C. Rajagopalachari Honoured at Rashtrapati Bhavan: Temple Entry Reformer and Liberal Statesman

Why in the News ?

President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a statue of C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) in the central courtyard of Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing the bust of Edwin Lutyens.

The decision, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, symbolically recognises Rajaji’s legacy of public service, reformist vision, and principled politics. The move reflects a broader effort to reinterpret colonial-era symbols and honour national figures who shaped India’s democratic and moral foundations.

C. Rajagopalachari’s Early Role in the Freedom Movement

Born in December 1878 in Thorapalli (Tamil Nadu), Rajaji emerged as one of the most intellectually influential leaders of the national movement.

Entry into National Politics

He attended the 1906 Calcutta and 1907 Surat sessions of the Indian National Congress, marking his early engagement with nationalist politics.

Rise in Local Leadership

• Elected to the Salem Municipal Council in 1911
• Joined Annie Besant’s Home Rule League in 1916
• Became Chairman of the Salem Municipal Council in 1917

Association with Gandhi

In 1919, Rajaji met Mahatma Gandhi in Madras. This encounter deepened his commitment to non-violent resistance and mass mobilisation.

Freedom Struggle and the Rajaji Formula

Rowlatt & Non-Cooperation Movements

Rajaji supported the 1919 Rowlatt Satyagraha and led the Non-Cooperation Movement in Tamil Nadu, giving up his lucrative legal practice.

Salt Satyagraha (1930)

He led the historic Trichy–Vedaranyam march as part of the Civil Disobedience Movement and faced multiple imprisonments.

Differences During Quit India (1942)

While close to Gandhi, Rajaji differed during the Quit India Movement. He advocated negotiation with the Muslim League instead of immediate confrontation with the British.

The Rajaji (CR) Formula

To break the political deadlock between Congress and the Muslim League, Rajaji proposed a compromise formula:

Key Provisions

• League cooperation in a provisional government
• Post-independence plebiscite in Muslim-majority districts
• Mutual agreements on defence, commerce, and communications

In 1944, Gandhi conveyed the proposal to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, but it was rejected.

Rajaji on Hindi Policy and Temple Entry Reform

Hindi Policy Debate

As Premier of Madras (1938), Rajaji introduced compulsory Hindi for Classes 6–8. However, during the anti-Hindi agitations of 1965, he opposed making Hindi the sole official language, defending English as a neutral link language.

His opposition was directed against coercion, not linguistic diversity.

Champion of Temple Entry Reform

• Rajaji strongly supported legislation removing social disabilities faced by Dalits.
• The Meenakshi Temple Breakthrough (1939)
• When trustees of the Meenakshi Temple feared legal repercussions for admitting Dalits, Rajaji introduced the Temple Entry Authorisation and Indemnity Bill (1939).
• On July 8, 1939, Dalits entered the temple with official approval — a landmark moment in social reform.
• He famously remarked that sacred texts were like an “infinite ocean,” from which one could draw either wisdom or prejudice — reflecting his reformist yet culturally rooted outlook.

Rajaji and the Swatantra Party: A Liberal Alternative

After serving as Home Minister under Jawaharlal Nehru (1950–51), Rajaji grew critical of centralised planning and excessive state control.

Formation of the Swatantra Party (1959)

In August 1959, he founded the Swatantra Party.

The party:

• Advocated free enterprise
• Opposed coercive Soviet-style planning
• Called for limited government and economic liberalism

Though criticised as elitist, it emerged as a significant opposition force in the 1960s.

Rajaji’s Enduring Significance

Transition Figure in Indian History

• Premier under the Government of India Act, 1935
• Succeeded Lord Mountbatten as Governor-General in 1948 — the only Indian to hold the post
• Chief Minister of Madras (1952–54)

Intellectual Contributions

Rajaji authored accessible retellings of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, making classical texts widely readable.

Recognition

• Awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954
• Accorded a state funeral in 1972

Broader Significance of the Statue Installation

Replacing a colonial-era statue with Rajaji’s image symbolises:

• Reassertion of indigenous leadership narratives
• Recognition of social reform within nationalist politics
• Emphasis on ethical restraint and principled governance

Rajaji’s life represents “principled flexibility” — balancing conviction with pragmatism, tradition with reform, and power with responsibility.