T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai
Diwan Bahadur Sir Tinnevely Nelliappa Sivagnanam Pillai (1 April 1861 – 1936) was an Indian lawyer, civil servant and politician from the Madras Presidency. He belonged to the Justice Party. He served as the Minister of Development in the government of the Raja of Panagal from 1923 to 1926. Early life and education. Sivagnanam Pillai was born on 1 April 1861 to Nelliappa Pillai. He came from Tinnevely. He had his undergraduation in the Madurai Diraviyam Thayumanavar Hindu College, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He graduated from Madras Christian College. He completed law from Madras Law College in 1882  and practised as an advocate. Sivagnanam Pillai was selected for the Provincial Civil Service and served as a Deputy Collector. Upon retirement, he joined the Justice Party. In 1919, he was elected to the Madras Legislative Council from Tinnevely. He replaced Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu as Minister of Development on 19 November 1923. As Minister of Development. Sivagnanam Pillai was appointed Minister of Development in 1923, replacing Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu. Critics often opine that this was a move planned by the Raja of Panagal to appease the Tamil-speaking people of the Presidency. Sivagnanam Pillai thus has the distinction  of becoming the First Tamil Minister. During his tenure as the Minister of Development, Sivagnanam Pillai participated in the 9th All-India Non-Brahmin Conference held at Madras on 19 December 1925. He was knighted in the 1926 New Year Honours list, and formally invested with his knighthood by the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, on 18 February 1927 at Delhi. Personal life and family. Sivagnanam Pillai had three children: T S Avudaiappa Pillai, Sivakami Ammal and T S Ramalingam Pillai. Avudaiappa Pillai, born 28 March 1897, a career civil servant initially served in the provincial Civil Service and after Indian Independence  in 1947, served in the Indian Administrative Service until 1952. He acted as the Revenue Officer and Commissioner, Corporation of Madras in 1947. His wife, Mrs. Subbammal was a great sports enthusiast and was South India Table Tennis champion. T S Ramalingam Pillai, studied High School at P.S. High School, Mylapore, B.A. English Literature at St John's College, Palayamkottai, M. A. English Literature (Hons.) at Madras Christian College and Law at Trivandrum Law College. He initially practised law in Tirunelveli and in 1944 was selected as District Munsif. He went on to become a District and Sessions Judge and  in 1967 was appointed as the Law Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu (Additional Chief Secretary cadre). He served as the Law Secretary to 3 Chief Ministers from 1967 to 1969. Post-retirement, he was appointed as a Member of the Pay Commission, by the Government of Tamil Nadu and then as a Member of the Official Languages Commission, New Delhi, by the Government of India. He has translated the Thirukural in English verse form Freemasonry. Sivagnanam Pillai was a prominent freemason and was a member of the Carnatic Lodge from 1905 to 1914 and 1925 to 1929. T.