T. S. Avinashilingam
Tiruppur Subrahmanya Avinashilingam Chettiar (5 May 1903 – 21 November 1991) was an Indian lawyer, politician, freedom-fighter and Gandhian. He served as the Education Minister of Madras Presidency from 1946 to 1949 and was responsible for introducing Tamil as the medium of instruction. He is also credited with having commissioned the creation of the first Tamil encyclopedia.
Tiruppur Subrahmanya Avinashilingam Chettiar | |
|---|---|
T. S. Avinashilinam Chettiar in 1947 | |
| Member of the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) | |
| In office 1958–1964 | |
| Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Member of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) for Tiruppur | |
| In office 1952–1957 | |
| Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Minister of Education (Madras Presidency) | |
| In office 1946–1949 | |
| Premier | Tanguturi Prakasam, O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar |
| Member of the Imperial Legislative Council of India | |
| In office 1934–1945 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 May 1903 Tiruppur, Madras Presidency |
| Died | 21 November 1991 (aged 88) Coimbatore |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Alma mater | Pachaiyappa's College, Madras Madras Law College |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Avinashlingam Chettiar was born to K. Subrahmanya Chettiar at Tiruppur. He was a nephew of politician T. A. Ramalingam Chettiar. Avinashilingam had his early education at Tiruppur, Coimbatore and Madras and graduated in law from Madras Law College of the University of Madras. He joined the Indian Independence Movement and participated in Civil Disobedience and the Quit India Movement. He also served as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council and later, education minister of Madras. He is also credited with introducing reforms in Indian society.
Avinashlingam was a devout Gandhian and was a strong follower of Gandhian economics. He was also a renowned social reformer and follower of the Ramakrishna Mission. He also a father of library movement in Tamilnadu.