S. Rm. M. Annamalai Chettiar

2021-09-17T12:24:53Z

2409:4072:6D02:2B45:0:0:2688:9F0A:

{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2009}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Sathappan Ramanatha Muthaiya Annamalai Chettiar
| image = Annamalai Chettiar.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1881|09|30}}
| birth_place = [[Kanadukathan]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1948|06|15|1881|09|30}}
| death_place = [[Madras]], [[Madras State]], [[Dominion of India|India]]
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| occupation = businessman
| title =
| networth =
| height =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| boards =
| religion =
| spouse = Seethai
| partner =
| children = [[M. A. Muthiah Chettiar]] M. A. Ramanathan Chettiar [[M. A. Chidambaram]] Lakshmi
| parents = [[S. Rm. Muthiah Chettiar]] (father)
| relatives = [[S. Rm. family]] [[M. Ct. family]]
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

''[[Diwan Bahadur]]'' [[Sir]] '''Satappa Ramanatha Muttaiya Annamalai Chettiar, [[Raja of Chettinad]]''' [[Order of the Star of India|KCSI]] (30 September 1881 – 15 June 1948) was an Indian industrialist, banker, educationist and philanthropist from [[Tamil Nadu]]. He is the founder of [[Annamalai University]] in [[Chidambaram]] and one of the founders of [[Indian Bank]], along with his brother [[S. Rm. M. Ramaswami Chettiar]].

Born to [[S. Rm. Muthiah Chettiar]] of a wealthy [[Nagarathar]] family, Annamalai Chettiar joined the family business early and expanded their banking operations to [[South-East Asia]]. Annamalai Chettiar was one of the founders of [[Indian Bank]] along with his brother [[S. Rm. M. Ramaswami Chettiar]] and served as the first governor of the [[Imperial Bank of India]]. He also served a term as a member of the [[Council of State (India)|Council of State]], the upper house of the Imperial Legislative Council of India and was honoured with a knighthood in 1923 and the hereditary title of [[Raja of Chettinad]] in 1929.

==Early life==

Annamalai Chettiar was born on 30 September 1881 at [[Kanadukathan]] in the [[Sivaganga estate]] of the then [[Madura District (Madras Presidency)|Madura district]] in the [[Madras Presidency]] of [[British India]]. His father, S.R.M.M. Muthiah Chettiar was a noted banker. His brother [[Ramaswami Chettiar]] was one of the founders of the [[Indian Bank]] of which Annamalai Chettiar later served as a director. After his schooling, he joined his family business and spent a considerable time in [[England]]. On his return home, he became the head of the civic body of Karaikudi and the District Board.

==Career==

In 1916, he transferred from local affairs to the Legislative Council of Madras Presidency, where he sat for 3 years. In 1920, he stood for election to the [[Council of State (India)|Council of State]] and held his seat in the council for three consecutive terms. He was appointed one of the governors of the [[Imperial Bank of India]] in 1921. Annamalai Chettiar established Sri Meenakshi College at [[Chidambaram]] in 1920. A Tamil College was added in 1927 and an Oriental Training College and College of Music were established. All these institutions were combined to form the [[Annamalai University]] on 1 January 1929. He died on 15 June 1948.

==Honours==

[[File:Annamalai Chettiar 1980 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Chettiar on a 1980 stamp of India]]

Chettiar was given the title [[Diwan Bahadur]] by [[King George V]] for valuable services rendered to the Crown. Later, he was conferred the honour of knighthood on 2 June 1923.<ref>[http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13924/pages/798 ''The Edinburgh Gazette'']. 5 June 1923. Issue 13924, p. 798</ref> In 1929, he was conferred the title of hereditary [[Raja of Chettinad]].

==Family and legacy==

Annamalai Chettiar's oldest son [[M. A. Muthiah Chettiar]], an activist of the Tamil Isai Movement, served as the Minister of Education and excise in the [[Madras Presidency]] while his third son [[M. A. Chidambaram]] and grandson [[A. C. Muthiah]] both served as presidents of the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]] (BCCI). Annamalai Chettiar is the maternal grandfather of former [[Finance Minister of India]] [[P. Chidambaram]].

The suburb of [[Raja Annamalaipuram]] in Chennai is named after Annamalai Chettiar. Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department issued a commemorative stamp in his honor.

==References==

{{commons category|Annamalai Chettiar}}
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Chettinad Villages}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chettiar, Annamalai}}
[[Category:1881 births]]
[[Category:1948 deaths]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Indian knights]]
[[Category:Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges]]
[[Category:Indian bankers]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Chennai]]
[[Category:Mayors of Chennai]]
[[Category:Annamalai University]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian philanthropists]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

S. Rm. M. Annamalai Chettiar