The Book
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1878–1972), popularly known as Rajaji, was the first Governor General of independent India (1948–50). A lawyer by profession, he was drawn into the non-violent nationalist movement steered by Mahatma Gandhi and came to be known as his ‘conscience-keeper’. He was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1955. A prolific writer, he is also known for his books on the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
This volume looks at the period when Rajaji became involved in the freedom movement (1907–21). It is a collection of articles and letters he wrote to prominent leaders like Gandhi, Gokhale, Vijiaraghavachariar, and in newspapers like The Hindu, Madras Mail and Commonweal. These give us an insight into the thoughts of one of the most important leaders of the Indian national movement in the Madras Presidency.
Selected Works of C. Rajagopalachari, Vol. I, 1907–21 is the first in a series of ten volumes published in association with Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) on the writings of Rajaji.
The Author(s)
Mahesh Rangarajan is Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML).
N. Balakrishnan is Deputy Director, NMML.
Deepa Bhatnagar is in charge of the Research and Publications Division and NMML Archives.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Preface
C. Rajagopalachari: A Biographical Sketch by Rajmohan Gandhi
Family Tree
- Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 15 May 1907
- Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 23 May 1907
- Our Primary School Masters: Article June 1907
- Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 10 June 1907
- The Advisory Council of Notables: Article July 1907
- Telegram to V. Krishnaswami Aiyer 17 January 1911
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 8 September 1911
- Mr. Gandhi’s Jail Experiences: Introduction 1 October 1913
- Letter to G. K. Gokhale 26 November 1913
- Letter to G. K. Gokhale 8 December 1913
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 11 December 1913
- Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 27 April 1914
- Legislation in Hindu Law: Article September 1914
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 27 April 1915
- M. K. Gandhi––His Message to India: Article 11 February 1916
- Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 1 April 1916
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 24 May 1916
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 9 August 1916
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 12 August 1916
- The Place of English in Indian Education: Article 31 August 1916
- Letter to the Editor, Commonweal 6 October 1916
- Letter to the Editor, Commonweal 20 October 1916
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 18 January 1917
- Letter to the Secretary to the Madras
Government, Public Department 19 January 1917
- Views on Indian Tariff Amendment Bill 21 March 1917
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 23 May 1917
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 26 May 1917
- Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 28 August 1917
- Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 19 September 1917
- Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 20 September 1917
- Letter to the Collector of Salem 28 September 1917
- Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 2 November 1917
- Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 2 December 1917
- Statement on Abkari Revenue and Local Bodies 9 April 1918
- Views on the Political Situation 30 May 1918
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 31 May 1918
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 1 June 1918
- Letter to the Editor, New India 2 June 1918
- Letter regarding Dr. Annie Besant’s attack on Dr. P. Varadarajulu Naidu 22 June 1918
- Dr. S. Subramania Iyer and Lokamanya Tilak: Article 25 June 1918
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 30 June 1918
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 31 July 1918
- Suggestions for the Subjects Committee of the Madras Provincial Conference 2 August 1918
- Telegram to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 9 August 1918
- Telegram to President, Salem District Conference 9 August 1918
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 14 August 1918
- Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 23 August 1918
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 23 September 1918
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 23 October 1918
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 25 October 1918
- Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 27 October 1918
- Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 2 November 1918
- Statement on Madura Shooting Incident 18 November 1918
- Presidential Address at Home Rule League Conference, Trichinopoly: Extracts 12 January 1919
- Views on the Rowlatt Report 27 January 1919
- Letter to A. Rangaswami Iyengar 11 February 1919
- Statement on Rowlatt Bills and Dr. Annie Besant’s Message 19 February 1919
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 18 February 1919
- Speech at Public Meeting 30 March 1919
- Impressions of Satyagraha Day in Madras 7 April 1919
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 10 April 1919
- Opinion on duties of Satyagrahis 11 April 1919
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 12 April 1919
- Instructions to Satyagrahis 19 April 1919
- Letter to Mahadev Desai 28 April 1919
- Pamphlet on Satyagraha 5 May 1919
- Pamphlet on Rowlatt Law 12 May 1919
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 26 May 1919
- Note on Hindu and the Press Act 2 June 1919
- Statement on Swami Shraddhanand’s withdrawal from the Satyagraha Sabha 3 June 1919
- Report on the Meeting regarding Hindu and the Press Act 5 June 1919
- Indian Home Rule: Note 6 June 1919
- Rights of Citizens: Foreword 7 June 1919
- Statement regarding the Aluminium Factory Strike 20 June 1919
- Appeal to the Citizens of Madras 20 June 1919
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 29 June 1919
- Letter to Members of the Satyagraha Sabha June 1919
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 4 July 1919
- Letter for the Nationalist regarding the Forfeiture of its Security 5 July 1919
- Essentials of Reform: Article 12 July 1919
- Some Objections of Satayagraha: Article 16 July 1919
- Civil Disobedience and Disturbances: Article 19 July 1919
- Clarification regarding Telegram 22 July 1919
- An Account of the Labour Meeting 26 July 1919
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 29 July 1919
- Presidential Address at the Provincial Social Conference, Trichinopoly: Extracts 23 August 1919
- An Appeal for Volunteers for the Punjab Bazaar Week 19 September 1919
- How to Celebrate the Birthday?: Article 21 September 1919
- Statement on Punjab Bazaar 7 October 1919
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 17 October 1919
- Observations on Khilafat Day 18 October 1919
- Letter to the Editor, New India 21 October 1919
- Statement on Night Schools 21 October 1919
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 1 November 1919
- Note on the Nationalist Conference 5 November 1919
- Statement on Moderates and Nationalists 7 November 1919
- Presidential Address at the Madura Ramnad District Conference 22 November 1919
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 4 December 1919
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 9 January 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 12 January 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 12 January 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 14 January 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 15 January 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 19 January 1920
- Hindi or English: A Reply to B. N. Sarma 20 January 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 21 January 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 4 February 1920
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 5 February 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 8 February 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 9 February 1920
- The Enfranchisement of the Urban Wage Earner: Article 12 February 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 20 February 1920
- Opinion on Reservation of Seats for Non-Brahmins 23 February 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 28 February 1920
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 2 March 1920
- ‘Nationalist’ Bulletin 13 March 1920
- Address at the Elementary Teachers’ Conference 27 March 1920
- Statement on Amritsar Memorial 7 April 1920
- Statement on Satyagraha Day 8 April 1920
- Message on Khilafat Day 8 April 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 8 April 1920
- An Appeal 9 April 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 11 April 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 30 April 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 4 May 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 6 May 1920
- Clarification on Mahatma Gandhi’s Article 8 May 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 9 May 1920
- Statement on Madras Times and Khilafat 10 May 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 18 May 1920
- Letter to the Secretaries, AICC 20 May 1920
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 23 May 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 25 May 1920
- Telegram to Mahadev Desai 12 June 1920
- Telegram to Mahatma Gandhi 12 June 1920
- Telegram to Mathuradas Trikamji 12 June 1920
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 12 June 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 12 June 1920
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 16 June 1920
- Why Not Prohibition At Once in Madras?: Article 16 June 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 16 June 1920
- Views on Lawyers and Non-cooperation 17 June 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 17 June 1920
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 29 June 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 30 June 1920
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 5 July 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 7 July 1920
- Statement on Electric Corporation Strike 9 July 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 20 July 1920
- Apology for delay in Recruitment of Teachers for Hindi Prachar 26 July 1920
- Letter to Lord Willingdon 10 August 1920
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 21 October 1920
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 29 October 1920
- Gist of Articles in the Mahomedan and the Madras Review 10 November 1920
- Note on the Madras Legislative Council Elections 24 November 1920
- An Appeal for Boycott of Council 27 November 1920
- Statement on Madras Legislative Council Elections 3 December 1920
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 10 December 1920
- Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 17 January 1921
- Note on Non-cooperation and Elections to Local Bodies 17 January 1921
- Letter to the Editor, New India 24 January 1921
- Note on Work in the Mofussil 29 January 1921
- Telegram to Congress Working Committee 31 January 1921
- Telegram to Devadas Gandhi 6 February 1921
- Wire on Khilafat Agitation in Kerala 18 February 1921
- Telegram to U. Gopala Menon 25 February 1921
- Speech on Repression in Kerala 21 February 1921
- Speech at a Public Meeting 27 February 1921
- Instructions to Voluntary Workers of the Indian National Congress 4 March 1921
- Congress Notes 8 March 1921
- Note on the National Education Fund 8 March 1921
- Letter to the Editor, New India 8 March 1921
- Congress Notes 11 March 1921
- Congress Notes 15 March 1921
- Congress Notes 16 March 1921
- Congress Notes 17 March 1921
- Notice for AICC Meeting at Bezwada 25 March 1921
- Congress Notes 30 March 1921
- Congress Notes 5 April 1921
- Letter to P. Kesava Pillai 7 April 1921
- Congress Notes 14 April 1921
- Speech at Tiruppur 21 April 1921
- Congress Notes 29 April 1921
- Congress Notes 12 May 1921
- Congress Notes 14 May 1921
- Congress Notes 18 May 1921
- Congress Notes 21 May 1921
- Congress Notes 25 May 1921
- Repression in Kerala 14 June 1921
- Congress Notes 15 June 1921
- Congress Notes 16 June 1921
- Congress Notes 20 June 1921
- Congress Notes 21 June 1921
- Congress Notes 22 June 1921
- Congress Notes 24 June 1921
- Statement on Tilak Swarajya Fund 24 June 1921
- Congress Notes 25 June 1921
- Congress Notes 27 June 1921
- Congress Notes 6 July 1921
- Letter to the Editor, Hindu 15 July 1921
- Statement on the Provincial Congress Committee 17 July 1921
- Letter to the General Secretaries, INC 20 July 1921
- Reply to Critics 20 July 1921
- Telegram to the Private Secretary to the Governor of Madras 27 August 1921
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 8 September 1921
- Statement on Riots 14 September 1921
- Telegram to the Chief Secretary, Governmentof Madras 20 September 1921
- Telegram to the Chief Secretary, Government of Madras 20 September 1921
- Note on Congress Relief 3 October 1921
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 18 October 1921
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 9 December 1921
- Telegram to Mahatma Gandhi 15 December 1921
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 15 December 1921
- Letter to Devadas Gandhi 18 December 1921
- An Appeal to the Delegates to attend the Congress Session at Ahmedabad 19 December 1921
- Interview to Andhra Patrika 20 December 1921
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 20 December 1921
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 21 December 1921
- Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 21 December 1921
- Freedom’s Battle: Introduction 1921
Appendices
Appendix I: Defence Argument in Dr. P. Varadarajulu Naidu’s Case 1918
Appendix II: Resolutions moved by C. Rajagopalachari
- Resolution regarding Congress Session 26 May 1918
- Resolution on the attitude of Lord Pentland 30 May 1918
- Resolution on Mahatma Gandhi’s Message 30 March 1919
- Resolution on the Misuse of the Defence of India Act 12 April 1919
- Resolution on Khalifate 24 August 1919
- Resolution on Punjab Affairs 14 September 1919
- Resolution on the Right of Self-Determination 22 November 1919
- Resolution on Repeal of the Press Act 5 March 1920
- Resolution on Khalifate 6 March 1920
- Three Resolutions moved at the Madras Labour
Conference 21 March 1920
- Resolution on the Labour Inquiry Committee 4 August 1920
- Resolution on the Boycott of Councils 28 August 1920
- Resolution on T. J. McSwiney’s Death 6 November 1920
- Resolutions on the Draft Constitution of Congress 16 November 1920
- Resolution on Repression in Kerala 17 February 1921
- Resolution on the Arrest of Kerala Leaders 27 February 1921
- Resolution on the Moplah Outbreak 28 August 1921
- Resolution on Civil Disobedience 20 November 1921
Appendix III: Joint Statements
- Manifesto on Congress Presidentship 29 June 1918
- Manifesto on Reform Proposals 8 July 1918
- Notice for Salem District Conference 1 August 1918
- Appeal to Observe Satyagraha Fast 26 March 1919
- Appeal by Madras Satyagraha Sabha to Observe Fast 27 March 1919
- Notice for Protest Meeting on Press Act 30 May 1919
- Notice for Public Meeting to Protest against Kalinath Roy’s Imprisonment 17 June 1919
- Notice for Public Meeting on Senior School Leaving Certificate Results 7 July 1919
- Notice for Public Meeting on Punjab Affairs 9 September 1919
- Notice regarding Nationalists’ Conference 3 November 1919
- Appeal to Observe Khilafat Day 17 March 1920
- Programme of the Madras Nationalist Association 27 April 1920
- Resolution of Madras Nationalist Association onLegislative Elections 4 May 1920
- Letter to the President of Madras P.C.C. 20 September 1920
- All India Home Rule League Circular 30 September 1920
- Draft Constitution of All India Home Rule League 23 September 1920
- Letter to the General Secretary, AICC 10 December 1920
- Telegram to Mahatma Gandhi 6 July 1921
- Manifesto on the Prosecution of the Ali Brothers 6 October 1921
Appendix IV: Reference Items
- Satyagrahi (Madras) 18 April 1919
- Letter from Mahatma Gandhi 25 June 1919
- Instructions for Satyagrahis 30 June 1919
Chronology (1878–1921)
Index