Leaders pay homage to Venkatasubba Reddiar

Leader of opposition V. Vaithilingam garlanding the statue of his father and former Chief Minister V. Venkatasubba Reddiar on his death anniversaryin Puducherry on Friday. Photo: S. S. Kumar

The Union Territory on Friday paid homage to its patriarch, V. Venkatasubba Reddiar, first Chief Minister of erstwhile Pondicherry, on the occasion of his death anniversary.

Considered one of the architects who spearheaded the freedom struggle movement against the French Venkatasubba Reddiar was in the vanguard of defiant mass movements against the foreign rule. Congressmen in these parts look upon him as the Father of the movement to liberate Pondicherry. Eventually, it would take seven years of sustained struggle and a series of popular uprisings for then Pondicherry to achieve freedom.

Venkatasubba Reddiar who was born in Pondicherry on December, 18, 1909 to Vaithilingam Reddiar and Vemalammal, went on to become Mayor of Nettapakkam.

In 1946, he, along with then Mayor of Pondicherry K. Muthu Pillai raised slogans against the French asking them to leave the territory demanding that it should be merged with the Indian Union.

Then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru directed the leaders to form a parallel government against the French and to revolt against the French Government. Leaders such as Muthu Kumarappa Reddiar, Edward Goubert, K. Muthu Pillai and others along with Venkatasubba Reddiar formed the parallel government in March 1954.

Finally, the then Prime Minister of France had a dialogue with then Prime Minister of India. As an outcome, the French Government inked an agreement with Indian Government for the merger on October, 13, 1954. Pondicherry was merged on November 1, 1954.

In the new Assembly, which commenced on July 1, 1963, Venkatasubba Reddiar became the Public Works Minister. In the subsequent elections, Venkatasubba Reddiar was elected and become Chief Minister.

Panch. Ramalingam, his biographer observed that he played a major role in promoting cooperative movement and instrumental in providing lands to landless, free pattas. “He encouraged several literary activities in the territory.”

Political party leaders garlanded the statue of the patriarch on Maraimalai Adigal Salai. The dignitaries included Speaker P. Sabapathy, Deputy Speaker T.P.R. Selvam and Ministers P. Rajavelu and N.G. Pannir Selvam,

His son and Leader of Opposition V. Vaithilingam and other leaders from Congress paid homage at the party headquarters.