P. Theagaraya Chetty

Dewan Bahadur Rao Bahadur Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty KCSI (27 April 1852 – 28 April 1925) was one of the founders of the Justice Party. He is honored as one of the senior leaders of the Dravidian movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, he was a prominent political leader of the Madras Presidency and was also renowned as an industrialist.

Dewan Bahadur Rao Bahadur Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty KCSI
Born	(1852-04-27)27 April 1852 Egathur, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	28 April 1925(1925-04-28) (aged 73) Madras, British India
Monuments	Thyagaraya Nagar (T. Nagar), an Indian postage stamp featuring his portrait, Statue at Ripon Building and Sir Pitty Theagarayar Kalaiyarangam in Chennai
Other names	Velludai Vendhar (வெள்ளுடை வேந்தர்)
Citizenship	British India
Education	Bachelor of Arts
Alma mater	Presidency College, Madras
Occupation(s)	Politician, Lawyer, Businessman, Industrialist, Municipal Councillor, Legislator, Community Leader
Known for	Co-founder and Leader of Justice Party
Notable work	Municipal Councillor of Madras (1882–1922), First Non-official President, Corporation of Madras (1920–1925), Introduced the first mid-day meal scheme in Chennai (1920)
Political party	Justice Party (India), officially the South Indian Liberal Federation
Other political affiliations	Indian National Congress
Movement	Non-Brahmin Movement, Anti-Brahminism Movement, Dravidian Movement and Self-Respect Movement
Spouse	Chinnavalli Ammal
Parent(s)	Ayyappa Chettiar, Valli Ammal
Honours	Rao Bahadur, Dewan Bahadur, Knighted by the British Government

Early Life, Family, and Education

Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty

Pitty Theagaraya Chetty was born on 27 April 1852 in Egathur, a village in the Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), into a Telugu-speaking Devanga family engaged in trade, weaving, and leather tanning. He was the third son of Ayyappa Chettiar and Valli Ammal, a wealthy couple from Korukkupet, Chennai. His upbringing in a prosperous merchant household gave him early exposure to commerce and community leadership. Despite his affluent background, he was known in his youth for his humility and dedication to academics rather than ostentation.

Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty earned a B.A., with Mathematics^[1] as the optional subject from Madras Presidency College in 1876.^[1] Despite holding a B.A., Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty reportedly showed little regard for formal degrees and was critical of educattors focused solely on bookish knowledge, viewing such attitudes as detached from practical realitiets.

Theagaraya Chetty married Chinnavalli Ammal, and the couple had one son and seven daughters. His education and family connections equipped him with both business acumen and leadC.ership skills, laying the foundation for his later roles in public service, politics, and commerce.

Occupation

Apart from the weaving industry, Theagaraya Chetty was also involved in leather tanning, pickle-making, and lime kiln businesses, each employing a large number of workers. To support these enterprises, he maintained his own transport fleet consisting of about one hundred boats. He organized and participated in weavers’ conferences and exhibitions, winning numerous prizes in the competitions held there.

Near his residence in Tondiarpet, he established the “Pitty Weaving Mill”, which housed around one hundred fly-shuttle looms. He is credited with introducing a method in handloom weaving that used a small hook to draw the thread, replacing the earlier practice of throwing the shuttle by hand. The “Pitty” brand handkerchiefs produced at the mill became widely known, and the establishment won awards at the All India Weaving Exhibition in March 1909.^[1]

Political Career and Relationship with Leaders

The third session of the Indian National Congress was held in Chennai, and Theagaraya Chetty took the lead in organizing it. When Mahatma Gandhi visited Chennai, he gave him a grand reception. In 1882, he founded an association under the name Madras Native Association, which later came to be known as the Madras Mahajana Sabha. This body would meet periodically in Chennai, discuss various issues, and submit petitions to the British government.

Until 1916, he was an ardent Congressman. In fact, before Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Theagaraya Chetty had initiated a self-respect movement. Disheartened by the dominance of certain factions within the Congress, he withdrew from the party. Interestingly, Periyar, who had once sharply criticized Theagaraya Chetty for leaving the Congress, would later leave the party himself for the very same reason and begin to strongly oppose it.

In the 1916 legislative elections, Dravidian leaders such as Dr. T. M. Nair, Panaganti Ramarayaningar (Raja of Panagal), K. V. Reddy Naidu, and Sir P. Theagaraya Chetty—all contesting as Congress candidates—were defeated by the party itself.

Although many leaders from different political backgrounds held ideological differences with Theagaraya Chetty, they still had great personal affection for him. On one occasion, Tamil nationalist leader Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram (Thiru Vi. Ka.) delivered a fiery speech against his administration at a public meeting on the Chennai beach, but the two later maintained cordial relations, with Theagaraya Chetty acknowledging his friendly disposition.

During elections, C. P. Ramaswami Iyer contested against Theagaraya Chetty and even brandished a gun while campaigning. Nevertheless, Theagaraya Chetty won by a large margin. Upon his death, the very same C. P. Ramaswami Iyer moved a condolence motion in the legislature, saying, “We have lost a selfless humanitarian.”

Founding of the Justice Party and Leadership in Governance

Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty at the centre, holding a girl child

On Monday, 20 November 1916, at the residence of Advocate T. Ethirajulu Mudaliyar in Vepery, Chennai, Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty convened a special meeting. In that meeting, it was resolved to establish and run an organization under the name South Indian Welfare Association. On behalf of this association, he also published a journal titled Justice. Over time, the organization itself came to be popularly known as the Justice Party, officially the South Indian Liberal Federation, taking its name from this journal.

As the leader of the Justice Party, Sir P. Theagaraya Chetty managed the party with distinction. The policy statement he released generated significant public awareness, and people gave strong support to the party’s principles and programs. The Justice Party advocated for India’s independence, while also demanding full rights and protections for the backward classes, the oppressed, and the tribal communities.

In early electoral contests, European members initially opposed his nomination to the Legislative Council but later supported him en masse following the launch of the Non-Brahmin Movement. He also authored a critical pamphlet titled The Milch Cow of India, in which he denounced the practice of excessive provincial contributions to the central government.^[2]

Due to his selfless and tireless efforts, the Justice Party won the trust of the people. In the 1920 elections to the Madras State Legislative Council, the Justice Party secured an absolute majority and was invited to form the government. The then British Governor, Lord Willingdon, invited Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty—as the party leader—to assume the role of Chief Minister. However, he declined the position, instead recommending Cuddalore lawyer Subbarayalu Reddy, who went on to take office as the Chief Minister.

Religious Contributions

Although many believed Theagaraya Chetty to be an atheist, he was in fact deeply involved in temple and religious service work, despite his commitment to the principles of the Self-Respect Movement. He donated ₹10,000 for renovation works at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai, and arranged for the kudamuzhukku (consecration ceremony). However, the temple authorities did not permit him to climb the gopuram and pour the holy water during the consecration.

He also contributed to renovation works at the Parthasarathy Temple. For the Ursav lion vehicle of the Sri Ramalinga Sowdeswari Amman Temple in Vannarpettai, Chennai, he had two glass eyes specially made and brought from London to be fixed on it. Even today, the deity’s street procession is carried out on that very same lion vehicle.

Positions and Public Services

• From 1882 to 1922, Theagaraya Chetty served as a Municipal Councillor of the Corporation of Madras for approximately 40 years, presiding over 1,081 meetings. He established a public park behind the Ripon Building.^[3]
• In 1905, during the Prince of Wales's (later King George V) visit to Madras, Theagaraya Chetty, a prominent Municipal Councillor, was permitted by the Governor to welcome the prince in traditional white attire.^[4] During the visit of the Prince of Wales's (later King Edward VIII) to Madras in January 1921, he officially welcomed the royal guest and delivered the city's address of welcome.
• From 1909 to 1912, he served on the Governor’s Executive Council, representing the Corporation of Madras.
• He served as President of the Corporation of Madras from 1919 until he died in 1925. During this period, the Governor invited him to become Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency after the Justice Party’s 1920 election victory, but he declined for ethical reasons.
• In 1920, under the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms and the Madras City Municipal Act of 1919, Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty became the first Non-official President of the Corporation of Madras. The same year, he launched the first mid-day meal scheme at a municipal school in Chennai’s Thousand Lights area to support impoverished students.

Opposition to Brahminism and Support for Brahmins

Sir Pitty Theagarayar Proponent of Cottage Industry Indian Stamp

While Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty opposed Brahminism, he did not harbor hatred toward Brahmins. He advocated that non-Brahmins should resolve their legal disputes independently, without relying on Brahmin lawyers. However, he extended support to impoverished Brahmins. In the long corridor of his residence, numerous Brahmin boys studied Sanskrit and mantras, receiving various forms of assistance from him. When friends questioned this support, given his leadership in the anti-Brahminism movement, Theagaraya Chetty clarified, “I do not hate Brahmins. Let them pursue their traditional occupations. Governing is the duty of our hereditary ruling class. If we ask Brahmins not to encroach on our roles, where else can they go?” Additionally, when Yagnyaraman, a Brahmin who worked for the upliftment of marginalized communities and lived in a slum, was ostracized and lost his job, Theagaraya Chetty intervened and secured him a position as a lecturer at Pachaiyappa’s College.

Contributions towards Education

Statue of Dewan Bahadur Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty stands at the entrance of the Ripon Building, the Chennai Corporation Office.

Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty funded the establishment of several schools and colleges from his personal wealth, including Theagaraya College in Chennai. He played a significant role in founding the University of Madras and Andhra University. Due to the lack of initiatives for Tamil language development at the University of Madras, he collaborated with the Raja of Chettinad, Annamalai Chettiar, to establish Annamalai University. He also initiated technical training schools alongside academic institutions. As a member and president of the Muslim Educational Trust, he implemented numerous reforms. Additionally, he restructured the Pachaiyappa’s Educational Trust to ensure inclusivity, enabling membership from all communities. He was appointed Fellow of the University of Madras in 1898 in recognition of his contributions to education. He personally financed the establishment of a boys’ school in Washermenpet, operating it at considerable personal cost. As a trustee of Pachaiyappa’s Charities and a key figure in reorganizing the Chengalvaraya Naicker Technical Institute alongside V. Thirumalai Pillai, he demonstrated a commitment to both academic and technical education.^[3]

Additional Educational Contributions and Legacy

In 1897, Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty along with his elder brother Pitty Theagaraya Chetty (Senior) founded the North Madras Hindu Secondary School in Washermenpet (Vannarapettai) to expand educational opportunities in North Madras, and they supported the institution for nearly 25 years. After the deaths of the founders, the school was renamed the Theagaraya Chetty Hindu Secondary School. In 1931, with the approval of the High Court of Madras, the Pitty family transferred the school’s management to a committee, appointing Dewan Bahadur P. T. Kumaraswamy Chetty, the nephew of Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty, as the first Correspondent; he was succeeded in 1942 by his brother, P. T. Chengalvaraya Chetty. By June 1947, student enrollment at the school had increased to approximately 1,600, despite its location in a predominantly trading and artisan community. In 1950, the school was upgraded into Sir Theagaraya College to provide higher education to residents of North Madras. P. Ramaswamy Chetty, grandson of Theagaraya Chetty (Senior) and a member of the Pammy family, played a central role in establishing the college, working almost singlehandedly as a managing committee member despite fragile health.

Honors and Titles

On January 1, 1909, the British government conferred upon him the title of Rao Bahadur, and on January 1, 1919, he was awarded the title Dewan Bahadur. In honor of Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty, Thyagaraya Nagar (T. Nagar), historically known as East Mambalam in Chennai and a locality in Bengaluru was named after him. The Government of India recently issued a commemorative postage stamp featuring his portrait, with the background depicting a weaver at a loom, adding to his legacy. A statue of Sir Pitty Theagaraya Chetty stands near the main entrance of the Ripon Building in Chennai in recognition of his contributions to the city. In 1959, when the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) won the Chennai Corporation election for the first time, its members paid tribute by garlanding his statue before entering the council premises.^[3] A stadium in Chennai, known as the Sir Pitty Theagarayar Kalaiyarangam, is named in his honour and is used for government ceremonies.

See also

• List of presidents of the Justice Party