Rettamalai Srinivasan

Infobox Person
name = Rettamalai Srinivasan
birth_date = 1860


birth_place =
spouse =
dead=dead
death_date = 1945
death_place =
occupation = lawyer
profession = politican, social activist Diwan Bahadur R. Srinivasan (b.1860-d.1945), also known as Rettamalai Srinivasan was a Dalit activist, politician and freedom fighter from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He is remembered today as one of the pioneers of the Dalit movement in India.

Early Life

Rettamalai Srinivasan was born in 1860 in a poor Dalit family in Madras Presidency.Talisman, Pg xxvi] He was a brother-in-law of the famous Dalit activist Iyothee Thass.Thirumavalavan, Pg 227] Rettamalai Srinivasan established and led the "Paraiyar Mahajana Sabha" in 1891 Thirumavalavan, Pg 44] which later became the "Adi-Dravida Mahajana Sabha" He also founded a Tamil newspaper called "Paraiyan" in October 1893Talisman, Pg xxvii] which started selling as a monthly with four pages for the price of four annas.cite book | title=21st Century Journalism in India| last=Rajan| first=Nalini| coauthors=| date=2007| pages=66|url=|publisher=| id=ISBN 0761935614, 9780761935612] However, "Paraiyan" experienced great difficulties in its early days. Rettamalai Srinivasan was a participant in the freedom movement and an arrest warrant was issued against him claiming that he was fleeing the nation. In 1896, a case was filed against the newspaper and Srinivasan was dragged to the court citing a letter to the editor. The editor Srinivasan was fined Rs. 100 for his writings.cite book | title=21st Century Journalism in India| last=Rajan| first=Nalini| coauthors=| date=2007| pages=70|url=|publisher=| id=ISBN 0761935614, 9780761935612]

Commemoration

Rettamalai Srinivasan had been largely forgotten with the passage of time. Recently, commemorative stamps have been issued in memory of the Dalit leader by the Department of Posts of the Government of India.cite news | last= | first= | title= `No rules violated in stamp release function' | date=August 19, 2004 | url =http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/08/19/stories/2004081914971200.htm | work =The Hindu | accessdate = 2008-10-09] Cadres of the Viduthalai Siruthaigal party claimed to have discovered the remains of the Dalit leader in Otteri and constructed a memorial over his mortal remains and named it "Urimai Kalam". In early 2006, a "manimandapam" for the late leader was conceived within the premises of Gandhi Mandapam in Chennai at the cost of Rs. 19 lakhs and the foundation stone was laid by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on March 1, 2006.cite news | last= | first= | title= Jayalalithaa unveils Kamaraj memorial hall, pillar | date=March 2, 2006 | url =http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/02/stories/2006030216170600.htm | work =The Hindu | accessdate = 2008-10-09] Work has begun for the construction of the "Manimandapam" which is presently being built.cite news | last=Ramakrishnan | first=T. | title= Decks cleared for beautification of Gandhi Mandapam complex | date=July 10, 2008 | url =http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/10/stories/2008071057370200.htm | work =The Hindu | accessdate = 2008-10-09] cite web|title=Information and Publicity, Policy Note 2006-2007, Demand No. 28|url=http://www.tntdpc.com/government/information_publicity.php|publisher=Tamil Nadu Technological Development and Promotion Center]

Notes

References

* cite book | title=Talisman, Extreme Emotions of Dalit Liberation: Extreme Emotions of Dalit Liberation| last=Thirumavalavan| first=Thol| coauthors=Meena Kandasamy| date=2003| pages=|url=|publisher=Popular Prakashan| id=ISBN 8185604681, ISBN 9788185604688

* cite book | title=Uproot Hindutva: The Fiery Voice of the Liberation Panthers| last=Thirumavalavan| first=Thol| coauthors=Meena Kandasamy| date=2004| pages=|url=|publisher=Popular Prakashan| id=ISBN 8185604797, ISBN 9788185604794