V. O. Chidambaram Pillai

Subject: History

Section: Personality

Context: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram Pillai on his birth Anniversary

Concept:

About V. O. Chidambaram Pillai:

ValliyappanOlaganathan Chidambaram Pillai was born into a Royal Family of Tuticorin.
He is also known as KappalottiyaTamizhan or “the Tamil Helmsman“.
He was a Tamil Indian freedom fighter and former leader of the Indian National Congress.
Founder of Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in 1906 to compete against the monopoly of the British India Steam Navigation Company (BISNC).
He launched the first indigenous Indian shipping service between Tuticorin (India) and Colombo (Sri Lanka) with the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company (SSNC), competing against British ships.
Tuticorin Port Trust, one of India’s thirteen major ports, is named after him.
Chidambaram Pillai established many institutions like YuvaneshPrachar Sabha, DharmasangaNesavuSalai, National Godown, Madras Agro-Industrial Society ltd and DesabimanaSangam.

Coral Mill Strike:

On 23 February 1908 Chidambaram Pillai gave a speech at Thoothukudi, encouraging the workers at Coral Mill (now part of Madura Coats) to protest against their low wages and harsh working conditions.
Four days later, the workers of the Coral Mill went on strike.
Chidambaram and Subramanya Siva led the strike.
- Their demands included incremental earnings, weekly holidays and other leave facilities.
Chidambaram and Siva were arrested on 12 March 1908.
The arrest was followed by widespread protest. In Thirunelveli shops, schools and colleges were closed in protest, and rioting broke out. The Thirunelveli municipal office, post offices, police stations and municipal courts were attacked.
A general strike was declared in Thoothukudi, which was the first political strike in India.