Commemoration of the 156th death anniversary of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty

The Centre for South Indian Studies (CSIS), Chennai organised a research competition programme on 4 September, 2025 at C. Kandasamy Naidu College for Men, Anna Nagar, Chennai, in commemoration of the 156th death anniversary of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty, one of the pioneering voices of social justice and early Indian nationalism in Madras Presidency.

The event aimed to honour the remarkable contributions of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty towards education, freedom of the press, fair taxation, social reforms, and national awakening. The programme also served as a platform to introduce younger generations to the life and legacy of a forgotten freedom fighter whose efforts significantly contributed to public consciousness and civic rights in colonial South India.

Students from various institutions actively participated in the speech competition and expressed their views on the contributions and ideals of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty. Among the participants, Dharshini from MA English won the First Prize in speech competition followed by R. Swathi and S. Arun Durai achieving second and third prize. Senthilkumar. J secured first prize in Essay competition followed by A. Deepeeka and R. Mahalakshmi securing second and third prize.

The organisers congratulated all the participants for their efforts and appreciated their active involvement in remembering and celebrating the legacy of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty. The Centre for South Indian Studies was also acknowledged for creating an intellectual and socially meaningful platform that inspired students to engage with lesser-known figures from Indian history.

The programme was attended by distinguished guests and academicians. The chief guests included Dr. J. S. Rajkumar, Founder of Lifeline Multispeciality Hospital, Chennai; Honourable Thiru Justice S. Vaidyanathan, Former Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court; Advocate B. Jagannath, author of The First Native Voice of Madras: Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty; and Dr. V. M. Muthuramalinga Andavar, Principal of C. Kandasamy Naidu College for Men and member of the Pachaiyappa Trust Board.

The event commenced with the reception of the guests of honour by NCC students, followed by a tribute to the statue of C. Kandaswamy Naidu. After refreshments for the dignitaries, the chief guests arrived on the dais. The formal proceedings began with Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu rendered by the college students, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries and students.

A one-minute silence was observed in remembrance of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty, reflecting the solemn significance of the occasion. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. V. M. Muthuramalinga Andavar, Principal of C. Kandasamy Naidu College for Men, who highlighted the importance of remembering pioneers who fought for social equality and public rights during colonial rule.

The dignitaries were felicitated by the principal, after which G. Kumaresan, Research Assistant, Centre for South Indian Studies, provided a briefing about the objectives and significance of the competition. Participating students, including R. Swathi from Sree Muthukumaraswamy College and J. Senthilkumar from Bharathi Payilagam IAS Academy, delivered speeches highlighting the contributions of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty and the relevance of his ideals in contemporary society.

Advocate B. Jagannath then delivered the Author’s Address, speaking extensively about the historical importance of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty and the need to document and preserve the histories of early Indian reformers and nationalist voices.

The prize announcement was made by Sri M. Kumaresan, Convenor, Centre for South Indian Studies. The prizes were distributed by Honourable Justice S. Vaidyanathan, who also delivered a motivational speech encouraging students to cultivate historical awareness, civic responsibility, and social commitment.

Participation certificates were later distributed by Dr. J. S. Rajkumar, Chairman, Lifeline Hospital, Chennai, who also delivered a special address appreciating the enthusiasm and involvement of the students.

The programme concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by J. S. Vishnu Hari Ram, Research Assistant, CSIS, followed by the National Anthem.

The event successfully combined historical remembrance, student participation, and public engagement, making it a memorable occasion dedicated to honouring the enduring legacy of Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty.