“The Native Voice of Madras: Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty”

 

On 17th June, The Centre for South Indian Studies Chennai chapter, organized a book launch event to release the book honoring the legacy of social activist, Philanthropist and anti-colonial pioneer Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty titled The First Native Voice of Madras: Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty authored by advocate B. Jagannath. The book launch event held at T.N. Rajaratanam Kalai Arangam Muthamizh Peravai in Chennai. The book was launched on the occasion of 113th Shradhanjali of freedom fighter Vanchinathan. Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu His Excellency Thiru R.N. Ravi participated in the event as chief guest. Honorable Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court Thiru S. Vaidyanathan and Telaga Balija Kapu Joint Action Committee South India Convener Dasari Ram Mohan Rao participated in the event as guest honor.
Thiru P. Sandeep Kumar, Director for Centre for South Indian Studies and author of the book Advocate B. Jagannath welcomed the Honorable Governor His Excellency Thiru R.N. Ravi. The event started with singing of National Anthem, Tamizh Thai Vazhthu and a patriotic song. Following that Honorable Governor and guest of honors lighted Kuthuvilaku and unveiled the portrait of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty. Thiru M. Kumaresan, Coordinator, Centre for South Indian Studies-Chennai Unit, made the welcome address. Following welcome address, Honorable and other dignitaries in the dais were felicitated. After that, author of the book Advocate B. Jagannath briefed about the book and shared his experience about collecting primary source documents from British libraries, Madras Archives and Connemara library for the book. Jagannath also spoke about the importance of releasing the book in all three languages (Tamil, Telugu and English) to make sure the history of the greatest personality who fought for native population, reach wider audience. Honorable Justice S. Vaidyanathan made the guest of honor address by commending the author for his immense dedication in bringing to light the greatest personality and a unsung hero who was the first Indian to establish and ran a newspaper which became the voice of native Indians. Following the guest of honor address, Honorable Tamil Nadu Governor released the book. The first copy of English version of the book was received by Honorable Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court Justice S. Vaidyanathan. Centre for South Indian Studies Chennai Unit Coordinator M. Kumaresan received the first copy of books Tamil version and Telaga Balija Kapu Joint Action Committee South India Convener Dasari Ram Mohan Rao received the Telugu version of the book. After book release, Honorable Governor felicitated those who have contributed for the book.

Honorable Tamil Nadu Governor made the keynote address by emphasizing the importance of shedding light on the overlooked and forgotten heroes of India’s freedom struggle, whose rich contributions have often been obscured. According to Governor, Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty deserves recognition for his pioneering efforts in raising awareness about the evangelization of natives through English education. He accomplished this through the publication of The Madras Crescent, a groundbreaking initiative at the time. The Governor praised the book on Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty for its rich content and evidence, describing it as a highly condensed work with the potential to inspire multiple detailed studies on the atrocities committed by the British on Indians. Following Honorable Governors speech, Centre for South Indian Studies Research Associate Aravind Devanathan made the vote of thanks. The event came to an close with singing of National Anthem.

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