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.

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.

List of Illustrations
Preface
C. Rajagopalachari: A Biographical Sketch by Rajmohan Gandhi
Family Tree

1. Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 15 May 1907 
2. Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 23 May 1907 
3. Our Primary School Masters: Article June 1907
4. Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 10 June 1907
5. The Advisory Council of Notables: Article July 1907
6. Telegram to V. Krishnaswami Aiyer 17 January 1911
7. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 8 September 1911
8. Mr. Gandhi’s Jail Experiences: Introduction 1 October 1913
9. Letter to G. K. Gokhale 26 November 1913
10. Letter to G. K. Gokhale 8 December 1913
11. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 11 December 1913
12. Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 27 April 1914
13. Legislation in Hindu Law: Article September 1914
14. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 27 April 1915
15. M. K. Gandhi––His Message to India: Article 11 February 1916
16. Letter to the Editor, Madras Mail 1 April 1916
17. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 24 May 1916
18. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 9 August 1916
19. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 12 August 1916
20. The Place of English in Indian Education: Article 31 August 1916
21. Letter to the Editor, Commonweal 6 October 1916
22. Letter to the Editor, Commonweal 20 October 1916
23. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 18 January 1917
24. Letter to the Secretary to the Madras
    Government, Public Department 19 January 1917
25. Views on Indian Tariff Amendment Bill 21 March 1917
26. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 23 May 1917
27. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 26 May 1917
28. Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 28 August 1917
29. Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 19 September 1917
30. Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 20 September 1917
31. Letter to the Collector of Salem 28 September 1917
32. Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 2 November 1917
33. Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 2 December 1917
34. Statement on Abkari Revenue and Local Bodies 9 April 1918
35. Views on the Political Situation 30 May 1918
36. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 31 May 1918
37. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 1 June 1918
38. Letter to the Editor, New India 2 June 1918
39. Letter regarding Dr. Annie Besant’s attack on Dr. P. Varadarajulu Naidu 22 June 1918
40. Dr. S. Subramania Iyer and Lokamanya Tilak: Article 25 June 1918
41. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 30 June 1918
42. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 31 July 1918
43. Suggestions for the Subjects Committee of the Madras Provincial Conference 2 August 1918
44. Telegram to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 9 August 1918
45. Telegram to President, Salem District Conference 9 August 1918
46. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 14 August 1918
47. Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 23 August 1918
48. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 23 September 1918
49. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 23 October 1918
50. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 25 October 1918
51. Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 27 October 1918
52. Letter to the Secretary to the Government of Madras, Local and Municipal Department 2 November 1918
53. Statement on Madura Shooting Incident 18 November 1918
54. Presidential Address at Home Rule League Conference, Trichinopoly: Extracts 12 January 1919
55. Views on the Rowlatt Report 27 January 1919
56. Letter to A. Rangaswami Iyengar 11 February 1919
57. Statement on Rowlatt Bills and Dr. Annie Besant’s Message 19 February 1919
58. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 18 February 1919
59. Speech at Public Meeting 30 March 1919
60. Impressions of Satyagraha Day in Madras 7 April 1919
61. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 10 April 1919
62. Opinion on duties of Satyagrahis 11 April 1919
63. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 12 April 1919
64. Instructions to Satyagrahis 19 April 1919
65. Letter to Mahadev Desai 28 April 1919
66. Pamphlet on Satyagraha 5 May 1919
67. Pamphlet on Rowlatt Law 12 May 1919
68. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 26 May 1919
69. Note on Hindu and the Press Act 2 June 1919
70. Statement on Swami Shraddhanand’s withdrawal from the Satyagraha Sabha 3 June 1919
71. Report on the Meeting regarding Hindu and the Press Act 5 June 1919
72. Indian Home Rule: Note 6 June 1919
73. Rights of Citizens: Foreword 7 June 1919
74. Statement regarding the Aluminium Factory Strike 20 June 1919
75. Appeal to the Citizens of Madras 20 June 1919
76. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 29 June 1919
77. Letter to Members of the Satyagraha Sabha June 1919
78. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 4 July 1919
79. Letter for the Nationalist regarding the Forfeiture of its Security 5 July 1919
80. Essentials of Reform: Article 12 July 1919
81. Some Objections of Satayagraha: Article 16 July 1919
82. Civil Disobedience and Disturbances: Article 19 July 1919
83. Clarification regarding Telegram 22 July 1919
84. An Account of the Labour Meeting 26 July 1919
85. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 29 July 1919
86. Presidential Address at the Provincial Social Conference, Trichinopoly: Extracts 23 August 1919
87. An Appeal for Volunteers for the Punjab Bazaar Week 19 September 1919
88. How to Celebrate the Birthday?: Article 21 September 1919
89. Statement on Punjab Bazaar 7 October 1919
90. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 17 October 1919
91. Observations on Khilafat Day 18 October 1919
92. Letter to the Editor, New India 21 October 1919
93. Statement on Night Schools 21 October 1919
94. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 1 November 1919
95. Note on the Nationalist Conference 5 November 1919
96. Statement on Moderates and Nationalists 7 November 1919
97. Presidential Address at the Madura Ramnad District Conference 22 November 1919
98. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 4 December 1919
99. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 9 January 1920 
100. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 12 January 1920
101. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 12 January 1920
102. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 14 January 1920
103. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 15 January 1920
104. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 19 January 1920
105. Hindi or English: A Reply to B. N. Sarma 20 January 1920
106. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 21 January 1920
107. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 4 February 1920
108. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 5 February 1920
109. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 8 February 1920
110. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 9 February 1920
111. The Enfranchisement of the Urban Wage Earner: Article 12 February 1920
112. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 20 February 1920
113. Opinion on Reservation of Seats for Non-Brahmins 23 February 1920
114. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 28 February 1920
115. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 2 March 1920
116. ‘Nationalist’ Bulletin 13 March 1920
117. Address at the Elementary Teachers’ Conference 27 March 1920
118. Statement on Amritsar Memorial 7 April 1920
119. Statement on Satyagraha Day 8 April 1920
120. Message on Khilafat Day 8 April 1920
121. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 8 April 1920
122. An Appeal 9 April 1920
123. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 11 April 1920
124. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 30 April 1920
125. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 4 May 1920
126. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 6 May 1920
127. Clarification on Mahatma Gandhi’s Article 8 May 1920
128. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 9 May 1920
129. Statement on Madras Times and Khilafat 10 May 1920
130. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 18 May 1920
131. Letter to the Secretaries, AICC 20 May 1920
132. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 23 May 1920
133. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 25 May 1920
134. Telegram to Mahadev Desai 12 June 1920
135. Telegram to Mahatma Gandhi 12 June 1920
136. Telegram to Mathuradas Trikamji 12 June 1920
137. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 12 June 1920
138. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 12 June 1920
139. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 16 June 1920
140. Why Not Prohibition At Once in Madras?: Article 16 June 1920
141. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 16 June 1920
142. Views on Lawyers and Non-cooperation 17 June 1920
143. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 17 June 1920
144. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 29 June 1920
145. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 30 June 1920
146. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 5 July 1920
147. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 7 July 1920
148. Statement on Electric Corporation Strike 9 July 1920
149. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 20 July 1920
150. Apology for delay in Recruitment of Teachers for Hindi Prachar 26 July 1920
151. Letter to Lord Willingdon 10 August 1920
152. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 21 October 1920
153. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 29 October 1920
154. Gist of Articles in the Mahomedan and the Madras Review 10 November 1920
155. Note on the Madras Legislative Council Elections 24 November 1920
156. An Appeal for Boycott of Council 27 November 1920
157. Statement on Madras Legislative Council Elections 3 December 1920
158. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 10 December 1920
159. Letter to C. Vijiaraghavachariar 17 January 1921
160. Note on Non-cooperation and Elections to Local Bodies 17 January 1921
161. Letter to the Editor, New India 24 January 1921
162. Note on Work in the Mofussil 29 January 1921
163. Telegram to Congress Working Committee 31 January 1921
164. Telegram to Devadas Gandhi 6 February 1921
165. Wire on Khilafat Agitation in Kerala 18 February 1921
166. Telegram to U. Gopala Menon 25 February 1921
167. Speech on Repression in Kerala 21 February 1921
168. Speech at a Public Meeting 27 February 1921
169. Instructions to Voluntary Workers of the Indian National Congress 4 March 1921
170. Congress Notes 8 March 1921
171. Note on the National Education Fund 8 March 1921
172. Letter to the Editor, New India 8 March 1921
173. Congress Notes 11 March 1921
174. Congress Notes 15 March 1921
175. Congress Notes 16 March 1921
176. Congress Notes 17 March 1921
177. Notice for AICC Meeting at Bezwada 25 March 1921
178. Congress Notes 30 March 1921
179. Congress Notes 5 April 1921
180. Letter to P. Kesava Pillai 7 April 1921
181. Congress Notes 14 April 1921
182. Speech at Tiruppur 21 April 1921
183. Congress Notes 29 April 1921
184. Congress Notes 12 May 1921
185. Congress Notes 14 May 1921
186. Congress Notes 18 May 1921
187. Congress Notes 21 May 1921
188. Congress Notes 25 May 1921
189. Repression in Kerala 14 June 1921
190. Congress Notes 15 June 1921
191. Congress Notes 16 June 1921
192. Congress Notes 20 June 1921
193. Congress Notes 21 June 1921
194. Congress Notes 22 June 1921
195. Congress Notes 24 June 1921
196. Statement on Tilak Swarajya Fund 24 June 1921
197. Congress Notes 25 June 1921
198. Congress Notes 27 June 1921
199. Congress Notes 6 July 1921
200. Letter to the Editor, Hindu 15 July 1921
201. Statement on the Provincial Congress Committee 17 July 1921
202. Letter to the General Secretaries, INC 20 July 1921
203. Reply to Critics 20 July 1921
204. Telegram to the Private Secretary to the Governor of Madras 27 August 1921
205. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 8 September 1921
206. Statement on Riots 14 September 1921
207. Telegram to the Chief Secretary, Governmentof Madras 20 September 1921
208. Telegram to the Chief Secretary, Government of Madras 20 September 1921
209. Note on Congress Relief 3 October 1921
210. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 18 October 1921
211. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 9 December 1921
212. Telegram to Mahatma Gandhi 15 December 1921
213. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 15 December 1921
214. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 18 December 1921
215. An Appeal to the Delegates to attend the Congress Session at Ahmedabad 19 December 1921
216. Interview to Andhra Patrika 20 December 1921
217. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 20 December 1921
218. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 21 December 1921
219. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 21 December 1921
220. 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

1. Resolution regarding Congress Session 26 May 1918
2. Resolution on the attitude of Lord Pentland 30 May 1918
3. Resolution on Mahatma Gandhi’s Message 30 March 1919
4. Resolution on the Misuse of the Defence of India Act 12 April 1919
5. Resolution on Khalifate 24 August 1919
6. Resolution on Punjab Affairs 14 September 1919
7. Resolution on the Right of Self-Determination 22 November 1919
8. Resolution on Repeal of the Press Act 5 March 1920
9. Resolution on Khalifate 6 March 1920
10. Three Resolutions moved at the Madras Labour
    Conference 21 March 1920
11. Resolution on the Labour Inquiry Committee 4 August 1920
12. Resolution on the Boycott of Councils 28 August 1920
13. Resolution on T. J. McSwiney’s Death 6 November 1920
14. Resolutions on the Draft Constitution of Congress 16 November 1920
15. Resolution on Repression in Kerala 17 February 1921
16. Resolution on the Arrest of Kerala Leaders 27 February 1921
17. Resolution on the Moplah Outbreak 28 August 1921
18. Resolution on Civil Disobedience 20 November 1921

Appendix III: Joint Statements

1. Manifesto on Congress Presidentship 29 June 1918
2. Manifesto on Reform Proposals 8 July 1918
3. Notice for Salem District Conference 1 August 1918 
4. Appeal to Observe Satyagraha Fast 26 March 1919
5. Appeal by Madras Satyagraha Sabha to Observe Fast 27 March 1919
6. Notice for Protest Meeting on Press Act 30 May 1919
7. Notice for Public Meeting to Protest against Kalinath Roy’s Imprisonment 17 June 1919 
8. Notice for Public Meeting on Senior School Leaving Certificate Results 7 July 1919
9. Notice for Public Meeting on Punjab Affairs 9 September 1919 
10. Notice regarding Nationalists’ Conference 3 November 1919 
11. Appeal to Observe Khilafat Day 17 March 1920 
12. Programme of the Madras Nationalist Association 27 April 1920 
13. Resolution of Madras Nationalist Association onLegislative Elections 4 May 1920 
14. Letter to the President of Madras P.C.C. 20 September 1920 
15. All India Home Rule League Circular 30 September 1920 
16. Draft Constitution of All India Home Rule League 23 September 1920 
17. Letter to the General Secretary, AICC 10 December 1920 
18. Telegram to Mahatma Gandhi 6 July 1921 
19. Manifesto on the Prosecution of the Ali Brothers 6 October 1921

Appendix IV: Reference Items 

1. Satyagrahi (Madras) 18 April 1919 
2. Letter from Mahatma Gandhi 25 June 1919 
3. Instructions for Satyagrahis 30 June 1919

Chronology (1878–1921)
Index