V. O. Chidambaram Pillai

V. O. Chidambaram Pillai
Chidambaram in 1919
Born
Vallinayagam Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai

5 September 1872
Died18 November 1936(1936-11-18) (aged 64)
Thoothukudi, British India
NationalityIndian
Other namesKappal Ottiya Tamilzhan, Chekkilutta Chemmal
OrganizationSwadeshi Steam Navigation Company
Political partyIndian National Congress
MovementIndian Independence Movement
SpouseMeenakshi
Children4 sons, 4 daughters

Vallinayagam Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai (5 September 1872 - 18 November 1936) was an Indian freedom fighter, lawyer, businessman and politician. He founded the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in 1906 to compete against the monopoly of the British India Steam Navigation Company (BISNC).[1][2][3] He launched the first indigenous Indian shipping service between Tuticorin in British India and Colombo in Ceylon. Once a member of the Indian National Congress, he was later charged with sedition by the British government and sentenced to life imprisonment, and his barrister license was revoked. He is known by the epithet Kappalottiya Tamizhan ("Tamil helmsman"). Tuticorin Port Trust, one of India's thirteen major ports, is named after him.

  1. ^ Manian, Ilasai (20 October 2012). "Swadeshi ship on the blue waters of Tuticorin". Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  2. ^ J, Arockiaraj (25 December 2011). "VOC's descendants found in dire straits". Madurai. TNN. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  3. ^ Bharti, Sushant (2023). Sagar Ke Senani (in Hindi) (First ed.). New Delhi: National Book Trust. pp. 38–42. ISBN 978-93-549-1673-1.