You can see the name of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, popularly known as the first Tamil sailor in many places in Tamil Nadu. This is not only because he was the first Tamil to sail but also because of the digging he did for our country, the liberation struggle, and the donation he made for our people. You can see many things like the VOC ground, VOC Road, VOC stadium which is all his land and he donated it to the people. Let us now look at the life of Chidambaram Pillai, who has many faces as a lawyer, writer, and freedom fighter.
Early Life
Valliyappan Ulaganathan Chidambaram Pillai was born on September 5, 1872, in the Tirunelveli district. He was born to Ulaganathan Pillai and Paramaayee Ammal. Born into a wealthy family, he began his education at an early age. He started learning both Tamil and English at an early age and continued his studies at CEOA High School and Caldwell High School in Thoothukudi.
Then he worked as a clerk in Taluk's office for a while. Then his father advised him to study law(his father too a good lawyer). Then he studied law in Tiruchirappalli. Chidambaram Pillai, who later became a lawyer after completing his law studies, will often advocate only for the poor and common people and for justice. He is unique in that he advocates for justice among lawyers who advocating only for money.
Thirst for freedom
While a lawyer, he had the opportunity to meet Swami Vivekananda. Later in the discussion, Swami Vivekananda told Chidambaram Pillai, "You have to do some things for the country." Inspired by that he joined the Indian Congress Party in 1905 and started working. He then advocated for the freedom fighters for free and bought freedom.
Chidambaram Pillai was convicted of treason by the British and imprisoned for life for his many freedom fights against the British. Especially the Coral mill strike. It is noteworthy that he was imprisoned at Palayamkottai. Chidambaram Pillai did not give up after going to jail and continued his liberation struggle there. After going to jail, Chidambaram became a writer. He was still persecuted by the British after his imprisonment. There he checked. Thus he got the nickname of the "chekkilutha chemmal".
As a writer
Chidambaram Pillai has written many Tamil translation books as he knows English. Apart from this, he has written commentaries on Thevaram, Akananuru, Thiruvasakam, and Purananuru which came in Tamil. Also, he has written a synopsis for the famous text Thirukural.
Shipping company
The first and foremost step he took against the British was to start a shipping company. At that time only the English owned ships for shipping and travel. To compete with them he started the worth of 10 lakh Rs Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company (SSNC) in 1906.
Pandithuraithevar owned the largest stake in the Sundarampillai Company. The company has two ships. Their voyage was from Thoothukudi to Sri Lanka. Business and travel took place. His shipping company was very well received by the people in the beginning but later his shipping company started to slide due to the free offer of the British.
Later life
His later life was not so good for him who made so many sacrifices. There is not even a single person to greet him when he is released from prison. And the English snatched away his license for a lawyer. Thus the situation has come to him that there is no way for rice.
After this, he went to Chennai and made a living by selling kerosene and rice. The money that was supposed to come to him from South Africa also joined the Congress party without joining him. Although he was orphaned by many Indian leaders, an English judge who was inspired by him fought for him and regained his professional lawyer(license).
He then went back to Thoothukudi where he was quietly watching the work of a lawyer and then died on November 18, 1936.
Monuments
Chidambaram gave all his possessions to the people and died poor. Many charities, libraries, roads, and even a private college are named after him in honor of his sacrifice. To commemorate his sacrifice, the Tamil Nadu government has erected statues of him at Palaiyamkotta arch, at Marina beach, at Thoothukudi port, at congress committee office and etc.
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