Thiyagi R.Venkatraman - A Biography

Venkatraman: An Unknown Patriot of the Freedom Struggle

Venkatraman, a native of Tiruchendur Taluk in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, was an active participant in India’s freedom struggle. His involvement in major movements such as the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Individual Satyagraha, and the Quit India Movement reflected a deep commitment to the cause of independence. He faced repeated imprisonment for his defiance of colonial authority and remained steadfast in his belief in a free and self-governed India.

This biographical account seeks to shed light on his life and contributions, drawing from a combination of historical sources, official records, and oral testimonies. In the absence of extensive written documentation, the recollections of his family—particularly his daughter Shanmugam, son Tirumalai, and granddaughters Vasanthi and Annammal—have been essential in reconstructing the personal dimensions of his story. These accounts complement the formal records, offering insight not only into his political activities but also into his values and convictions. Taken together, these sources form a composite portrait of a man whose life was deeply intertwined with the broader struggle for India's independence.

Early Life and Family Background

Venkatraman was born in the village of Brahmadesam near Tirunelveli to Ramanarayanan and Meenakshi. He was the third child in the family, with one elder brother, one elder sister, and two younger sisters. His father served as the Karnam (Village Accountant) of Brahmadesam, a position later inherited by his elder brother Subramanian. Venkatraman’s maternal uncle, whose name was vaguely remembered by Venkatraman’s daughter Shanmugam, was Vedanayagam, who served as the Karnam of Naduvakurichi. Venkatraman himself served as the Karnam of Kayalpattinam. The family belonged to the Vaishnavite tradition, wore the Vaishnavite religious symbol on their foreheads, and were referred to as Namadharigal by the local people.

Venkatraman was first married to Gomathi. She had a cousin who was the Karnam of Thenthiruperai. The couple had one son, named Ramanarayanan after Venkatraman’s father. He later succeeded Venkatraman as the Karnam of Kayalpattinam after Independence. After the death of his first wife, Venkatraman married Sundarathammal, daughter of Thailam Thirumalai and Annammal of Tiruchendur.

After his second marriage, Venkatraman moved to Tiruchendur. His father-in-law, a landlord from the village of Perunkanakulam, was renowned for preparing Sandhanathithailam—a fragrant oil made from sandalwood and other herbs, used in rituals at the Tiruchendur temple. He brewed this oil from a mandapam located within the Tiruchendur Sivan Temple and offered it for worship at the main Murugan temple. In return for this sacred service, he received food as remuneration. Venkatraman’s mother-in-law, Annammal, was the daughter of a wealthy government official from Alappuzha, Kerala.

Through his second wife Sundarathammal, Venkatraman had five children: one son and four daughters. They were named with sentimental care:

Venkatraman (d. Thai Poosam - Feb 1952 ) - Sundarathammal (circa b.1913 - d.20/07/1987)

1) Gomathi (named after Venkatraman's first wife) (b.1938 - d.23/11/2021)

2) Thirumalai (named after Sundarathammal's father) (b.24/11/1942 - d.07/02/2012)

3) Kuppammal (named after Sundarathammal's paternal Grandmother) (b.1945 - d.13/06/2025)

4) Shanmugam (named after Lord Murugan of Tiruchendur) (b.1948)

5) Meenakshi (named after Venkatraman's mother) (b.1951 - d. 11/02/2023)

Before fully dedicating himself to the Indian independence movement, Venkatraman, in addition to his official role as the Karnam of Kayalpattinam, extended his expertise in accounting to assist a prominent local merchant named Syed Omar Habib—popularly remembered as "S. O. Mudalali" by Venkatraman's daughter. S.O. Habib was a wealthy trader dealing in rubies and other precious jewels, maintaining commercial ties with regions such as Sri Lanka, Mumbai, and, in later years, even China. In support of these trading ventures, Venkatraman himself undertook a journey to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The only known photograph of him was taken at Colombo.

Venkatraman's dietary habits, particularly his adherence to a vegetarian lifestyle, were well known, even in Colombo. Locals, recognizing his commitment to the Vegetarian tradition, would ensure he was provided with vegetarian food and would call him as 'Tirunelveli Saivam'. His daughter Shanmugam recalls that his preferred meal was curd rice served with mango pickle.

Role in the Freedom Movement

I) Civil Disobedience Movement 1932

In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi submitted a set of Eleven Demands to the British Viceroy, Lord Irwin, highlighting the economic and social injustices faced by the Indian people. These demands included the abolition of the salt tax, reduction of land revenue, and prohibition of intoxicating drinks. Among them, the call for the closure of liquor shops reflected Gandhi’s deep commitment to moral and social reform through non-violent means.

When the Viceroy failed to respond, Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement with the historic Salt March to Dandi in March 1930. 

Gandhi made it clear in Young India (27 March 1930):

“Loyalty to a state so corrupt is a sin; disloyalty is a virtue... The remedy therefore naturally is not being enraged against the administrators and therefore hurting them, but to non-cooperate with the system by withdrawing all the voluntary assistance possible and refusing all its so-called benefits.”

Through this message, he called upon Indians to sever ties with the colonial government through mass resignation, boycott, and peaceful defiance.

The movement quickly gained momentum across the country, drawing millions into protests and acts of civil disobedience. After months of agitation, the Gandhi–Irwin Pact was signed in March 1931, temporarily halting the movement. As part of the agreement, Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference in London. However, the talks proved fruitless—the British government refused to make concessions on self-rule, and communal issues dominated the discussions, overshadowing the Congress’s central demands.

Upon Gandhi’s return, the colonial administration intensified its repression under the new Viceroy, Lord Willingdon. On January 4, 1932, Gandhi was arrested, the Indian National Congress was banned, and a series of oppressive ordinances were enacted to curb dissent. As the Civil Disobedience Movement resumed, Tiruchendur Taluk emerged as a stronghold of resistance. The region witnessed heightened nationalist activity, including toddy shop picketing, boycotts of foreign cloth, and salt satyagrahas. These non-violent actions were met with brutal police suppression. One tragic episode was the death of Thandupatthu Arumuganayinar during a police lathi charge—an incident that left a deep impact on the people of the taluk.

Amidst this charged political climate, Venkatraman, serving at the time as the Karnam of Kayalpattinam, took a bold and principled stand. Inspired by Gandhi’s call to withdraw cooperation from the colonial system, Venkatraman resigned from his government position in protest against British rule. He saw continued service under a repressive regime not as loyalty, but as complicity in injustice.

Venkatraman then actively joined the renewed Civil Disobedience Movement and participated in toddy shop picketing in Kayalpattinam—an act that directly echoed Gandhi’s call for prohibition. Although Kayalpattinam is today one of the few towns in Tamil Nadu without a liquor shop, it was not always so. During colonial rule, toddy shops operated in the town, and it was in opposition to these that Venkatraman took part in the picketing campaigns. These protests were not merely political gestures—they were rooted in a profound moral and ethical conviction shaped by Gandhian principles. L. K. Sheikh Muhammed, who would later earn the affectionate title “Kayal Gandhi” for his austere and principled life, stood alongside Venkatraman during these demonstrations.

For his role in the movement, Venkatraman was arrested under Section 4 of the Ordinance Act. He was imprisoned for four months in Kokkirakulam Jail, Tirunelveli, and subsequently served a one-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in Tiruchirappalli Central Jail between 1932 and 1933—a period marked by some of the harshest repression of the Indian nationalist movement.

II) Individual Satyagraha 1941

Amidst the turbulence of the Second World War, as the Allied forces confronted mounting challenges, the British government sought India’s support in sustaining its war effort. In an attempt to secure Indian cooperation, the British administration introduced the August Offer in 1940. However, the proposal was deemed inadequate by Indian nationalists, as it offered merely Dominion Status—deferred until the conclusion of the war—falling significantly short of the Indian populace's demand for complete independence.

The Indian National Congress unequivocally rejected the offer. While it acknowledged the imperative of resisting fascist aggression led by Hitler, the party simultaneously affirmed that such resistance could not come at the cost of supporting British colonial domination. It was within this political and moral framework that Mahatma Gandhi conceived the Individual Satyagraha—a movement designed to affirm the right to peaceful dissent without provoking mass upheaval. Its primary objective was to convey India’s refusal to participate in the war under imperial command, while reaffirming a steadfast commitment to non-violence.

In accordance with this strategy, a carefully selected group of individuals was nominated to undertake the Satyagraha. Among those chosen was Venkataraman, who courageously embraced the call and actively participated in the protest. 

III) Quit India Movement 1942

Following the failure of the Cripps Mission, Mahatma Gandhi launched the historic Quit India Movement in August 1942. In his impassioned address to the nation, Gandhi famously declared:

"You may take it from me that I am not going to strike a bargain with the Viceroy for ministries and the like. I am not going to be satisfied with anything short of complete freedom. Maybe he will propose the abolition of the salt tax, the drink evil, etc., but I will say: nothing less than freedom. Here is a mantra, a short one, that I give you. You may imprint it on your hearts and let every breath of yours give expression to it. The mantra is: Do or Die. Either free India or die in the attempt. We shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery. Every true Congressman or woman will join the struggle with an inflexible determination not to remain alive to see the country in bondage and slavery."

With the launch of the Quit India Movement in August 1942, nationwide protests erupted against British colonial rule. Although Mahatma Gandhi had strongly emphasized the principle of non-violence, the movement, in some regions, took on more radical and militant forms. One such significant and controversial episode occurred in the southern coastal town of Kulasekarapattinam, where Mr. Wilfred Loane, the Assistant Inspector of Salt, was assassinated on 20 September 1942. This incident sent shockwaves across the Madras Province and came to be known as the Kulasekarapattinam Conspiracy Case.

In the immediate aftermath, British authorities responded with severe repression. By 22 September 1942, the main accused, Rajagopalan and some of his associates, were apprehended. In addition, 115 individuals were arrested, the majority of whom had no connection to the assassination. These detainees were largely Congress members, ardent nationalists, and patriots who had either participated in the freedom struggle, supported the families of the accused, or were known to be sympathetic to the cause of Indian independence.

To suppress the growing tide of dissent and instill fear among the local population, the colonial administration deployed the Malabar Special Police (MSP)—a notorious punitive force known for its brutality. The MSP launched a sweeping crackdown across Tiruchendur Taluk, engaging in widespread acts of repression. Their methods included the looting of property, burning of homes, and indiscriminate arrests. Women were molested, and civilians—both nationalists and ordinary villagers—were subjected to violence, threats, and intimidation. The force's actions extended far beyond legitimate suspects and served to target anyone remotely associated with nationalist activity.

Eventually, 26 individuals were formally charged and convicted in connection with the case. Among them, two were sentenced to death, several others to life imprisonment, and the rest to varying terms of incarceration. In a desperate bid to save the condemned men, their families appealed to Mahatma Gandhi, who in turn requested C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) to intervene. Rajaji petitioned the Privy Council in England and later submitted a mercy plea to the Viceroy of India. His efforts bore fruit, and the death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. With the change in political climate and on the eve of India’s independence, these prisoners were eventually released.

Among the 115 individuals initially arrested was Venkatraman, who, although uninvolved in the conspiracy, was an active participant in the national movement at the time. His arrest, like many others, was a consequence of the British government's sweeping measures to crush the Quit India Movement and suppress all forms of nationalist expression in the region.

A Life of Courage and Conviction

One incident remembered by his daughter Shanmugam stands as a powerful testament to Venkatraman’s valour and unwavering patriotism. During a protest, he was arrested, leaving behind his young son from his first marriage and a household without support. At that time, he was widowed and had not yet married his second wife, making him the sole provider for his family. His two widowed sisters, Velammal and Sivagami, were living with him and caring for his motherless son, Ramanarayanan. Deeply dependent on Venkatraman, they approached the authorities, pleading for his release on compassionate grounds.

The police agreed, but only on the condition that he sign a promissory note pledging to abstain from political activities. To comfort his distressed sisters, Venkatraman signed the note and was released. However, after his release, he once again raised the cry of "Vande Madaram" and resumed his participation in the protests. He was soon rearrested and subjected to further punishment. Disheartened, his sisters accepted his fate — and from that point on, never attempted to stop him from continuing his fight for independence.

During his multiple imprisonments, Venkatraman endured harsh treatment at the hands of the authorities. His family recalls that he was repeatedly kicked with force by the police wearing heavy boots. Despite such ordeals, he remained resolute in his convictions and unwavering in his commitment to the cause of independence and his spirit never wavered. 

After joining the freedom struggle, Venkatraman adopted a life of simplicity, wearing only a plain khadi dhoti and often going without a shirt. True to the spirit of selflessness, he would generously give away his clothes to anyone in need — on many occasions, even offering the very garments he was wearing. His daughter, Shanmugam, recalls seeing Gandhi caps in their home during her childhood, a quiet yet powerful symbol of her father's unwavering Gandhian values. His son Thirumalai recalled that even during British rule, the Indian national flag was always hoisted at their home. 

On the midnight of August 15, 1947, Shanmugam proudly remembered, it was Venkatraman who first hoisted the national flag in Kayalpattinam, marking the dawn of India’s freedom. Beyond his political activism, he also contributed significantly to public welfare, especially in improving access to drinking water for the people of Kayalpattinam.

Venkatraman’s Final Days

Due to repeated imprisonments and hardships endured during the struggle, Venkatraman's health gradually declined, and he passed away on Thai Poosam Day in 1952 at Tiruchendur (six months after his Father-in -law Tirumalai's death). His wife Sundarathammal, received the Freedom Fighters' Pension from the Government of  Tamil Nadu until her death in 1987.

Legacy

In the years following India’s independence, the Government of India suggested that each state compile a Who's Who of Freedom Fighters to supplement the official national history of the freedom movement. The Centre emphasized that the task should be carried out by the state governments, as important records and documentation were mostly available in State Archives, district offices, local courts, and jails. The objective was to collect verifiable information on individuals who had participated in the freedom struggle. The Government of Tamil Nadu accepted this proposal and, in April 1964, constituted a state-level committee for the purpose. This committee sent questionnaires to known freedom fighters, released public appeals for submissions, and appointed representatives for each district to gather relevant data. The Director of Rural Development also directed local panchayats to provide details about freedom fighters residing in their areas. In addition to personal testimonies, the committee consulted jail records, archival materials, and periodicals to cross-check imprisonment terms and participation in various movements. This task was both complex and time-consuming, as many records were fragile, incomplete, or several decades old. Despite these challenges, the committee and supporting staff made significant efforts to gather and verify as much accurate information as possible. They received substantial support from various departments of the Tamil Nadu Government, including the State Archives and prison authorities.

The result of this extensive work was the publication of the Who's Who of Freedom Fighters in three volumes, released in August 1973, coinciding with the Silver Jubilee of Indian Independence. R. Venkatraman’s name is included in Volume III of the Who's Who of Freedom Fighters, which covers the Tirunelveli district, acknowledging his active role in India’s freedom struggle. However, the publication mistakenly lists his address as Arumuganeri, an immediate neighbouring town of Kayalpattinam. In reality, he was a resident of Kayalpattinam. This error was likely due to administrative confusion or inaccuracies during data collection.

Also, Venkatraman’s name is inscribed on the Freedom Fighters’ Memorial Pillar in Tiruchendur, as well as at the Tiruchendur Panchayat Union Office among those who received the Tamrapatra award, in recognition of his participation in the Indian freedom movement. 

The memorial pillar holds historical importance, as it was among the earliest of its kind in the country, established through the efforts of the Tiruchendur Taluk Freedom Fighters’ Association. Key figures behind this initiative were K.T. Kosalram and M.S. Selvaraj, who worked not only to commemorate the contributions of local patriots but also played an instrumental role in securing pensions for freedom fighters and their families. The pillar was inaugurated on 6th May 1973 by the then Defence Minister of India, Shri Jagjivan Ram, who arrived by helicopter and landed at the DCW factory grounds in Arumuganeri. Located within Dr. Ambedkar Park in Tiruchendur—the taluk headquarters—the monument carries engraved names of local freedom fighters along with the movements they were involved in. Venkatraman’s name appears under the “Individual Satyagraha” section.

While the Panchayat Union Office inscription does not bear a date of installation, references from official records suggest that it may have been part of a broader initiative undertaken during the Silver Jubilee of Indian Independence in 1973. In a Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly discussion held on 4th August 1973, MLA Mr. A.R. Marimuthu raised a question regarding the inclusion of names from the newly compiled Who's Who of Freedom Fighters in local inscriptions at Panchayat Union Offices. In reply, Chief Minister Kalaingar M. Karunanidhi stated that, to the best of his recollection, the Central Government had asked states to inscribe only the names of deceased freedom fighters. He added that including all names from the Who's Who—which contained over 15,000 entries—would not be practically feasible. The Government of Tamil Nadu, therefore, had decided to initially install about 100 such inscriptions before the upcoming Independence Day. The responsibility for selecting the names and determining the criteria for inclusion was delegated to Panchayat Union-level and other local officials.

Based on this information, it is most likely that the inscription at the Tiruchendur Panchayat Union Office, listing Tamrapatra award recipients from the taluk—including Venkatraman—was created as part of this statewide effort to honor the memory of local freedom fighters.

Remembering Venkatraman 

A fearless patriot, a devoted family man, and a resilient voice against colonial oppression — Venkatraman’s life is a shining chapter in the local history of India’s freedom struggle. His sacrifice and memory deserve a lasting place in the hearts of future generations.

(Original photograph of R.Venkatraman, taken in Colombo; the copy is preserved at his daughter Shanmugam’s residence)

Venkatraman's Wife - Sundarathammal 

Venkatraman's First Son Through his First wife Gomathi

(Ramanaryanan, Karnam of Kayalpattinam)

Venkatraman's Children Through his Second wife Sundarathammal

(First Daughter Gomathi and her husband Kuthalingam)

(Second Son Tirumalai and her wife Meenakshi)

(Left - Second Daughter Kuppammal and her husband Paramasivam , Right -Third Daughter Shanmugam and her husband Kailasam)

(Fourth Daughter Meenakshi and her husband Bhoobalan)

(From Left- Meenakshi, Gomathi, Shanmugam)

(Tirumalai worked in the Agriculture Department and also served as the State Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Government C&D Employees Union)

(Tirumalai speaks into the mic during the event)  

(Tirumalai seen next to M.G.R., then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) 

(Tirumalai stands on the left side of the photo, smiling)

(Tirumalai standing to the left of M.G.R)

(Tirumalai in the company of former Tamil Nadu Minister Nedunchezhiyan)

Venkatraman's Great-Grandson and the Author of this Biography

(Gowtham Rajan M R)

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Primary Sources

1. Who's Who of Freedom Fighters (Tamil Nadu), Volume 3, Government of Tamil Nadu, 1973.
2. Tamil Nadu State Thoothukudi District Gazetteer, Government of Tamil Nadu, Volume 1, 2007.
3. Inscription on the Freedom Fighters' Memorial Pillar, Tiruchendur.
4. Inscription at the Panchayat Union Office, Tiruchendur.
5. Tiruchendur Taluka Suthanthira Porratta Veerargal Ninaivu Malar, Tiruchendur Taluka Suthanthira Porratta Veerargal Ninaivu Sthupi Amaipu Committtee, Tirunelveli.
6. Somayajulu, S. N., Nellai Mavatta Suthanthira Poratta Varalaru,1976.
7. TN Leg Assembly Debate regarding Who's Who of Freedom Fighters book and Inscriptions at Panchayat Union Offices.
   
8. The Indian Annual Register 1932 Vol 1, Annual Register Office, Government of India.
9. British Era Ordinances.
10. St Fort George Extraordinary Gazette. 
    
11. G.Os Passed by the Madras Government.
12. District calendar of events during QIM.
13. Fortnightly Confidential Reports of the Madras Government.
14. District wise events during QIM.
15. Oral accounts provided by Venkatraman’s daughter Shanmugam, son Tirumalai, and granddaughters Vasanthi and Annammal.

Secondary Sources

1. Oral account provided by Mr. Rajakannan of Nathankinaru, grandson of Narayana Nadar (the Village Munsif) and son of Arumuga Pandiyan—both freedom fighters and contemporaries of R. Venkatraman.
2. Oral account provided by Mr. Kayal Mahboob (worked at Kayalpattinam, is the State Secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League, author of Kayalpattinam Selection Grade Town Panchayat Centenary Souvenir, and a friend & Colleague of Venkatraman's son, Ramanarayanan)
3. Oral account provided by L.K. Sheik Muhammad's (Kayal Gandhi) relative.
4. Ganapathiraman, Sa., Pongi Eluntha Porunai (Viduthalai Porratta Varalaru), Palayamkottai, 1998.  
5. Kamarasu, Muthalankurichi, Thoothukudi Mavattathil Ariyapadatha Suthanthira Poratta Thiyagigal, Thoothukudi Mavvatta Nirvaga Veliyeedu, 2022.
6. Online Articles of Writer Muthalankurichi Kamarasu. - Muthalankurichi Kamarasu's - Article 1 -Muthalankurichi Kamarasu's - Article 2 - Muthalankurichi Kamarasu's - Article 3
7. Kayalpattinam Selection Grade Town Panchayat Centenary Souvenir.
   
8. Makkin, Maana, Varalatril Ilangaiyum Kayalpattinamum, Manimegalai Publishers, Chennai, 2001.
   
9. Sivagnanam, Ma.Po., Viduthalai Poril Tamilagam, Poompuhar Pathipagam, 2013.
10. Sivasubramanian , A., August Porattam, Kalachuvadu Publications, 2008.
11. Thavasimuthu, T.T., Indiya Viduthalai Poril Thoothukudi Mavvattam, Tamilaga Ilakiya Kalai Panpaattu Aayvu Maiyam, 2018.
12. Gunasekaran, Stalin, Viduthalai Velviyil Tamilagam, Manitham Pathipagam, 2000.
13. Kayalpatnam - Wikipedia.
14. To learn about Venkatraman's son Tirumalai, click here.
    

To read some semi-fiction stories about Venkatraman, please visit the blog Gowtham Rajan M R - Blogspot and select the label 'Thiyagi R Venkatraman' from the side Menu.

For further Communication,

Contact:

Gowtham Rajan M R., MA History., NET.

Great-grandson of Thiygai R.Venkatraman,

Trichy -620019.

Mail: gowthamrajanmr@gmail.com

Instagram: gowthamrajanmr

Blog: gowthamrajanmr.blogspot.com