C. Rajagopalachari: Difference between revisions

<!-- Please refer to the talk page before changing the hatnote. https://en.bharatdata.org/wiki/Talk:C._Rajagopalachari#To_be_addressed_formally_as_Chakravarti -->{{Use Indian English|date=January 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}

| office              = [[Governor-General of India]]

| office1            = [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of Home Affairs]]

| term_start1        = 26 December 1950

| office2            = [[Minister without portfolio#India|Minister without portfolio]]

| term_end2          = 26 December 1950

| office5            = 8th [[List of chief ministers of Madras Presidency|Premier of Madras Presidency]]

| birth_place        = [[Thorapalli]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj]] <br /> (now [[Thorapalli, Tamil Nadu]], India)

| nationality        = [[British Raj]]<br />Indian

'''Chakravarti Rajagopalachari''' (10 December 1878 – 25 December 1972), popularly known as '''Rajaji''' or '''C.R.,''' also known as '''Mootharignar Rajaji'''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Raman|first=Mohan V.|date=2013-11-25|title=All's in a letter|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/alls-in-a-letter/article5389739.ece|access-date=2021-07-31|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> (Rajaji'', the Scholar Emeritus''), was an Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and [[Indian Independence Movement|independence activist]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/b7BmRSyqrO8LaTmz1yIv5L/C-Rajagopalachari-The-icon-India-needs-today.html|title=C. Rajagopalachari: The icon India needs today|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210005432/http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/b7BmRSyqrO8LaTmz1yIv5L/C-Rajagopalachari-The-icon-India-needs-today.html|archive-date=10 December 2016|date=8 December 2022}}</ref> Rajagopalachari was the last [[Governor-General of India]], as India became a republic in 1950. He was also the first Indian-born Governor-General, as all previous holders of the post were British nationals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/702415/how-rajendra-prasad-and-not-rajaji-became-indias-first-president|title=How Rajendra Prasad (and not Rajaji) became India's first president|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130082035/http://scroll.in/article/702415/how-rajendra-prasad-and-not-rajaji-became-indias-first-president|archive-date=30 November 2022}}</ref> He also served as leader of the [[Indian National Congress]], [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu#Madras Presidency|Premier of the Madras Presidency]], [[Governor of West Bengal]], Minister for Home Affairs of the Indian Union and [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu#Madras State|Chief Minister of Madras state]].  Rajagopalachari founded the [[Swatantra Party]] and was one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award, the [[Bharat Ratna]]. He vehemently opposed the use of nuclear weapons and was a proponent of world peace and disarmament. During his lifetime, he also acquired the nickname 'Mango of Salem'.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-04|title=Mango of Salem: C. Rajagopalachari|url=https://siliconeer.com/current/siliconeer-cover-story-independence-day-special-issue-mango-of-salem-c-rajagopalachari-august-2011-celebrating-12-years/|access-date=2021-11-18|website=siliconeer.com/current/|language=en-US}}</ref>

Rajagopalachari was born in the [[Thorapalli]] village of [[Hosur]] taluk in the [[Krishnagiri district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] and was educated at [[Bangalore University|Central College]], Bangalore, and [[Presidency College, Madras]]. In the 1900s he started legal practice at the Salem court. On entering politics, he became a member and later Chairperson of the [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] municipality.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=December 10, 2015|title=Remembering C Rajagopalachari: 10 interesting facts about India's last Governor-General|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/c-rajagopalachari-276533-2015-12-10|access-date=2021-11-18|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> One of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s earliest political lieutenants, he joined the Indian National Congress and participated in the agitations against the [[Rowlatt Act]], joining the [[Non-Cooperation movement]], the [[Vaikom Satyagraha]], and the [[Civil Disobedience]] movement. In 1930, Rajagopalachari risked imprisonment when he led the [[Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha]] in response to the [[Dandi March]]. In 1937, Rajagopalachari was elected Prime minister of the Madras Presidency<ref name=":3" /> and served until 1940, when he resigned due to Britain's declaration of war on Germany.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} He later advocated co-operation over Britain's war effort and opposed the [[Quit India Movement]].{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} He favoured talks with both [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] and the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]] and proposed what later came to be known as the ''[[C. R. formula]]''.  In 1946, Rajagopalachari was appointed Minister of Industry, Supply, Education and Finance in the [[Interim Government of India]], and then as the [[Governor of West Bengal]] from 1947 to 1948, [[Governor-General of India]] from 1948 to 1950, [[Home Minister of India|Union Home Minister]] from 1951 to 1952 and as [[List of chief ministers of Madras Presidency|Chief Minister of Madras state]] from 1952 to 1954. In 1959, he resigned from the Indian National Congress and founded the [[Swatantra Party]], which fought against the Congress in the [[1962 Indian general election|1962]], [[1967 Indian general election|1967]] and [[1971 Indian general election|1971]] elections. Rajagopalachari was instrumental in setting up a united Anti-Congress front in Madras state under [[C. N. Annadurai]], which swept the 1967 elections. He died on 25 December 1972 at the age of 94 and received a [[state funeral]].

Rajagopalachari was an accomplished writer who made lasting contributions to [[Indian English literature]] and is also credited with the composition of the song ''[[Kurai Onrum Illai]]'' set to [[Carnatic music]]. He pioneered [[temperance movement|temperance]] and [[Temple Entry Proclamation|temple entry movements]] in India and advocated [[Dalit]] upliftment. He has been criticized for introducing the compulsory study of Hindi and the Madras Scheme of Elementary Education in Madras State, dubbed by its critics as Hereditary Education Policy put forward to perpetuate caste hierarchy.<ref name="thenewsminute_2018-06-012" /> Critics have often attributed his pre-eminence in politics to his standing as a favourite of both [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. Rajagopalachari was described by Gandhi as the "keeper of my conscience".

Rajagopalachari was born to Chakravarti Venkatarya Iyengar and his wife Singaramma on 10 December 1878 <ref>[[#Gandhi|Gandhi]], p. 4</ref> in Thorapalli village on the outskirts of [[Hosur, Tamil Nadu|Hosur]], in [[Dharmapuri taluk]], [[Salem district]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj]].<ref>[[#Gandhi|Gandhi]], p. 3</ref> His father was the ''[[District Munsiff Court|munsiff]]'' of [[Thorapalli]] Village.<ref name="srbakship1">[[#Bakshi|Bakshi]], p. 1</ref> Rajaji was born in a [[Hindu]] [[Tamil Brahmin]] family belonging to the [[Srivaishnava]] sect.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Krishna|first=T. m|date=2020-01-30|title=Keeping the cow and brahmin apart|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/keeping-the-cow-and-brahmin-apart/article30686002.ece|access-date=2020-09-08|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Harad|first=Tejas|title=Does Ramachandra Guha have a caste?|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/06/14/response-ramchandra-guha-gandhi-caste|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Newslaundry|language=en}}</ref> The couple already had two sons, Narasimhachari and Srinivasa.<ref name="ourleadersp50">[[#Varma et al.|Varma et al.]], p. 50</ref>

Rajagopalachari married Alamelu Mangalamma in 1897 <ref name="oxforddnb" /> when she was ten years old<ref>[[#Gandhi|Gandhi]], p. 8</ref> and she gave birth to her son a day after her thirteenth birthday.<ref>[[#Gandhi|Gandhi]], p. 10</ref> The couple had five children, three sons: [[C. R. Narasimhan]], C. R. Krishnaswamy, and C. R. Ramaswami, and two daughters: Lakshmi Gandhi (''née'' Rajagopalachari) and Namagiri Ammal.<ref name="oxforddnb" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Chakravarti-Rajagopalachari/6000000009056489225|title=Chakravarti Rajagopalachari|website=geni_family_tree|language=en-US|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> Mangamma died in 1916 whereupon Rajagopalachari took sole responsibility for the care of his children.<ref name="oxforddnb" /> His son [[C. R. Narasimhan|Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari Narasimhan]] was elected to the Lok Sabha from [[Krishnagiri]] in the 1952 and 1957 elections and served as a member of parliament for Krishnagiri from 1952 to 1962.<ref name="1951elections">{{cite web|title=Statistical Report on General Elections 1951 to the First Lok Sabha |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1951/VOL_1_51_LS.PDF |publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=15 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008191615/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1951/VOL_1_51_LS.PDF |archive-date=8 October 2014 }}</ref><ref name="1957elections">{{cite web|title=Statistical Report on General Elections 1957 to the Second Lok Sabha|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008104728/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf|archive-date=8 October 2022}}</ref> He later wrote a biography of his father. Rajagopalachari's daughter Lakshmi married [[Devdas Gandhi]], son of Mahatma Gandhi<ref name="oxforddnb" /><ref name="ourleadersp52" /> while his grandsons include biographer [[Rajmohan Gandhi]], philosopher [[Ramchandra Gandhi]] and former governor of [[West Bengal]] [[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Guha|first=Ramachandra|author-link=Ramachandra Guha|date=15 August 2009|title=The Rise and Fall of the Bilingual Intellectual|journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]]|volume=XLIV|issue=33|url=http://www.epw.in/epw/uploads/articles/13825.pdf}}</ref> Rajagopalachari's great-grandson, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari Kesavan, is a spokesperson of the Congress Party and Trustee of the [[Tamil Nadu Congress Committee]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/motilal-vora-appointed-as-tamil-nadu-congress-committee-trustee/articleshow/46235465.cms|title = Motilal Vora appointed as Tamil Nadu Congress Committee trustee|newspaper = The Economic Times}}</ref>

He also introduced [[prohibition]],<ref name="oxforddnb" /><ref name="rajajiroleinfreedommovementp149">[[#Bakshi|Bakshi]], p. 149</ref> along with a sales tax to compensate for the loss of government revenue that resulted from the ban on alcohol.<ref name="rajaji_genius">{{cite web|url=http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatleaders/rajaji/page11.htm|title=Rajaji, An Extraordinary Genius|publisher=freeindia.org|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517073248/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatleaders/rajaji/page11.htm|archive-date=17 May 2022}}</ref> The Provincial Government shut down hundreds of government-run primary schools, citing lack of funds.<ref name="periyar_bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.evrperiyar-bdu.org/biography.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614223845/http://www.evrperiyar-bdu.org/biography.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 June 2007|title=Biography of E. V. R. Periyar|access-date=29 October 2008|publisher=Bharatidasan University}}</ref> His opponents said that this deprived many low-caste and Dalit students of their education. His opponents also attributed [[Caste system in India|casteist]] motives to his government's implementation of Gandhi's [[Nai Talim]] scheme<ref name="wardhascheme_time">{{cite news| title=Wardha Scheme| date=5 September 1938| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,760130,00.html| work=Time Inc.| access-date=29 October 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220052034/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C760130%2C00.html| archive-date=20 December 2009| df=dmy-all}}</ref> into the education system.<ref name="periyar_bio" />

Some months after the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], Rajagopalachari resigned as premier along with other members of his cabinet in protest at the declaration of war by the [[Viceroy of India]]. Rajagopalachari was arrested in December 1940, in accordance with the [[Defence of India rules]], and sentenced to one year in prison.<ref name="pillarsp88" /> However, subsequently, Rajagopalachari differed in opposition to the British war effort.<ref name="pillarsp88" /> He also opposed the [[Quit India Movement]] and instead advocated dialogue with the British.<ref name="time">{{cite magazine|title=C. R. follows Cripps|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,777755,00.html|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=4 May 1942|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014171534/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C777755%2C00.html|archive-date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="time_foreignnews">{{cite magazine|title=Foreign News|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,773843,00.html|magazine=Time|date=2 November 1942|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014151930/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C773843%2C00.html|archive-date=14 October 2022}}</ref> He reasoned that passivity and neutrality would be harmful to India's interests at a time when the country was threatened with invasion.<ref name="time" /> He also advocated dialogue with the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]], which was demanding the partition of India.<ref name="time" /> He subsequently resigned from the party and the assembly following differences over resolutions passed by the Madras Congress legislative party and disagreements with the leader of the Madras provincial Congress [[K. Kamaraj]].<ref name="pillarsp88" />

Disliked by the Bengali political class for his criticism of [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] during the [[1939 Tripuri Congress]] session,<ref name="guha_telegraph">{{cite news|title=Remembering Rajaji – The men and women of character who once ruled and guided us|first=Ramachandra|last=Guha|author-link=Ramachandra Guha|work=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]|date=25 December 2002|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1021225/asp/opinion/story_1487350.asp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032740/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1021225/asp/opinion/story_1487350.asp|archive-date=4 March 2022}}</ref> Rajagopalachari's appointment as Governor of West Bengal was protested by Bose's brother [[Sarat Chandra Bose]].<ref name="guha_telegraph" /> During his tenure as governor, Rajagopalachari's priorities were to deal with refugees and to bring peace and stability in the aftermath of the [[Direct Action Day|Calcutta riots]].<ref name="guha_telegraph" /> He declared his commitment to neutrality and justice at a meeting of Muslim businessmen: "Whatever may be my defects or lapses, let me assure you that I shall never disfigure my life with any deliberate acts of injustice to any community whatsoever."<ref name="guha_telegraph" /> Rajagopalachari was also strongly opposed to proposals to include areas from [[Bihar]] and [[Odisha]] as part of the province of West Bengal.<ref name="guha_telegraph" /> One such proposal by the editor of a newspaper led to the reply:

From 10 until 24 November 1947, Rajagopalachari served as Acting [[Governor-General of India]] in the absence of the Governor-General [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten]], who was on leave in England to attend the marriage of [[Queen Elizabeth II|Princess Elizabeth]] to Mountbatten's nephew [[Prince Philip]].<ref name="profilesincouragep50">{{cite book|title=Profiles in courage: dissent on Indian socialism|page=50|first=Parth|last=Shah|publisher=Centre for Civil Society|year=2001|isbn=978-81-87984-01-6 }}</ref> Rajagopalachari led a very simple life in the viceregal palace, washing his own clothes and polishing his own shoes.<ref name="crkesavanp36">[[#Kesavan|Kesavan]], p. 36</ref> Impressed with his abilities, Mountbatten made Rajagopalachari his second choice to succeed him after [[Vallabhbhai Patel]], when he was to leave India in June 1948.<ref name="indiansummerp276">{{cite book|title=Indian summer: the secret history of the end of an empire|page=[https://archive.org/details/indiansummersecr00vont/page/276 276]|first=Alex|last=Von Tunzelmann|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0-8050-8073-5|year=2007|url=https://archive.org/details/indiansummersecr00vont/page/276}}</ref> Rajagopalachari was eventually chosen as the governor-general when Nehru disagreed with Mountbatten's first choice, as did Patel himself.<ref name="indiansummerp276" /> He was initially hesitant but accepted when Nehru wrote to him, "I hope you will not disappoint us. We want you to help us in many ways. The burden on some of us is more than we can carry."<ref name="indiansummerp276" /> Rajagopalachari then served as [[Governor-General of India]] from June 1948 until 26 January 1950 and was not only the last Governor-General of India but the only Indian citizen ever to hold the office.

He was elected to the [[Constituent Assembly of India]] from Madras. He was a part of Advisory Committee and Sub-Committee on Minorities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cadindia.clpr.org.in/constituent_assembly_members/c__rajagopalachari|title=CADIndia|website=cadindia.clpr.org.in|access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref> He debated on issues relating to rights of religious denominations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cadindia.clpr.org.in/search?tag%5Bspeaker%5D%5B%5D=C.+Rajagopalachari&document_type%5B%5D=1&document_type%5B%5D=0&sort_by=Relevant+Day&filter_tag%5Bspeaker%5D%5B%5D=15752&date_of_debate=|title=CADIndia|website=cadindia.clpr.org.in|access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cadindia.clpr.org.in/|title=CADIndia|website=cadindia.clpr.org.in|access-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329161051/http://cadindia.clpr.org.in/|archive-date=29 March 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At Nehru's invitation, in 1950, Rajagopalachari joined the Union Cabinet as [[Minister without Portfolio]]<ref name="ghosep331" /> where he served as a buffer between Nehru and Home Minister [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel|Sardar Patel]] and on occasion offered to mediate between the two.<ref name="ghosep331" /> Following Patel's death on 15 December 1950, Rajagopalachari was finally made [[Minister for Home Affairs (India)|Home Affairs Minister]] and went on to serve for nearly 10 months.<ref name="ghosep331" /> As had his predecessor, he warned Nehru about the expansionist designs of China and expressed regret over the [[Tibet]] problem.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} He also expressed concern over demands for new linguistically based states, arguing that they would generate differences amongst the people.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In the [[1952 Madras legislative assembly election|1952 Madras elections]], the Indian National Congress was reduced to a minority in the state assembly with a coalition led by the [[Communist Party of India]] winning most of the seats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19971108/31250413.html |title=Leader, amend thy mind |publisher=Expressindia.com |date=8 November 1997 |access-date=28 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924055217/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19971108/31250413.html |archive-date=24 September 2012 }}</ref><ref name="rajajitojaya_rediff">{{cite news|title=From Rajaji to Jayalalithaa|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/aug/22flip.htm|work=Rediff News|first=T. V. R.|last=Shenoy|date=22 August 2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022142135/http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/aug/22flip.htm|archive-date=22 October 2022}}</ref> The Congress did not want the Communists taking power or to impose [[Governor's rule]] in the state. It brought Rajagopalachari out of retirement to form the government as a consensus candidate.<ref name="Richard Leonard Park">{{Cite journal|last=Park|first=Richard Leonard|date=7 May 1952|title=Indian Election Results|journal=Far Eastern Survey|publisher=Institute of Pacific Relations|volume=21|issue=7|pages=61–70|doi=10.2307/3024481|jstor=3024481}}</ref><ref name="Deva">{{Cite book|last=Deva|first=Narendra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oqjaAAAAMAAJ&q=prakasam|title=Selected Works of Acharya Narendra Deva: 1948-1952|publisher=Radiant Publishers|year=1999|isbn=81-7027-176-2|pages=409}}</ref> On 31 March 1952, Kamaraj presented a resolution, proposing the election of Rajagopalachari as the leader of the Madras Legislature Congress party. The resolution was approved by the party and Kamaraj revealed that Rajagopalachari had been reluctant to accept the responsibility as Chief Minister and the leader of the Madras Legislature Congress party as his health was fragile and added that by acceding to the request of the party, Rajagopalachari had put country before self.<ref>{{Cite book|last=R. K.|first=Murthi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Us-1AAAAIAAJ|title=Rajaji: Life and Work|publisher=Allora Publications|year=1979|location=New Delhi|pages=113}}</ref> Rajagopalachari did not contest the by-election and on 10 April 1952, Madras Governor [[Sri Prakasa]] appointed him as Chief Minister by nomination as [[Madras Legislative Council|MLC]] without consulting either the Prime Minister Nehru or the ministers in the Madras state cabinet.<ref name="ghosep332" /><ref name="rajajitojaya_rediff" /><ref name="governors_constitutionp24">[[#Reddy|Reddy]], p. 24</ref><ref name="governors_constitutionp25">[[#Reddy|Reddy]], p. 25</ref> It was the first time when the governor office was accused of acting inappropriately after independence.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jaiswal|first=Mansi|date=2018-05-21|title=Here's a timeline of controversial decisions by 'Honourable Governors'|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/here-s-a-timeline-of-controversial-decisions-by-honourable-governors-118052100857_1.html|access-date=2021-12-01}}</ref> [[P. C. Alexander]], a former governor of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra wrote about the appointment of Rajagopalachari as "The most conspicuous case of constitutional impropriety by the Governor in the exercise of discretion to choose the Chief Minister..."<ref name="governorsandcms_thehindu" />

On 3 July 1952, Rajagopalachari was then able to prove that he had a majority in the assembly by luring [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLAs]] from opposition parties and independents to join the Indian National Congress.<ref name="rajajitojaya_rediff" /><ref name="dynamicsp359">{{cite book |page=359|first=J. R.|last=Siwach|publisher=Sterling Publishers|year=1985|title=Dynamics of Indian government and politics}}</ref> 19 members of the [[Tamil Nadu Toilers Party]] led by [[S. S. Ramasami Padayachi]], 5 members of the [[Madras State Muslim League]]<ref name="Aziz">{{Cite book|last=Aziz|first=Abdul M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I0UFAQAAIAAJ&q=+rajaji|title=Rise of Muslims in Kerala politics|publisher=CBH Publications|year=1992|pages=41, 44|isbn=9788185381251}}</ref> and 6 members of [[Commonweal Party]] also provided their support to Rajagopalachari to prevent the Communists from gaining power.<ref name="Susanne Hoeber Rudolph">{{Cite book|first=Susanne|last= Hoeber Rudolph|title=The Modernity of Tradition: Political Development in India|date=15 July 1984|publisher=The University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-73137-7|pages=58}}</ref><ref name="rameshrao">{{Cite book|last=Rao|first=Ramesh N.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_wtuAAAAMAAJ&q=rajaji|title=Coalition conundrum: the BJP's trials, tribulations, and triumphs|publisher=Har Anand Publications|year=2001|pages=32–33|isbn=9788124108093}}</ref> Nehru was furious and wrote to Rajagopalachari saying "the one thing we must avoid giving is the impression that we stick to office and we want to keep others out at all costs."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050303/asp/opinion/story_4445928.asp |title=The Telegraph – Calcutta : Opinion |publisher=Telegraphindia.com |date=3 March 2005 |access-date=28 February 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217013634/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050303/asp/opinion/story_4445928.asp |archive-date=17 February 2008 }}</ref><ref name="governorsandcms_thehindu">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2001/05/31/stories/0231000q.htm|title=Of Governors and Chief Ministers|first=C. V.|last=Gopalakrishnan|date=31 May 2001|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105171101/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2001/05/31/stories/0231000q.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=5 November 2022}}</ref> Rajagopalachari, however, refused to contest a by-election and remained as a nominated member of the Legislative Council.<ref name="rajajitojaya_rediff" /><ref name="governorsandcms_thehindu" />

During Rajagopalachari's tenure as Chief Minister, a powerful movement for a separate [[Andhra State]], comprising the [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-speaking districts of the [[Madras State]], gained a foothold.<ref name="sriramulu_time">{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,822565-1,00.html |title=Fast & Win |publisher=Time |date=29 December 1952 |access-date=28 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203163221/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C822565-1%2C00.html |archive-date=3 February 2009 }}</ref><ref name="battleforandhra_thehindu">{{cite news|title=The battle for Andhra|date=30 March 2003|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2003/03/30/stories/2003033000040300.htm|work=The Hindu|first=Ramachandra|last=Guha|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102141050/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2003/03/30/stories/2003033000040300.htm|archive-date=2 November 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 19 October 1952, an Indian independence activist and social worker from Madras named [[Potti Sriramulu]] embarked on a hunger strike reiterating the demands of the separatists and calling for the inclusion of Madras city within the proposed state.<ref name="sriramulu_time" /><ref name="battleforandhra_thehindu" /><ref name="sriramulu_thehindu">{{cite news|title=Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/01/stories/2006110101700200.htm|date=1 November 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201034/http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/01/stories/2006110101700200.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=29 October 2022}}</ref> Rajagopalachari remained unmoved by Sriramulu's action and refused to intervene.<ref name="battleforandhra_thehindu" /><ref name="sriramulup225">{{cite book|title=Socio-political ideas and activities of Potti Sriramulu|page=225|first=B.|last=Sreeramulu|publisher=Himalaya Pub. House|year=1988}}</ref> After fasting for days, Sriramulu eventually died on 15 December 1952, triggering riots in Madras city and the Telugu-speaking districts of the state.<ref name="sriramulu_time" /><ref name="battleforandhra_thehindu" /><ref name="sriramulu_thehindu" /> Initially, both Rajagopalachari and Prime Minister Nehru were against the creation of linguistically demarcated states but as the law and order situation in the state deteriorated, both were forced to accept the demands.<ref name="battleforandhra_thehindu" /> [[Andhra State]] was thus created on 1 October 1953 from the Telugu-speaking districts of Madras, with its capital at [[Kurnool]].<ref name="regionalism_indiap5">{{cite book|title=Regionalism in India|page=5|publisher=Concept Publishing Company}}</ref><ref name="regionalism_indiap6">{{cite book|title=Regionalism in India|page=6|publisher=Concept Publishing Company}}</ref> However, the boundaries of the new state were determined by a commission which decided against the inclusion of Madras city.<ref name="commissionsp244">{{cite book|title=Committees And Commissions in India Vol. 1 : 1947–54|page=244|first=Virendra|last=Kumar|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|year=1976|isbn=978-8170221968}}</ref> Though the commission's report suggested the option of having Madras as the temporary capital of Andhra State to allow smooth partitioning of the assets and the secretariat, Rajagopalachari refused to allow Andhra State to have Madras even for a day.<ref name="riverdisputeskeralap177">{{cite book|title=River disputes in India: Kerala rivers under siege|first=S. N.|last=Sadasivan|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=2003|isbn=978-81-7099-913-3 |page=177}}</ref>

On 7 June 1952, Rajagopalachari ended the procurement policy and food rationing in the state, abolishing all price and quota controls.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Copley|first=A. R. H.|title=The Political Career of C. Rajagopalachari: 1937–1954. A Moralist in Politics.|publisher=Macmillan Company of India|year=1978|location=Delhi|pages=298}}</ref> His decision was a rejection of a planned economy in favour of a free market economy. He also introduced measures to regulate the running of universities in the state.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In 1953, he introduced a new education scheme known as the "[[Modified Scheme of Elementary education 1953]]", which reduced schooling for elementary school students from five hours to three hours per day<ref name="modifiedscheme_edu_q">{{cite web|title=Appendix Q: Modified Scheme of Elementary Education Madras|url=http://www.education.nic.in/cd50years/g/12/28/12280V01.htm|publisher=Minister of Human Resources Development, Government of India|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927150034/http://www.education.nic.in/cd50years/g/12/28/12280V01.htm|archive-date=27 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="modifiedscheme_edu_t">{{cite web|title=Appendix Q: Modified Scheme of Elementary Education Madras|url=http://www.education.nic.in/cd50years/g/12/28/12281301.htm|publisher=Minister of Human Resources Development, Government of India|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927150114/http://www.education.nic.in/cd50years/g/12/28/12281301.htm|archive-date=27 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="thenewsminute_2018-06-012">{{cite web|date=2018-06-01|title=How TN painstakingly built a public education system, and why it's crumbling now|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/how-tn-painstakingly-built-public-education-system-and-why-it-s-crumbling-now-82282|website=thenewsminute.com}}</ref> and suggested that boys to learn the family crafts from their father and girls housekeeping from their mothers.<ref name="modifiedscheme_edu_q" /><ref name="modifiedscheme_edu_t" /> Rajaji had not even consulted his own cabinet or members of the legislative assembly before the scheme's implementation. He said: “Did [[Shankaracharya|Shankara]] or [[Ramanuja]] announce their philosophy after consulting others?".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kannan|first=R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=USfI9rPtpygC|title=Anna: The Life and Times of C.N. Annadurai|date=2017-06-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-313-4|pages=233|language=en}}</ref> The scheme came in for sharp criticism and evoked strong protests from the [[Dravidian movement|Dravidian parties]].<ref name="sangam">{{cite web|title=Anna's Birth Centennial Anthology|url=http://www.sangam.org/2009/09/Anna_Centennial_3.php?print=true|date=September 2009|publisher=Ilankai Tamil Sangam|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102103358/http://www.sangam.org/2009/09/Anna_Centennial_3.php?print=true|archive-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> Two amendments were proposed against the scheme at the Madras State legislative assembly. One advocated for a study by an expert group, while another advocated for the scheme's abolition. Both sides launched publicity campaigns in June 1953. At the Adyar riverside, Rajaji made a speech to the [[Dhobi|washermen]]. He stated kuladharma, or each clan's or caste's social obligation. He delivered talks and made radio broadcasts to clarify his views.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|date=2019-12-15|title=Those Were The Days: How Rajaji's 'kula kalvi thittam' became a controversial education reform|url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2019/12/15013004/1203824/Those-Were-The-Days-How-Rajajis-kula-kalvi-thittam-.vpf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927152855/https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2019/12/15013004/1203824/Those-Were-The-Days-How-Rajajis-kula-kalvi-thittam-.vpf|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2020|website=dtnext.in}}</ref> The [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] dubbed the scheme ''Kula Kalvi Thittam'' or [[Hereditary Education Policy]]<ref name="regionalismp89">{{cite book| first = Charles A.|last=Ryerson| title = Regionalism and religion: the Tamil renaissance and popular Hinduism| url = https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZldl0ty| publisher = Christian Literature Society| year = 1988|page=89}}</ref> which was put forward with the intention of perpetuating the caste system.<ref name="thenewsminute_2018-06-012" /><ref name=":2" /> and attempted to organize massive demonstrations outside Rajagopalachari's house on 13 and 14 July 1953.<ref name="sangam" /> The scheme was criticized from political leaders from all sides as casteist. Opponents and critics claimed that the system would reinforce deep-seated, caste-based inequality in society. They regarded the plan as an attempt to place children from the upper caste in an advantageous place than children from oppressed groups, who were simply supposed to learn their father's job.<ref name="thehindu-article2236009">{{Cite news|date=2011-07-17|title=RTE: States can still do it with media backing|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/rte-states-can-still-do-it-with-media-backing/article2236009.ece|access-date=2021-07-15|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Rajagopalachari argued, <blockquote>It is a mistake to imagine that the school is within the walls. The whole village is a school. The village polytechnic is there, every branch of it, the [[dhobi]], the [[wheelwright]], the [[Shoemaking|cobbler]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Rajmohan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=45pYCwAAQBAJ|title=Rajaji: A Life|date=2010-10-14|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-85890-33-8|pages=355|language=en}}</ref></blockquote>

Rajagopalachari's efforts to build an anti-Congress front led to a patch up with his former adversary [[C. N. Annadurai]] of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]].<ref name="wisestman_thehindu">{{cite news|title=The wisest man in India|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200650300.htm|first=Ramachandra|last=Guha|author-link=Ramachandra Guha|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=22 December 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208005403/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200650300.htm|archive-date=8 December 2022}}</ref> During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Annadurai grew close to Rajagopalachari and sought an alliance with the Swatantra Party for the [[1962 Madras State legislative assembly election|1962 Madras legislative assembly elections]]. Although there were occasional electoral pacts between the [[Swatantra Party]] and the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK), Rajagopalachari remained non-committal on a formal tie-up with the DMK due to its existing alliance with Communists whom he dreaded.<ref name="socialchangep111">{{cite book|title=Social change in modern India|page=111|first=Mysore Narasimhachar|last=Srinivas|publisher=Orient Blackswan|year=1995|isbn=978-8125004226}}</ref> The Swatantra Party contested 94 seats in the Madras state assembly elections and won six<ref name="1962electionresults">{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1962/StatRep_Madras_1962.pdf|title=Statistical Report on General Election 1962 to the Legislative Assembly of Madras|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007003737/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1962/StatRep_Madras_1962.pdf|archive-date=7 October 2022}}</ref> as well as won 18 parliamentary seats in the [[1962 Indian general election|1962 Lok Sabha elections]].<ref name="1962elections">{{cite web|title=Statistical Report on General Elections 1962 to the Second Lok Sabha|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1962/Vol_I_LS_62.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008202517/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1962/Vol_I_LS_62.pdf|archive-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>

On 26 January 1950, the Government of India adopted [[Hindi language|Hindi]] as the official language of the country, but because of objections in non-Hindi-speaking areas, it introduced a provision tentatively making English the second official language on a par with Hindi for a stipulated fifteen-year period to facilitate a switch to Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states. From 26 January 1965 onwards, Hindi was to become the sole official language of the Indian Union and people in non-Hindi speaking regions were compelled to learn Hindi. This led to vehement opposition and just before Republic Day, severe [[Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu|anti-Hindi protests]] broke out in Madras State. Rajagopalachari had earlier been sharply critical of the recommendations made by the Official Languages Commission in 1957.<ref name="ghosep218">[[#Ghose|Ghose]], p. 218</ref> On 28 January 1956, Rajagopalachari signed a resolution along with Annadurai and Periyar endorsing the continuation of English as the official language.<ref name="aanli">{{cite book | year=1958| title= Modern India rejects Hindi| publisher=Association for the Advancement of the National Languages of India| page=29}}</ref> At an All-India Language Conference held on 8 March 1958, he declared: "Hindi is as much foreign to non-Hindi speaking people as English [is] to the protagonists of Hindi".<ref name="languageconflictp192">{{cite book|title=Language conflict and national development: group politics and national language policy in India|year=1970|page=192|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-01590-6 |first=Jyotindra|last=Dasgupta}}</ref> When the Anti-Hindi agitations broke out in 1965, Rajagopalachari completely reversed his 1938 support for the introduction of Hindi and took a strongly anti-Hindi stand in support of the protests,<ref name="indiatoday">{{cite news|title=Tongue tied|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&issueid=32&task=view&id=2692&acc=high|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218000710/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&issueid=32&task=view&id=2692&acc=high|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2013|first=A. R.|last=Venkatachalapathy|work=[[India Today]]|date=20 December 2022}}</ref> coining the slogan ‘English Ever, Hindi Never’.<ref>{{cite news|date=2019-06-03|title=News Analysis {{!}} Hindi imposition and the T.N. resistance|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/news-analysis-hindi-imposition-and-the-tn-resistance/article27421119.ece|work=The Hindu|last1=Kumar|first1=D. Suresh}}</ref>  On 17 January 1965, he convened the Madras state Anti-Hindi conference in [[Tiruchirapalli]].<ref name="tamilnation">{{cite web|title=Remembering the 1965 Anti Hindi Struggle|url=http://www.tamilnation.org/forum/nandivarman/080127hindi.htm|publisher=Tamilnation}}{{dead link|date=August 2022}}</ref> angrily declaring that [[Part XVII of the Constitution of India]] which declared that Hindi was the official language should "be heaved and thrown into the Arabian Sea."<ref name="indiatoday" />

The [[1967 Madras State legislative assembly election|fourth elections to the Madras Legislative assembly]] were held in February 1967.<ref name="feb1967_1">{{cite web|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/list/assemblies-overview.htm |title=DETAILS OF TERMS OF SUCCESSIVE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES CONSTITUTED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA |work=[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] |access-date=15 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083126/http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/list/assemblies-overview.htm |archive-date=6 October 2014 }}</ref> At the age of 88, Rajagopalachari worked to forge a united opposition to the Indian National Congress through a tripartite alliance between the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], the [[Swatantra Party]] and the [[Forward Bloc]].<ref name=frontline1>{{cite news | first = S. | last = Vishwanathan | title = Dravidian power | work = Frontline | date = 10–23 April 2004 | url = http://www.frontline.in/fl2108/stories/20040423007701500.htm | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080303061014/http://www.frontline.in/fl2108/stories/20040423007701500.htm | archive-date = 3 March 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The Congress party was defeated in Madras for the first time in 30 years and the coalition led by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam came to power.<ref name="seminarp38">{{cite book|title=Seminar, Issues 353–364|page=38|publisher=R. Thapar|year=1989}}</ref> [[C. N. Annadurai]] served as Chief Minister from 6 March 1967 until his death on 3 February 1969.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} Rajagopalachari delivered a moving eulogy to Annadurai at his funeral.<ref name="wisestman_thehindu" />

In January 1971, a three-party anti-Congress coalition was established by the Congress (O), [[Jan Sangh]] and the [[Samyukta Socialist Party]]<ref name="320millionp81">{{cite book|title=320 Million Judges|page=81|first=G. G.|last=Mirchandani|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-061-7 |year=2022}}</ref> then on 8 January, the national executive of the Swatantra Party took the unanimous decision to join the coalition.<ref name="320millionp81" /> The dissident parties formed an alliance called the National Democratic Front and fought against the Indian National Congress led by [[Indira Gandhi]] in the [[1971 Indian general election]]s.<ref name="thecallp24">{{cite book|title=The Call, Volumes 22–23|page=24|publisher=S. Bhattacharya|year=1973}}</ref><ref name="commitmentp76">{{cite book|title=Politics of commitment: a study based on fifth general elections in India|year=1972|first=R. L.|last=Gupta|publisher=Trimurti Publications|page=76}}</ref> However, the alliance fared badly.<ref name="politicalsciencep104">{{cite book|title=Political Science|page=104|publisher=FK Publications|isbn=978-81-89611-86-6 |year=1978}}</ref> The Swatantra Party's tally was reduced to 8 seats from 23 in the 1967 elections.<ref name="1971loksabha">{{cite web | url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf | title=General Election of India 1971, 5th Lok Sabha | publisher=Election Commission of India | access-date=15 August 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718175452/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf | archive-date=18 July 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="politicalsciencep103">{{cite book|title=Political Science|page=103|publisher=FK Publications|isbn=978-81-89611-86-6 |year=1978}}</ref> The decline of the Swatantra Party was also visible in the [[1971 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election|1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative assembly elections]] in which it won just 19 seats down from 27 in the 1967 elections.<ref name="1971electionresults">{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_TN_71.pdf|title=Statistical Report on General Election 1971 to the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006131227/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_TN_71.pdf|archive-date=6 October 2022}}</ref>

In 1951, he wrote an abridged retelling of the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' in English,<ref name="encyclopedialiteraryp889">{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of literary translation into English, Volume 1|page=889|first=O.|last=Classe|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2000|isbn=978-1-884964-36-7 }}</ref><ref name="gandhicommanderp241">{{cite book|title=C. Rajagopalachari, Gandhi's southern commander|page=241|first=Anthony R. H.|last=Copley|publisher=Indo-British Historical Society|year=1986}}</ref> followed by one of the ''Ramayana'' in 1957.<ref name="ourleadersp68" /><ref name="gandhicommanderp241" /> Earlier, in 1961, he had translated [[Kambar, Tamil|Kambar]]'s Tamil ''Ramayana'' into English.<ref name="ramayana_criticalinventoryp496">{{cite book|title=A Critical inventory of Rāmāyaṇa studies in the world, Volume 2|page=496|publisher=Sahitya Academy|year=1991|isbn=978-81-7201-100-0 |first1=K.|last1=Krishnamoorthy|first2=Satkari|last2=Mukhopadhyay}}</ref> In 1965, he translated the [[Thirukkural]] into English and also wrote books on the [[Bhagavad Gita]] and the [[Upanishads]] in English as well as works on [[Socrates]] and [[Marcus Aurelius]] in Tamil.<ref name="srbakship3">[[#Bakshi|Bakshi]], p 3</ref> Rajagopalachari often regarded his literary works as the best service he had rendered to the people.<ref name="wisestman_thehindu" /> In 1958, he was awarded the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for works in the [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Tamil language|Tamil]] language for his retelling of the ''Ramayana'' – ''Chakravarti Thirumagan''.<ref name="sahitya" /> He was also one of the founders of the [[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]], an organisation dedicated to the promotion of education and Indian culture.<ref name="bvbdelhi">{{cite web|title=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan – Delhi Kendra Home Page|url=http://www.bvbdelhi.org/|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan – Delhi Kendra|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808125953/http://www.bvbdelhi.org/|archive-date=8 August 2022}}</ref> In 1959, the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan published his book: "Hinduism: Doctrine and Way of Life".

Apart from his literary works, Rajagopalachari also composed a devotional song ''[[Kurai Onrum Illai]]'' devoted to [[Venkateswara|Lord Venkateswara]],<ref name="collaborators_thehindu">{{cite news|title=Rajaji's unknown collaborator|first=Gopal|last=Gandhi|author-link=Gopal Gandhi|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=22 December 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226105332/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm|archive-date=26 February 2022}}</ref> a song set to music and a regular at [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] concerts. Rajagopalachari composed a benediction hymn sung by [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] at the United Nations General Assembly in 1967.<ref name="chennaionline_kuraionrunillai">{{cite web|title=Kurai Onrum Illai|url=http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/thamizhsongs/2004/song17.asp|publisher=Chennai Online|access-date=15 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125063554/http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/thamizhsongs/2004/song17.asp|archive-date=25 January 2022}}</ref>

Rajagopalachari has always been the archetype of the [[Tamil Brahmin]] [[Archenemy|nemesis]] of the [[Self-Respect Movement|Dravidian movement]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Padmaja|first=R.|title=RAJAJI AS A SOCIAL REFORMER|url=https://www.rjisacjournal.com/rajaji-as-a-social-reformer/|access-date=2021-06-27|website=RJISAC Journal - Research journal of Indian studies|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="oxforddnb" /><ref name="passionsofthetongue_brahmandevotee" /> He was accused of being pro-Sanskrit and pro-Hindi, despite his fierce support for the [[Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu|Anti-Hindi agitations of 1965]].<ref name=":1" /> Rajagopalachari claimed that [[Jāti|jati]] was “the most important element in the organization of our society”. [[Christophe Jaffrelot]] argued that Rajagopalachari and other political leaders including Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel praised the [[Caste system in India|caste system]] both indirectly and directly as a glue that binds the social structure together.<ref name="newslaundry170810">{{Cite web|last=Vivek|first=T. R.|title=Don't belittle Rajaji and Gandhi to make Ambedkar look taller|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/08/10/rajaji-gandhi-ambedkar-christophe-jaffrelot|access-date=2021-06-27|website=Newslaundry}}</ref><ref name="carnegieendowment20170804">{{Cite web|last1=Jaffrelot|first1=Christophe|title=Defenders of Varna|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2017/08/04/defenders-of-varna-pub-72738|access-date=2021-06-27|website=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]]|language=en}}</ref> As a governor-general, Rajaji stated, <blockquote>The food is grown, the cloth is woven, the sheep are shorn, the shoes are stitched, the scavenging is done, the cartwheels and the ploughs are built and repaired because, thank God, the respective castes are still there and the homes are trade schools as well and the parents are masters as well, to whom the children are automatically apprenticed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Rajmohan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=45pYCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT355|title=Rajaji: A Life|date=2010-10-14|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-85890-33-8|pages=355|language=en}}</ref></blockquote>

* {{cite book | title=Encyclopaedia of Political Parties| last=Ralhan| first=O. P. | year=2002| publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD| isbn=978-8174888655|ref=Ralhan 2022}}

* {{cite web|title=Chakravarti Rajagopalachari|first=Jyotsna|last=Kamat|url=http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/people/famous/rajaji.htm|publisher=Kamat's Potpourri|access-date=15 August 2022}}

[[Category:Indian classical liberals]]

[[Category:Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu]]