My Family’s role in the Indian Freedom Struggle / Fight for Indian Independence
-Kizhambur S Sankarasubrmanian–
My Grand Father Sri S. Sankarasubrmania Iyer also known as Thirumangalam Subbiah Iyer (I was named after him.) was running a Coffee Shop at Thirumangalam.
In the year 1930, he had many contacts with the freedom fighters. As he was in the moderate faction of the Congress, he never went to jail. He had immense faith and love in Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and Thiru Muthuramalingam Thevar. When Patriots, who went to jail for participating in the freedom movement came to his shop, he never collected any money from them.
During the Freedom Movement, Mr. Sangu Subramaniam was publishing a magazine named SANGU in Tamil. Subbaiah Iyer used to buy the Sangu Magazine (which was published three times a month) not only for himself but also for his friends. In the Thirumangalam area, he created a lot of subscribers for Sangu magazine. He used to collect donations of Rs.20 or 30 from wealthy people and gave it to the Sangu Magazine.and also the list of subscribers. In short, Thirumangalam Subbaiah Iyer started the method of subscription in those days in the world of Tamil magazines. Later I found many Sangu magazines in the Attic of my house.
After handing over the Coffee Shop to a relation, he came to his native place called KIZHAMBUR in the year 1936. From the money he had earned he bought agricultural fields and groves in MELALAMBUR which was on the western side of the railway track.
In the grove, he installed a handloom textile machinery and thus he established a handloom textile machinery in his own backyard, i.e., in the back side of the house where he lived in KIZHAMBUR.
He created employment opportunities for the scheduled caste people in his garden and grove. He also built comfortable cottages for them to stay. My great grandfather Mr..Viswanatha Iyer gave a lot of support and guidance for all his varied humanitarian efforts. Mr. Viswanatha iyer gave valuable advices to introduce innovative methods of farming.
He worked in the handloom himself and produced his own Dhothies. He involved himself completely in the abolition of foreign cloth as part of the Boycott Movement.
Once when he went to sell his own handloom products, he got Rs.32/- as the proceeds of it. He gave the entire amount for the fund of the freedom struggle. He asked the administrators of the fund to keep Rs.25/- for the freedom struggle and Rs.7/- for the fees of the Advocates appearing for the sake of the patriots in the court cases. He impressed upon them on the idea of having a separate fund created for this purpose. That is to say, Thirumangalam Subbaiah Iyer had an idea that a separate fund allocation for the court expenses of the patriots in order to get them bail is very significant and important and must be given a top priority.
Nellai Thiyagi K.HARIHARA SUBBIRAMANIAN narrated this incident to Ambasamuththiram Advocate Mr. MUTHURAMAN in the house of my Chithappa (Paternal Uncle). It is from my Chittappa Mr. Ayyasami alias Ramasubbiramanian, I have learnt many things. It is to be noted that Mr. Ayyasami, my Chithappa,purchased a house in Kizhambur only from this Advocate Mr. Muthturaman on 31st August 1946.
Thirumangalam Subbaiah Iyer and Kasi Viswanaatha Iyer together planned to hoist the tricolour flag to imbibe the Patriotic spirit among the lower classes of the society in the area POOVANKURICHI in Melaambur. It was decided to hoist the flag at about 9 A.M. This news was conveyed to all the people in the village. About 100 people from 40 families gathered at the appointed time.
The British government did not give permission as it was one year before independence. The village Munsif KRISHNA IYER and his servants wanted to settle the issue amicably and hence spoke to Thirumangalam Subbaiah and Kasi Viswanatha Iyer and insisted that they should not hoist the tricolour flag. This request was accepted by both.
At the same time, Thirumangalam Subbaiah Iyer told Munsif Krishna Iyer that he was going to hoist a white flag in the post erected and that would be an ANNAKA KODI.(Flag indicating free food for all), which I think was the first Annakkodi unfurled in Melalambur.
So, they created a white flag immediately and hoisted it. With the experience he had in the Hotel industry, he prepared food for all the 100 people from 40 families who had come to attend the Flag hoisting ceremony.
Exactly after one year, INDIA became independent. The next day, that is on the 16th of August 1947, they erected a post and hoisted the National Tri-colur Flag. It was a peaceful and modest event. On that day also food was served to all those who assembled there. He named that area after his relation Kasi Viswanathan. Even today, that part in Melaalambur is called KASIVISWANATHA PURAM.
This information was conveyed to me by the village Munsif RAMAKRISHNA IYER alias KITTU in Kizhambur. In the same way Mr.PACHCHAP PERUMAL who worked in our fields and the handloom used to tell me with a lot of emotion. It is to be noted that the daughter in law of Mr.Pachcha Perumal is the present (2022) President of KARUTHTHA PILLAIYOOR Panchayat. Many leaders have come up from the scheduled caste in Melalambur, Karuththa Pillaiyur, Kizhambur. Today.I am happy that my Grandfather Thirumangalam Subbaiah Iyer and great grandfather Viswanatha Iyer were instrumental in their (such downtrodden sects of the society) upcoming which does give me a feeling of elation.