Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty C. S. I. | |
|---|---|
 A portrait of Gajula Lakshminarasu Chetty | |
| Born | 1806 |
| Died | 1868 |
| Occupation | Merchant |
| Known for | Political activism, publicist |
Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty CSI (Telugu: గాజుల లక్ష్మీనరసు శెట్టి; 1806–1868) was an Indian merchant and political activist who founded the Madras Native Association, one of the earliest Indian political associations, and the first Indian-owned newspaper in Madras, The Crescent. He was also the second Indian to be appointed a member of the Madras Legislative Council, succeeding V. Sadagopacharlu on his death.[1] Lakshminarasu Chetty was born in 1806 to a wealthy indigo merchant Sidhulu Chetty in Madras. On completion of his initial education, Chetty entered the family trade and succeeded as a businessman. He entered politics and devoted money for social and philanthropic causes.