Sir Thyagaraja Sadasiva Iyer (23 June 1861 – 1 December 1927) was an Indian judge and theosophist who served as the Chief Justice of Travancore from 1905 to 1910. He was also the first President of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Madras Presidency.
Diwan Bahadur Sir Thyagaraja Sadasiva Iyer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR & CE), Madras Presidency | |
| In office 1921–1927 | |
| Chief Justice of Travancore | |
| In office 1905–1910 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 June 1861 Kumbakonam, Madras Presidency |
| Died | 1 December 1927 (aged 66) Madras |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Spouse | Mangalammal |
| Occupation | Judge, bureaucrat |
| Profession | Law |
Early life and education
editSadasiva was born in a Tamil Brahmin family in Kumbakonam[1] on 23 June 1861 to Mangudi Thyagaraja Iyer,[2] who was a daayadhi (cousin by paternal lineage) to Nobel Laureate C. V. Raman. He belonged to the Mangudi Brahacharanam subsect. He was educated at Kumbakonam and Madras and mastered in Hindu law. Sadasiva's younger brother was Justice T Paramasiva Iyer, the father of the Kannada playwright T. P. Kailasam.[3]
Judicial career
editSadasiva started his judicial career as an apprentice to Raja T. Rama Rao before enrolling as a vakil in the Madras High Court. After joining service as District Munsiff of Madura in 1887 and District Judge [must be Munsif; he became District Judge much later] at Tinnevely, Sadasiva Iyer was made a Sub-Judge in 1905. In 1905, he was appointed Chief Judge of Travancore High Court and served till 1910, when he reverted to British service and was posted as District and Sessions Judge of Ganjam.[2] In 1912, Sadasiva was appointed judge of the Madras High Court as Additional Judge [4] and served from 1912 till his retirement in 1921.[5] In 1915 he was elected as Vice-President of the National Indian Association, Madras.[2]
In 1921, he was appointed President of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR & CE), newly established by the Justice Party government of the Raja of Panagal.[6] He was made a Knight Bachelor in the King's Birthday Honours' List of 1921.
Theosophical Society and Social Reform
editSadasiva was an active member of the Theosophical Society[7] presiding over several meetings and serving as the General Secretary of its India Section from 1924-1925.[8] In 1918, Annie Besant and the leaders of the Home Rule League established the Wood's College at Madanapalle as the first National University, Sadasiva Iyer was appointed as its Vice Chancellor and Rabindranath Tagore its Chancellor.[9]
Death
editSadasiva died at Madras on 1 December 1927 at the age of 66.
Family
editSadasiva married his maternal cousin, Mangalammal. The couple had five sons (Viswanathan, Krishnamurthy, Thyagarajan, Swaminathan, and Ramachandran) and three daughters (Balamma, Syamala, and Parvati).[citation needed] His brother in law was Dewan Bahadur R. V. Srinivasa Aiyar.[10]
References
edit- ^ Seshacharriar, V.C; Vembakkam V Srinivasa Aiyangar (1921). "Journal". The Law Weekly. 14: 7–14. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ^ a b c Rao, C Hayavadana (1915). The Indian biographical dictionary (1915). Madras. pp. 373.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Rao, L. S. Seshagiri Rao (1984). T.P Kailasam. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 1–8.
- ^ Besant, Annie Wood (1912). Theosophist Magazine February 1912-March 1912. Madras: Theosophical Publishing House.
- ^ Black (1962). Who was who: a companion to Who's who, containing the biographies of those who died. A& C. Black. p. 923.
- ^ Parthasarathi, p 53
- ^ Besant, Annie Wood (1913). Theosophist Magazine April 1913-June 1913. Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House. p. 118.
- ^ Jinaradasa, C (1925). Golden Book of the Theosophical Society. Madras: Theosphical Publishing House. p. 257.
- ^ Rao, Ch. M. Naidu (1988). Nationalism in south India, its economic and social background, 1885-1918 : a study of the Madras Government's policies in the economic and social aspects and their impact on nationalism in the former Madras Presidency. Delhi, India: Mittal Publications. p. 114. ISBN 978-81-7099-043-7.
- ^ The Who's who in Madras: ... A pictorial who's who of distinguished personages, princes, zemindars and noblemen in the Madras Presidency. Pearl Press. 1940. p. 247.
- Besant, Annie Wood (February–March 1912). "Supplement to the Theosophist". The Theosophist: xiv.
- Parthasarathi, R. (1979). Builders of Modern India: S. Satyamurti. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.