Rajgopalachari (December 1878-December 25, 1972), known as Rajaji, was an lawyer, writer, statesman and a spiritualist. He was the second Governor-General of independent India. Later he became the Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency.
At one time considered Mahatma Gandhi’s heir, this brilliant lawyer from Salem was regarded in pre-independence years as one of the top five leaders of the Congress along with Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Of the five, Rajaji, Nehru and Patel were christened the ‘head, heart and hands’ of Gandhiji, in whose shadows they remained till his death. They respected each other immensely. Nehru wrote about Rajaji in his autobiography of how Rajaji’s brilliant intellect, selfless character, and penetrating powers of analysis have been a tremendous asset to our cause.
After serving time in British prisons for his participation in independence movement, he became a member of the Governor’s Council in 1946.
In 1948, after Indian independence was attained, he replaced Mountbatten, becoming the only Indian Governor-General of India, serving until 1950. When a government was installed with the new constitution on January 26, 1950, the office was replaced by that of President.
As a writer, besides his own material, he published English translations of many important Indian and Hindu works like, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and Bhaja Govindam. He also translated the Ramayana into Tamil.
Rajaji died on December 25, 1972 after a short illness. The nation still remember him with pride.
