Chakravarti Rajagopalachari

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari was an Indian politician, independence activist, lawyer, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India. He also served as leader of the Indian National Congress, Chief Minister of Madras Presidency (present Tamil Nadu), Governor of West Bengal and Minister for Home Affairs of the Indian Union. Rajagopalachari founded a political party called Swatantra Party and was one of the first winners of India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He was against the use of nuclear weapons and was a supporter of world peace. He was also called by the nickname 'Mango of Krishnagiri'.

 Life 
Rajagopalachari was born in the village of Thorapalli in the Krishnagiri district of the Madras Presidency (now the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu). He went to school at Central College, Bangalore, and Presidency College, Madras. After entering politics, he became a member and later President of the Salem municipality. He joined the Indian National Congress and was against the Rowlatt Act. He joined the Non-Cooperation movement, the Vaikom Satyagraha, and the Civil Disobedience movement. In 1930, Rajagopalachari risked going to prison when he led the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha in response to the Dandi March. In 1937, Rajagopalachari became Premier of the Madras Presidency and served until 1940, when he resigned because of Britain's declaration of war on Nazi Germany. After this, he supported co-operation with Britain's war effort and was against the Quit India Movement.

In 1946, Rajagopalachari became Minister of Industry, Supply, Education and Finance in the Interim Government of India. He then was the Governor of West Bengal from 1947 to 1948, Governor-General of India from 1948 to 1950, Home Minister of India from 1951 to 1952 and Chief Minister of Madras state (present Tamil Nadu) from 1952 to 1954. In 1959, he resigned from the Indian National Congress and founded the Swatantra Party, which stood against the Congress in the 1962, 1967 and 1972 elections. Rajagopalachari was an important person in setting up a united Anti-Congress front in Madras state under C. N. Annadurai, which swept the 1967 elections.
References

Category:Tamil Nadu politicians
Category:Governors of West Bengal
Category:1878 births
Category:1972 deaths
Category:Indian National Congress politicians