters, Omanthoorar Government Estate, Chennai-600 002. Mofussil: Thayarthoppu, Veera Kelampudur Taluk-627 861. Chennai--Residence: 044-25365212 Mobile: +91 9443356855 E-mail: mlaalangulam@tn.gov.in

• published: 24 Dec 2013
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