Statues Of Madras Univesity

 1.V. Krishnaswami Aiyer

V. Krishnaswami Aiyer, born on 15 June 1863 and died on 28 December 1911, was an Indian lawyer who served as a justice of the High Court of Madras and as a CSI member of the Madras Executive Council. This statue was erected through public subscription.

This pertains to the controversy that arose around the installation of his statue outside the Senate House. He became the first Indian to have a statue on the Marina.

After a rapid ascent in the legal profession, he was appointed as a judge and later became a member of the Governor’s Executive Council. Unfortunately, he passed away at the young age of 47 on December 28, 1911. Despite his short life, he established several lasting institutions, including the Sanskrit College, Venkataramana Ayurveda Dispensary, Ranade Public Library, Mylapore Club, and Indian Bank.

2.Sir Subbier Subrahmanya Ayyar

Sir Subbier Subrahmanya Ayyar, born on October 1, 1842, and passed away on December 6, 1924, was an Indian lawyer, jurist, and freedom fighter. He co-founded the Home Rule Movement with Annie Besant and was widely known as the “Grand Old Man of South India.” This statue was erected through public subscription. In 1891, he was honored with the Indian title of ‘Diwan Bahadur,’ and in 1900, he was appointed a ‘Knight Commander of the Indian Empire (K.C.I.E.)’, thus becoming Sir Subramania Iyer.

Dewan Bahadur or Diwan Bahadur was a title of honour awarded during British rule in India. It was awarded to individuals who had performed faithful service or acts of public welfare to the nation. From 1911 the title was accompanied by a special Title Badge. Dewan literally means Prime Minister in Indian context and Bahadur means brave.

3.Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Gopal Krishna Gokhale (9 May 1866 – 19 February 1915) was an Indian political leader and social reformer during the Indian independence movement. He also served as a political mentor to Mahatma Gandhi.

As one of the first Indians to receive a university education, Gopal Krishna Gokhale graduated from Elphinstone College in 1884. His education exposed him to English and Western political theories, leading him to admire thinkers like John Stuart Mill and Edmund Burke. Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade had a significant impact on Gokhale’s life, and he was often regarded as Ranade’s protégé, even referred to as his “Manas Putra” or spiritual son.

Besides being a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, Gokhale also founded and also the first member of the Servants of India Society.

He was a teacher and a statesman, and member of the Imperial Legislative Council and argued for more significant Indian representation and the gradual introduction of self-government.

4.Sir Arcot Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar

Sir Arcot Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar, born on 14 October 1887 and passed away on 15 April 1974, was an Indian educationist and physician. He was the identical younger twin brother of Sir A. R. Mudaliar. His education began in Kurnool, and he moved to Chennai in 1903.

This statue was unveiled by His Excellency, Lt. General Sir Archibald Edward Nye, Governor of Madras, on Friday, 14th November 1947, at 5:30 p.m.

After completing his medical degree in Madras, he joined the Government Hospital for Women and Children in Egmore (Madras). Over the course of 35 years, he held various roles, significantly contributing to its reputation as one of the premier institutions in the East.

In 1923, he was elected to the Senate of Madras University, and the following year, he joined its Syndicate, where he was highly active. He served as the Vice Chancellor of Madras University for a record 27 years.

5.Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda, born on September 8, 1887, and passing away on July 14, 1963, was a prominent Hindu spiritual teacher and a significant figure in the advancement of modern yoga and Vedanta philosophy. This statue was unveiled by Chennai City Theological Institute, Tiruvallikeni Branch.

6.Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819, and passed away on January 22, 1901. She was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death, making her the second-longest reigning British monarch. Her era, known as the Victorian Era, was marked by significant cultural, industrial, political, and military changes. During her reign, the British Empire expanded to become the largest empire in history, and in 1876, she was given the title "Empress of India."

During Queen Victoria's reign, the University of Madras was established as part of the British colonial administration's efforts to promote Western education in India. It was one of the first three universities founded in India by the British, symbolizing the colonial influence on higher education in the country. The university's establishment is connected to the broader context of British imperial rule, which sought to create a class of educated Indians who would assist in administering the empire

7. Dadabhai Naoroji

Dadabhai Naoroji was born on 4 September 1825 and passed away on 30 June 1917. He was a prominent Indian political leader, educator, and social reformer, often referred to as the "Grand Old Man of India." He was one of the most significant figures in the early stages of India's struggle for independence and is best known for his work in exposing the economic exploitation of India under British rule.

Naoroji was the first Indian to be elected to the British Parliament, representing the Finsbury Central constituency from 1892 to 1895. In the House of Commons, he used his position to advocate for Indian rights, particularly focusing on the economic impact of British colonialism. His theory of the "Drain of Wealth," outlined in his book *Poverty and Un-British Rule in India*, argued that Britain's policies drained India's resources and wealth, contributing to widespread poverty.

Apart from his political work, Naoroji was a founding member of the Indian National Congress (INC) and served as its president three times. He played a crucial role in shaping the early agenda of the Congress, calling for self-governance and greater political representation for Indians within the British Empire.

Naoroji was also deeply involved in social reform, working to improve education, economic opportunities, and women's rights in India. His long and distinguished career laid the groundwork for future leaders of the Indian independence movement, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. His contributions to both Indian politics and the global understanding of colonialism remain foundational in the history of India's freedom struggle.

8.John Hobart

John Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire, commonly known as Lord Hobart, served as the Governor of the Madras Presidency from 1794 to 1798. His tenure was marked by several administrative and policy initiatives that had lasting impacts on the region. Although the University of Madras was not established until 1857, Lord Hobart’s contributions to the administration of the Madras Presidency laid groundwork for future developments in education and governance.

During his time as Governor, Lord Hobart worked on consolidating British control over the Madras Presidency and implementing administrative reforms. His efforts were directed towards improving the efficiency of the colonial administration and managing relations with local rulers.

While Lord Hobart’s direct influence on the University of Madras was limited, his tenure contributed to the broader context of British educational reforms in India. He supported the establishment of schools and colleges which would later become affiliated with the University of Madras. This laid a foundation for the development of higher education institutions in the region.