Perumal Varadarajulu Naidu | |
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President, TNCC | |
In office 1924 - 1926 | |
Preceded by | Periyar E. V. Ramasamy |
Succeeded by | Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram |
Personal details | |
Born | Rasipuram, Madras Presidency, British India | 4 June 1887
Died | 23 July 1957 | (aged 70)
Political party | Indian National Congress |
Nickname |
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Perumal Varadarajulu Naidu (4 June 1887 – 23 July 1957) was an Indian physician, politician, journalist and Indian independence activist.[2] He was also the founder of The Indian Express, a major English-language daily, in 1932 in Madras.[3] He was described as, "a distinguished labour leader, an eminent journalist, an ardent champion of the causes of handloom weavers, small-scale and cottage industries and a spirited advocate of interests of politically and socially disadvantaged sections of society".[4]
The exit of the Englishman's Express enabled the Indian Express to be started in 1932 by a fearless, irascible ayurvedic doctor, Varadarajulu Naidu, who has been described as the Tilak of South India.
A forceful speaker who drew young men into the nationalist movement, Naidu established a reputation as the organiser of the largest number of conferences. His activism, especially in programmes like the boycott of foreign goods, earned him the title of the Tilak of South India.