Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram (Thiru.Vi.Ka.) – Tamil Scholar, Madras Labour Union 1918, Desabhakthan & Navasakthi, Congress Leader & Writer | TNPSC Notes

Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram (1883–1953), known everywhere as Thiru.Vi.Ka. and also as Kalyanasundaranar, was a Tamil scholar, teacher, journalist, Congress leader and one of the founders of the labour movement in South India. He was a vice-president of the Madras Labour Union (1918), regarded as the first organised trade union in India, edited the nationalist daily Desabhakthan and founded the Tamil weekly Navasakthi (1920), and wrote more than fifty books such as Manitha Vazhkkaiyum Gandhiyadigalum and Pennin Perumai. For his clear and graceful Tamil he is called Tamil Thendral (the Tamil breeze).

தமிழில் படிக்க

These notes are written for TNPSC Group 1, 2/2A and 4 aspirants and are meant to be complete on their own. Thiru.Vi.Ka. is a topic in History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements of Tamil Nadu (the labour movement, nationalist journalism and the Tamil renaissance) and in History, Culture of India and Indian National Movement (the Congress in Tamil Nadu, Gandhian ideas and the rise of trade unions). His works, titles and prose style are asked in General Tamil under "Tamil scholars and their service to Tamil" (தமிழ் அறிஞர்களும் தமிழ்த்தொண்டும்). Read each section, then revise with the tables, the quick revision table and the key points at the end.

At a Glance

Name, Birth and Family

• Full name: Thiruvarur Viruthachalam Kalyanasundaram. The short form Thiru.Vi.Ka. is made from Thiruvarur, his father's name Viruthachalam and his own name Kalyanasundaram. In English records he also appears as T. V. Kalyanasundara Mudaliar.
• Born: 26 August 1883 at Thullam village (now Thandalam), close to Madras, which was then in Chengalpattu district of the Madras Presidency. The Tamil Nadu Government's press releases place the village in today's Chennai area.
• Parents: Viruthachala Mudaliar (father) and Chinnammal (mother).
• Childhood: the family settled in Royapettah, Madras, which remained his home for the rest of his life.

Exam tip: his birthday, 26 August, is marked by the Tamil Nadu Government every year. Officials of the Tamil Development Department garland his statue at Thandalam, the village where he was born.

Schooling and Tamil Teachers

• He studied at Wesley College High School, Royapettah.
• He continued his studies on his own and with private teachers. His Tamil teachers included Na. Kathiraivel Pillai of Jaffna (Yazhppanam), a Saiva scholar, and Maraimalai Adigal, the leader of the Pure Tamil movement.
• Through this private study he gained a deep knowledge of classical Tamil literature and Saiva texts.

He became a well-known Tamil scholar, teacher and public speaker.

Early Work: Spencer & Co. and Teaching

• Spencer & Co.: for a short period he worked in the Madras firm of Spencer & Co.
• Teacher: he worked as a teacher and was a Tamil teacher at Wesley College, Madras (1916–17), the institution where he had studied.
• Leaving teaching: drawn by the national movement, he left teaching and in December 1917 became a journalist.

Journalism – Desabhakthan (1917) and Navasakthi (1920)

Thiru.Vi.Ka. used journalism to spread the message of freedom, social reform and workers' rights in simple Tamil that ordinary readers could follow.

• Sadhu Press: many of his books, including his autobiography (1944), were printed and published at the Sadhu Press (Sadhu Achukoodam), Royapettah.
• His commentaries on classical Tamil works appeared in Navasakthi as serials.
• Exam tip: Desabhakthan is a daily he joined (1917); Navasakthi is a weekly he founded (1920).

Pioneer of the Labour Movement – Madras Labour Union (1918)

In early 1918 workers of the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills at Perambur, Madras, run by Binny and Co., complained, among other grievances, of the short time allowed for their midday meal, and took their problems to B. P. Wadia, a Theosophist colleague of Annie Besant. Two local businessmen, G. Selvapathy Chettiar and Ramanujulu Naidu, helped to organise the workers, and Thiru.Vi.Ka. addressed their meetings in Tamil.

• 13 April 1918: at a meeting of the mill workers, Wadia spoke in English and Thiru.Vi.Ka. translated his speech into Tamil.
• 27 April 1918: the Madras Labour Union (MLU) was formed. Most accounts give this date; a few give other dates in April 1918.
• Office-bearers: B. P. Wadia – first president; G. Selvapathy Chettiar and G. Ramanujulu Naidu – first secretaries; Thiru.Vi.Ka. – a vice-president.
• Significance: the MLU is regarded as the first organised trade union in India.

The 1921 Buckingham and Carnatic Mills Strike

• In May–June 1921 a dispute at the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills turned into a long strike and lockout lasting several months, until about October 1921.
• Thiru.Vi.Ka. led the Madras Labour Union and the striking workers during the dispute.
• Lesson for answers: the strike showed both the strength of the new unions and the need for legal protection for them. The Trade Unions Act, 1926 later provided for the registration of unions.

In the Congress and the National Movement

• Gandhi: he acted as Mahatma Gandhi's Tamil interpreter at meetings in Madras and spread Gandhian ideas among Tamil readers and listeners. His book Manitha Vazhkkaiyum Gandhiyadigalum (1921) is one of the early Tamil studies of Gandhi's thought.
• Speaker: he toured Tamil Nadu speaking on the need for freedom.
• Kanchipuram conference (November 1925): he presided over the Tamil Nadu Congress conference at Kanchipuram. At this conference E. V. Ramasamy (Periyar) sought to move a resolution on communal representation; it was not allowed, and Periyar left the Congress.
• TNCC President: he was President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in 1926.
• Retirement: he withdrew from political and trade-union activity in 1947, the year of independence, and spent his last years in writing.

Thiru.Vi.Ka. and Periyar: the two worked together in the Congress in the early 1920s. They parted ways politically after the Kanchipuram conference of 1925.

Writer and Tamil Prose Stylist

Thiru.Vi.Ka. wrote more than fifty books on politics, society, religion, women, labour and Tamil literature. He wrote and spoke in clear, simple Tamil that a factory worker or a student could follow. For this he is called Tamil Thendral (the Tamil breeze), and his prose is regarded as an important influence on modern Tamil prose and Tamil journalism.

Major Works

Exam tip: for 'Who wrote Pennin Perumai?' and 'Who wrote Manitha Vazhkkaiyum Gandhiyadigalum?' the answer is Thiru.Vi.Ka. Do not confuse Pennin Perumai with Periyar's Pen Yen Adimaiyanal?

Nationalised works: the Tamil Nadu Government has nationalised his works, so they are free for the public to read and reprint; they are available in the Tamil Digital Library of the Tamil Virtual Academy.

Social Ideas – Women, Workers and Religious Harmony

• Women: in Pennin Perumai he argued that a woman is an equal partner in life and that the progress of society depends on the education and freedom of women.
• Workers: he stood for the dignity of labour and for workers organising themselves into unions to secure fair treatment.
• Religious harmony: a devoted follower of Vallalar Ramalinga Swamigal, he preached Samarasa Sanmargam – respect for all religions.
• Tamil: he used Tamil, not English, for public speaking and writing on modern subjects such as politics and labour, helping Tamil to carry modern ideas.

Titles and Names

Personal Life and Death

• Wife: he married in 1912; his wife died in 1918.
• Simple life: he lived simply in Royapettah and gave his time to writing, speaking and public work.
• Death: he died on 17 September 1953 at his home in Royapettah, Madras, aged 70.

Honours and Memorials

• Postage stamp: India Post issued a stamp in his honour on 21 October 2005 (Rs 5).
• Thiru.Vi.Ka. Award (திரு.வி.க. விருது): instituted by the Tamil Nadu Government and presented by the Tamil Development Department on Thiruvalluvar Day along with the other Tamil awards.
• Statue at Thandalam: his statue stands in his birthplace, where the Tamil Nadu Government pays homage every 26 August.
• Places named after him in Chennai: Thiru.Vi.Ka. Nagar, the Thiru.Vi.Ka. Bridge over the Adyar river, and Thiru.Vi.Ka. Park at Shenoy Nagar.
• College: Thiru.Vi.Ka. Government Arts College, Thiruvarur.

Early Labour Leaders of Madras – Do Not Confuse

Writing Mains Answers on Thiru.Vi.Ka. (Group 1 / Group 2)

Descriptive papers ask about his role in the labour movement, journalism and Tamil prose. Build your answer around these points and support each with a fact from the notes above.

Thiru.Vi.Ka. and the labour movement in Tamil Nadu (about 150–250 words)

• Introduction: Tamil scholar and Congressman who became one of the founders of the labour movement in South India.
• Background: poor conditions in the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills, Perambur, in 1918 – long hours, short meal breaks, harsh treatment.
• Founding: Madras Labour Union, April 1918 (27 April in most accounts) – Wadia president, Selvapathy Chettiar and Ramanujulu Naidu secretaries, Thiru.Vi.Ka. vice-president; India's first organised trade union.
• Method: speeches in simple Tamil; translation of Wadia's speeches; peaceful organisation.
• Struggle: led the union in the 1921 strike and lockout.
• Ideas: dignity of labour; peaceful organisation; link with the Gandhian national movement.
• Conclusion: he gave the workers' movement a Tamil voice and linked it with the freedom struggle; the later Trade Unions Act, 1926 met the need for legal recognition that these early struggles had shown.

Contribution of Thiru.Vi.Ka. to Tamil journalism and prose (about 150 words)

• Desabhakthan (daily, joined 1917) and Navasakthi (weekly, founded 1920).
• Used simple, flowing Tamil for modern subjects – politics, labour, women's rights.
• More than fifty books; commentaries on classics serialised in Navasakthi.
• Title Tamil Thendral; regarded as an important influence on modern Tamil prose.
• Works nationalised by the Tamil Nadu Government.

Thiru.Vi.Ka. as a social thinker (about 100 words)

• Women: Pennin Perumai – women as equal partners in life.
• Religion: follower of Vallalar; Samarasa Sanmargam; respect for all faiths.
• Politics: Gandhian; Manitha Vazhkkaiyum Gandhiyadigalum (1921).
• Labour: dignity of work and peaceful organisation of workers.

Practice: Match the Following

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• President of the MLU: the first president was B. P. Wadia; Thiru.Vi.Ka. was a vice-president at the start.
• First trade union vs first May Day: Madras Labour Union – 1918 (Wadia, Thiru.Vi.Ka.); first May Day in India – 1 May 1923, Madras (Singaravelar).
• Daily vs weekly: Desabhakthan was a daily he joined; Navasakthi was the weekly he founded.
• Navasakthi year: 1920 – not 1918 (that is the union).
• Pennin Perumai vs Pen Yen Adimaiyanal?: the first is by Thiru.Vi.Ka.; the second is by Periyar.
• Kanchipuram 1925: Thiru.Vi.Ka. presided; Periyar was the one who left the Congress.
• Tamil Thendral is Thiru.Vi.Ka.'s title – do not mix it with titles such as Mahakavi (Bharati) or Puratchi Kavignar (Bharathidasan).
• Name: 'Thiru' in Thiru.Vi.Ka. is from Thiruvarur – it is not the honorific 'Thiru' (Mr).
• Death: 1953 – not 1947, which is the year he retired from public life.

Quick Revision Table

TNPSC Key Points (PYQ-style facts)

• Thiru.Vi.Ka. = Thiruvarur Viruthachalam Kalyanasundaram; born 26 August 1883, Thullam (Thandalam).
• Parents: Viruthachala Mudaliar and Chinnammal.
• School: Wesley College High School, Royapettah; Tamil teachers – Na. Kathiraivel Pillai (Jaffna) and Maraimalai Adigal.
• Tamil teacher at Wesley College (1916–17).
• Desabhakthan (daily) – joined December 1917; Navasakthi (weekly) – founded 1920.
• Madras Labour Union – 27 April 1918; Buckingham and Carnatic Mills workers; president B. P. Wadia; Thiru.Vi.Ka. vice-president; India's first organised trade union.
• Led the union in the 1921 Buckingham and Carnatic Mills strike.
• Presided over the Kanchipuram Tamil Nadu Congress conference (1925); TNCC President (1926).
• Translated Gandhi's speeches; Manitha Vazhkkaiyum Gandhiyadigalum (1921).
• Books: Pennin Perumai allathu Vazhkkai Thunai, Murugan allathu Azhagu, Nayanmar Thiram, Ullolli, Periya Puranam and Thirukkural commentaries, Vazhkkai Kurippugal (autobiography).
• Title: Tamil Thendral. Follower of Vallalar.
• Died 17 September 1953, Royapettah. Stamp: 21 October 2005. Thiru.Vi.Ka. Award – Thiruvalluvar Day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Thiru.Vi.Ka. and what does the name stand for?

Thiru.Vi.Ka. is Thiruvarur Viruthachalam Kalyanasundaram (1883–1953), also called Kalyanasundaranar or T. V. Kalyanasundara Mudaliar. The three parts of the short name come from Thiruvarur, his father's name Viruthachalam, and his own name Kalyanasundaram. He was a Tamil scholar, journalist, Congress leader and one of the founders of the labour movement in South India.

What was Thiru.Vi.Ka.'s role in the Madras Labour Union of 1918?

The Madras Labour Union, formed in April 1918 (most accounts give 27 April 1918) mainly by workers of the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills, Perambur, is regarded as the first organised trade union in India. B. P. Wadia was its first president, G. Selvapathy Chettiar and G. Ramanujulu Naidu were its first secretaries, and Thiru.Vi.Ka. was a vice-president. He addressed the workers in Tamil and translated Wadia's English speeches for them, and later led the union during the 1921 mill strike.

Which journals did Thiru.Vi.Ka. edit?

He joined the editorial staff of the nationalist Tamil daily Desabhakthan in December 1917 and worked there for more than two years. In 1920 he started his own Tamil weekly, Navasakthi, which carried his writings on politics, labour, religion and literature for many years.

Why is Thiru.Vi.Ka. called Tamil Thendral?

Tamil Thendral means 'the Tamil breeze'. He was given this name because his Tamil prose and speeches were simple, clear and pleasant, like a gentle breeze. His style is regarded as an important influence on modern Tamil prose.

What are the important works of Thiru.Vi.Ka.?

He wrote more than fifty books. The best known are Manitha Vazhkkaiyum Gandhiyadigalum (1921), one of the first Tamil studies of Gandhi's thought; Pennin Perumai allathu Vazhkkai Thunai, on the dignity of women; Murugan allathu Azhagu; Nayanmar Thiram (1922); Ullolli; commentaries on the Periya Puranam and the Thirukkural; and his autobiography, Thiru.Vi.Ka. Vazhkkai Kurippugal.

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