M R Jambunaathan
While studying in Madras Presidency College, a student listens to Bipin Chandra Pal’s address at the Marina beach. On knowing this, the college principal (an Englishman) , ordered the young man to stand upon the bench from morning to evening in the class for two weeks. The eagerness that appeared as a spark in the heart of the student who stood patiently to take part in the national liberation war, turned into a burning desire and engulfed him . After completing his college studies, this young man worked as a teacher in Trichy and Masulipatnam, present day Andhra Pradesh for one year. He then studied law.
He was Madurai Vaidyanatha Iyer. (Born: 16 May 1890; Died: 23 Feb 1955). Father Arunachalam Iyer, mother Lakshmi Ammal; Vaidyanathan was born as second child to them.
His involvement in freedom movement and nation building work began in college and continued till the end of his life. Some examples:
A constant stream of patriotism flowed in him as he interacted with many leaders of the freedom struggle era such as Chittaranjan Das, Mahatma Gandhi, Rajaji, Sardar Patel, Kamaraj, Muthuramalinga Thevar.
During the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha, when Rajaji was arrested, Vaidyanathan ji spoke and he was arrested promptly. He was beaten black and blue. Everybody around him was moved on seeing him bleeding profusely.
Mahatma Gandhi ji gave a clarion call to reach out to the common folk and save them from the clutches of arrack consumption. Like many leaders, Vaidyanathan also took forward the campaign in Madurai and its neighbourhood. Conducting Hartal in front of arrack shops was part of their campaign. During one such protests, the drunkards broke pots on his head and bathed him in arrack.
Rejecting foreign cloths, he wore Khadi dresses only and encouraged his family and friends to follow suit.
Whenever, Vaidyanatha Iyer’s name is mentioned, his stellar role in Harijan emancipation in Tamil Nadu has to be thankfully remembered. Right from the success of Vaikkam Temple Harijan entry movement in November , 1935 Vaidyanathan wanted to replicate it in Madurai Meenakshi Temple which was much more an arduous task. Why because, as Mahatma observed, in the case of Vaikkam , congressmen had to convince only the Maharaja of Travancore. Here in Madurai, they had to overcome the opposition of a large and influential section of the society.
Vaidyanatha Iyer was waiting for the right opportunity. It came in the form of becoming President of Harijan Sevak Sangh. He went to several slums along with his team of spirited youngmen such as Somasundarabharathy, MNR Subburaman, Cholavandan Chinnasamy Pillai, Dr G Ramachandran, Mattaparai Venkatrama Iyer and, Manakkal Pattabiramaiyer, and a others. One of the major agenda of their movement, to lead the Harijans and Nadars into Meenakshi Amman Temple. Alongwith, the activists mentioned above, prominent Congressmen such as Kakkan, Muthuramalinga Thevar and Mayandi Bharati also joined hands and worked hard for propagating and mobilising the support for the temple entry movement in Madurai. With all their sustained efforts over an year, on July 17, 1939 Vaidyanatha Iyer and his team successfully achieved the ambition which was written in Golden letters in the pages of Bharatiya history.
His life inspired not only his family members but also those whoever came into contact with them to to pursue national and community service. Iyer’s son V Sankaran was also arrested in the Freedom movement while studying in law college and sentenced to 6 months in prison. “During his law college days, Sankaran’s friend Annaji named Dakshinamurthy who also hailed from Madurai came into contact with Iyer and received blessings . Annaji was responsible for the rapid growth of RSS work in Madurai. According to Annaji’s advice, Sankaran attended the Sangh camp” says former Sangha Pracharak Chakravarty Gopalan.
“Later, Sankaran was elected to the Madurai Central Assembly Constituency and served as an MLA twice (1957, 1962). Sankaran was the leader of the Hindu movement’s protest when he staged the Keemayanam play which insulted the Ramayana and offended the religious sentiments of Hindus. “Sir,” recalls Vaidyanatha Iyer’s family’s efforts. Aya Ramamurthy, a senior Sangha-Jana Sangha worker who took part in that struggle at the age of fifteen.
For all these dedicated service to the society in many forms only, he is still celebrated as Diamond Jewel of Madurai.
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A family devoted to the freedom struggle
Vaidyanatha Iyer engaged his wife Akhilandammal in an individual satyagraha struggle. As a result Akhilandammal spent several months in jail in Vellore jail. Iyer’s younger son Y. Sankaran was also involved in the freedom struggle. Sankaran also languished in jail for many months. Vaidyanatha Iyer’s eldest son died while in Alipore jail. Due to this he could not even attend his son’s funeral. Even his daughter’s marriage took place during the parole period.
