Gazula Lakshminarasu Chetty -The Pioneer Who Halted Mandatory Bible Teaching in Madras Presidency

A significant chapter of Madras’ history was brought to life at the book launch of “The First Native Voice of Madras: Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty”, authored by B. Jagannath, Advocate at the Madras High Court. Organized by Dakshinapatha Studies, an initiative of the Centre for South Indian Studies (CSIS), the event took place at Kharkhana, Secunderabad, on 31 August 2024, with Raka Sudhakar, a senior journalist, presiding as the chief guest.

Speaking at the event, chief guest Raka Sudhakar lauded Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty as a trailblazer in colonial Madras.“Chetty was not just the founder of the Madras Crescent, the first native English newspaper, but also a visionary who established the Hindu Printing Press, enabling the spread of native voices in a colonial landscape. His pioneering efforts in founding the Madras Native Association, the first organized native political association, positioned him as a key figure in the fight for Indian self-representation during the British Raj,” said Sudhakar. Chetty’s role as one of the first native members of the Madras Chamber of Commerce and the second native member of the Madras Legislative Council. “He was more than a businessman; he was a statesman who understood the power of economic and political organization in challenging colonial rule. His contributions to institutions like Pachaiyappa Charities and Monegar Choultry further showcase his dedication to the welfare of his community.” In his remarks, Raka Sudhakar underscored Chetty’s early dissent against Christian mandatory Bible teachings in Bharat, following the 1833 British Charter by the British East India Company. “Chetty was one of the first to recognize and resist the cultural impositions of the British, making him a forerunner in the movement to protect and preserve our native traditions,” Sudhakar noted. “His receipt of the Order of the Star of India from Queen Victoria is a testament to his influence and the respect he commanded, even in the eyes of the colonisers.” Sudhakar also mentioned many prominent freedom fighters from Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh in the Madras
Presidency who stood up to the British administration during the colonial period, including Kovvuru Basava Reddy, Subba Rao, P. M. Madurai Pillai, Swami Sahajananda, MC Raja, Muthuramalinga Thevar, Darisi Chenchaiah, and many others. Wealthy entrepreneurs and business people undertook a number of initiatives to support natives, particularly in education and social service, when conditions were difficult and intimidating at the time.

Author B. Jagannath shared his journey in uncovering Chetty’s life through extensive research, which included primary sources from the Madras Records Office and Connemear Library in Chennai. “This book is an effort to reclaim a piece of our
history that has been overshadowed. Chetty’s contributions, from his business ventures like Siddloo Chetty & Sons and the Madras Cotton Cleaning Company Limited to his cultural patronage of the Upayukta Grantha Carana Sabha, reflect the depth of his impact on Madras society,” Jagannath explained. He further emphasized the importance of educating today’s generation about these historical figures. “As we move towards
decolonizing our minds, it is crucial that we revisit the stories of leaders like Chetty, who stood up when it was needed the most. This is a history that we must reclaim and honour,” Jagannath urged. In his speech, Jagannath highlighted the remarkable legacy of Gazula Laxminarasu Chetty, drawing from a book that recounts Chetty’s fearless journalism. Jagannath shared how Chetty, through his investigative stories published in the Madras Crescent, boldly challenged British newspapers and compelled the colonial administration to withdraw a controversial bill. He also gathered over 12,000 signatures opposing oppressive colonial taxation and torture methods. Notably, Chetty succeeded in halting the royal gun salute traditionally accorded to Bishops in the Madras Presidency, a powerful symbol of his influence as a native voice. Jagannath emphasized that Chetty’s efforts were instrumental in pressuring the British Parliament to discuss and establish a commission to investigate the atrocities committed by British officials in the Madras Presidency—an extraordinary achievement that deserves to be remembered by current generations.

Kasturi Rangan, a Hyderabad-based Chartered Accountant and member of CSIS, graced the occasion and spoke on how natives once boldly challenged colonial forces. He emphasized the importance of studying and uncovering the deliberately hidden chapters of our history. Rangan also critiqued today’s political landscape, noting that the pursuit of petty power struggles often overshadows the genuine intention to serve the nation.
The book launch held at the seminar hall of Dakshinapatha studies, was part of the pre-Lokmanthan events organized by Dakshinapatha Studies, reflecting their commitment to bringing forth the historical chapters of Bharat that were deliberately kept hidden from the past.
P. Shailaja, director of Samvit Prakashan and Media in Bhagyanagar, which published the book attended the event and expressed her support for this important scholarly work. They also published a Telugu edition of the same book. The book, originally written in English, was launched in The book, originally written in English, was launched in Bhagyanagar. While it has been translated into Tamil and Telugu. the English edition was the first to be released. Kalyana Chakravarty, head of the Telangana Chapter of CSIS, concluded the event with a heartfelt vote of thanks. He expressed gratitude to all the attendees for their presence and support in celebrati…