T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai

Diwan Bahadur Sir Tinnevely Nelliappa Sivagnanam Pillai (1 April 1861 – 1936) was an Indian lawyer, civil servant and politician from the Madras Presidency. He belonged to the Justice Party. He served as the Minister of Development in the government of the Raja of Panagal from 1923 to 1926.

Sir Tinnevely Nelliappa Sivagnanam Pillai
Minister of Development (Madras Presidency)
In office 19 November 1923 – 3 December 1926
Premier	Raja of Panagal
Governor	Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon Sir Charles George Todhunter (acting), George Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen
Preceded by	Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu
Succeeded by	R. N. Arogyasamy Mudaliar
Personal details
Born	1 April 1861 Tinnevely, Madras Presidency
Died	1936 (aged 75)
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Justice Party
Alma mater	Madras Christian College
Occupation	legislator, civil servant
Profession	lawyer

Early life and education

Sivagnanam Pillai was born on 1 April 1861 to Nelliappa Pillai.[1] He came from Tinnevely.[2][3] He had his undergraduation in the Madurai Diraviyam Thayumanavar Hindu College, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He graduated from Madras Christian College. He completed law from Madras Law College in 1882 and practised as an advocate.[4]

Sivagnanam Pillai was selected for the Provincial Civil Service and served as a Deputy Collector.[5][6] Upon retirement, he joined the Justice Party. In 1919, he was elected to the Madras Legislative Council from Tinnevely.[2] He replaced Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu as Minister of Development on 19 November 1923.[5][6][7]

As Minister of Development

Sivagnanam Pillai was appointed Minister of Development in 1923, replacing Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu. Critics often opine that this was a move planned by the Raja of Panagal to appease the Tamil-speaking people of the Presidency.[5] Sivagnanam Pillai thus has the distinction of becoming the First Tamil Minister.

During his tenure as the Minister of Development, Sivagnanam Pillai participated in the 9th All-India Non-Brahmin Conference held at Madras on 19 December 1925.[8] He was knighted in the 1926 New Year Honours list,[9] and formally invested with his knighthood by the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, on 18 February 1927 at Delhi.[10]

Personal Life and Family

Sivagnanam Pillai had three children: T S Avudaiappa Pillai, Sivakami Ammal and T S Ramalingam Pillai. Avudaiappa Pillai, born 28 March 1897, a career civil servant initially served in the provincial Civil Service and after Indian Independence in 1947, served in the Indian Administrative Service until 1952. He acted as the Revenue Officer and Commissioner, Corporation of Madras in 1947. His wife, Mrs. Subbammal was a great sports enthusiast and was South India Table Tennis champion.

Freemasonry

Sivagnanam Pillai was a prominent freemason and was a member of the Carnatic Lodge from 1905 to 1914[11] and 1925 to 1929.[12]

Notes

1. Indian Who's who. 1937. p. 578.
2. F. Irschick, Eugene (1986). Tamil Revivalism in the 1930s. Cre-A. p. 29.
3. Sargunam, M. J. (1966). Bishop Selwyn of Tirunelveli: A Biography of the Rt. Rev. George T. Selwyn, Faithful Missionary and Bishop of Tirunelveli, 1945-53. Christian Literary Society. p. 62.
4. Studdert-Kennedy, Gerald (1998). Providence and the Raj: Imperial Mission and Missionary Imperialism. SAGE Publications. pp. 80. ISBN 0761992774.
5. Rajaraman, P. (1988). The Justice Party: A Historical Perspective, 1916-37. Poompozhil Publishers. p. 217.
6. Rajaraman, P. (1988). The Justice Party: A Historical Perspective, 1916-37. Poompozhil Publishers. p. 826.
7. Balasubramaniam, K. M. (1965). The Life of J. M. Nallaswami Pillai: The Centenary Memorial to a Champion of Saiva Siddhanta. J. M. Somasundaram Pillai. p. 109.
8. Ralhan, O. P. Encyclopaedia of Political Parties. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 236.
9. London Gazette, 1 January 1926
10. London Gazette, 18 February 1927
11. History of the Carnatic Lodge No. 2031, E.C. 1883-1933 Jubilee. 1933. p. 134.
12. History of the Carnatic Lodge No. 2031, E.C. 1883-1933 Jubilee. 1933. p. 141.