Bharat Ratna Rajaji the unequalled intellectual.

Bharat Ratna Rajaji the unequalled intellectual.

Rajaji was born on December 8, 1878 in Thorapalli Village near Hosur in Salem District of Tamilnadu. Even from his student days, Rajaji was interested in politics. During those days he had the good fortune of being guided by great men like. V.O. Chidambaram Pillai and Subrahmanya Bharati. He came under the influence of leaders who were trying to awaken the Indian people from slavery. Annie Besant, Bala Gangadhara Tilak and others began to appreciate Rajaji.


Rajaji held that the removal of Untouch- ability was very important. He free India. Admitted Harijans to the "Gandhi Ashram" which he founded. His cook was a washerman.


Rajaji never cared for caste restrictions. He gave his daughter Lakshmi in marriage to Gandhi’s son Devadas.When Lord Mountbatten returned to England, Rajaji became the Governor General occupying the highest position.


Rajaji lived in an utterly simple way throughout his life. As Chief Minister of Madras, Rajaji had laid for himself a very high code of conduct; others would have found it impossible to follow it. He exercised great caution to see that he and his Ministers remained untouched by corruption. He always went to the State Legislative Assembly ready to answer any question or supplementary. He had asked other ministers also to be similarly prepared.


Rajaji was a very popular writer in Tamil and English, Some of his books have a unique place in the world of letters. He has also translated some Kannada stories into Tamil. He has written more than thirty books. His books on the ancient Roman King Marcus Aurelius, on the Bhagavad-Gita, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Upanishads are all very famous. Even a common man can read and understand his writings. Rajaji said, "My books on the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are my greatest service to my people.


This unequalled intellectual passed away on December 25, 1972. He was then 94. Let us remember Rajaji’s high code of conduct in politics and public life.