Arunachalam Sabapathy

Arunachalam Sabapathy
Personal details
Religion	Hindu

The Honourable Mr. Arunachalam Sabapathy (1853–1924) – was born to Murugan Arunachalam a wealthy trader and S.Annapillai (who was from the pre-eminent Sidamparapillai family of Thalaiyali/Vannaponne East area)in Thalayali.

He served as Honorary Editor of Hindu Organ for 34 years, during which time the Hindu Organ achieved the status as the most influential media of the Tamils as well as being the most widely read in the Northern Province.

As a politician, he was one of the founders (Secretary) of Jaffna Association and later served as its president. Most notably during the formation of the Ceylon National Congress where Mr. Sabapathy was the chief spokesperson of the Tamils. He was a member of the Jaffna Local Board and in 1917 was nominated as the Tamil member for the Ceylon Legislative Council. He was one of the founders of the Ceylon National Congress and later left the CNC and became the founding Vice President of the Tamil Mahajana Sabha.

As an educationist, he was one of the founders of Jaffna Hindu College and brought all Hindu Colleges under one umbrella. He was manager of Jaffna Hindu College and affiliated Hindu Schools from 1913-1924. He was one of the chief proponents for a National University in Jaffna and served in the University Council.

He was a pioneering agriculturist in Kilinochi area. Sabapathy Farm in the 3rd Canal was opened up by him. Incidentally, he was the one who bought the Ceylon Agriculture Self-sufficiency bill in the Legislative Council encouraging the Ceylonese to achieve and strive for self-sufficiency in Food production.

He was a Human Rights and Animal Rights activist and used his political position and his Editorship of Hindu Organ to educate the public on these matters. He was extremely wealth and the family’s Malayalam Tobacco business was a major source of economic stability to Jaffna Peninsula.

He died in 1924, Sabapathy Road in Thalayali, Sabapathy Farm in Kilinochi, Sabapathy House in Hindu Colleges (Jaffna and Kokuvil and other) are in his recognition.

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• Website dedicated to Hon.Mr.A.Sabapathy

Persondata
Name	Sabapathy, Arunachalam
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1853
Place of birth
Date of death	1924
Place of death