The world is born a new each time a great person is born. They leave behind their thoughts & ideals, which are adopted by others to open new avenues & enlighten people all over the world. That is why we say that when great people are born, the world is reborn.

Our motherland has given butter to many such great people who have been as guides to others of those who were born in India & achieved lasting worldwide fame, thus bringing great fame to our land, the most notable are Mahatma Gandhi, Periyar of Erode & M.Singaravelu.

The principles of Non- violence promoted by Gandhiji, and idea of rationalism expounded by Periyar & the communist ideals propagated by the first Indian labour Leader & Communist singaravelu continue to be as famous as the leaders.

Singaravelu, also known as the father of the Indian communist movement, the father of the Indian labour union movement, the father of the scientific rationalism & equality, was born in a wealthy family, the third son of Venkatachalam Chetty &Valliammai on 18th February1860.

He was the only one among the descendents of kandappa Chetty to acquire higher education. He passed the matriculation examination in 1881, got his F.A in 1884 from Christian College & B.A from presidency College under Madras University. He joined the madras Law College & obtained B.L degree in 1907 & Practiced as a lawyer at madras high court. He was married in 1889 to Angammal (intercaste wedding). After sometime, they were blessed with a daughter kamala.

Singaravelu was successful in his career as a lawyer with his earnings as an able lawyer; he bought some estates in Thiruvanminyur & Mylapore.As women did not have equal rightsian those days, he adopted Satya Kumar (own grandson) (son of his daughter- kamala) legally as his son in 1932.

FREEDOM FIGHTER

Singaravelar accepted Mahatma Gandhi's leadership and became one of the leaders of the Presidency Congress Party in Tamil Nadu. The British Government Passed the Anti-People Rowlatt Bill in 1918, which deprived the Indians of the rights of speech and expression. It also paved the way for punishing the people without an enquiry. The Congress Party opposed this black law and held demonstrations. Singaravelar held protest meetings in Chennai.

13th April 1919 is a day stained with blood in the History of India. It was the day of the massacre in Jalianwala Bagh. Nearly 400 people were shattered to bits. 2000 people lost their limbs. A river of blood flowed. This punjab massacre spread shock waves all over the country. Mahatma Gandhi launched the non-coperation movement to condemn this inhuman act. Singaravelar set fire to his lawyer's gown at a public meeting on May 1921. He gave up practising law abiding by the non-cooperation movement and decided to boycott all the institutions functioning under the British government. In May 1921, he wrote a letter to Mahatma Gandhi explaining his action, " I have given up my profession as a lawyer today. I shall follow you as you strive for the people of this country. Singaravelar was given a very important part in the Non-Cooperation Movement. The Bandh that he organized as the first step was also successful.

The people began to hate the British after the passing of Rowlatt Bill, the Jalianwala Bagh massacre and the Chowri Chowra incident. To change this feeling to inspire confidence among the people,Prince of Wales and his consort were sent to India. This effort did not appease the people. Singaravelar organized the boycott of the arrival of the delegation in Chennai. Annadurai has described this as one of the great demonstrations that shook Chennai. Singaravelar attened the Annual Convention of the Congress Party was held in Gaya in 1922. Singaravelar attended the convention. He addressed the gathering as "Comrades" (He was the first person in India to use the word "Comrades"). A short extract from Singaravelar's speech at Gaya, "We are striving for home rule. We are fighting with the weapons of non-violence and non-cooperation. I have faith in them. But they are not suited for the communist fraternity, who differ in their approach.