S. Subramania Iyer

S. Subramania Iyer

Infobox Person
name = S. Subramania Iyer
birth_date = 1842


birth_place =
spouse =
dead=dead
death_date = 1924
death_place =
occupation = lawyer
profession = Attorney-General

Sir S. Subramania Iyer KCSI (1842-1924) was an emninent lawyer, jurist, theosophist and freedom fighter who, along with Annie Besant co-founded the Home Rule Movement. He was affectionately referred to as the Grand Old Man of South India.

Early life

Subramania Iyer was born in Madurai in the Madras Presidency. He completed his schooling and early education in Madurai. He graduated in law and practised as a lawyer in Madurai before moving to Madras in 1885.

In Madras, he emerged as a formiable rival to the redoubtable Madras lawyer Bhashyam Aiyangar. Soon, he became the first Indian to be appointed Government Pleader. His interest in the scholarly aspects of law is proved by his house being used for the "Saturday Club" at Mylapore between 1889 and 1891. Here, cases were critically discussed. He succeeded Sir Muthuswamy Iyer to the bench of the Madras High Court and remained a part of the Bench till 1907. He also served as a member of the Malabar Land Tenure Committee (1885), as the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Madras in 1899, 1903 and 1906 and as the Vice-Chancellor of Madras University in 1904. A knighthood was conferred upon him during the period he served in the bench of the High Court of Madras.

Association with the Theosophical Society

Subramania Iyer retired in 1907 citing health reasons. His health had deteriorated and he suffered from acute nervous problems. Right from his early days, he had been greatly interested in spirituality and the study of religion. This eventually drew him closer to the Theosophical Society and he formally joined the organization soon after his retirement.

He was one of the prominent members of the Theosophical Society in the 1910s. His literary contributions were a regular feature of the Theosophical Society's mouthpiece "The Theosophist" right up to the 1920s. His participation in the activities of the Theosophical Society gradually drew his closer to Annie Besant and the Indian independence movement.

Home Rule Movement

Sir Subramania Iyer had been associated with India's independene movement right from its early days. Previously, he had publicly conveyed a condemnation of the repressive measures adopted by the Government of India. Later, he resigned his knighthood in protest. In 1916, the All India Home Rule League was founded by Annie Besant, Sir S. Subramania Iyer and prominent leaders of the Indian National Congress as Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Rift with Annie Besant

Subramania Iyer got involved with the Suddha Dharma Mandala or 'Pure Religion Society' which he founded. This created a rift between himself and the Theosophical Society as he desired to provide a rival world leader to Jiddu Krishnamurthi, the mascot of the Theosophical Society. In his later years, he was vehement in his condemnation of the Theosophists.

Death

Subramania Iyer passed away in 1924 at the age of 82.

References

* cite book
title=essays in classical and modern hindu law
author=John Duncan Martin Derrett
year=1977
publisher=BRILL
isbn=9004048081
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=yH8eAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA236&lpg=PA236&dq=%22s+subramania%22+iyer&source=web&ots=cxpmorTr7l&sig=FQYUigACf1K7nrmjGk3vq1ofbio#PPA236,M1
* cite book
title=Golden Book of the Theosophical Society
author=C. Jinarajadasa
year=2003
publisher=Kessinger Publishing
isbn=0766148041
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=tI6YAcwvTxsC&pg=PA231&lpg=PA231&dq=%22s+subramanya%22+iyer&source=web&ots=bH3B20LwsF&sig=Q3qocvaXE-bVAFl-7iolp7DixnQ#PPR4,M1
* [http://www.newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=33&id=2410 "Splendid saga of TNSC Bank:Centenary of stellar growth" By: V SUNDARAM, "News Today", November 27, 2007]
* [http://books.google.co.in/books?id=IIAznAAlS7YC&pg=PA317&dq=Sir+S.Subramania+Iyer&sig=2-z_DTXY-iUMKm4_1Ju_D2A016Y "The Theosophist October 1911-January 1912", Google Books]
* "Indian Judges: Biographical & Critical Sketches" By Brojendra Mitter, 1932.
* "Indian Politics Since the Mutiny" By Sir Chirravoori Yajneswara Chintamani, 1940.
* [http://www.textbooksonline.tn.nic.in/Books/08/SocSci-EM/History/chapter_5.pdf "Role of Tamil Nadu in the Freedom Movement", From India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Text Book]
* [http://www.gatewayforindia.com/history/british_history3.htm#Home%20Rule%20League Founding of the Home Rule League]


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