Current Context : Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla paid floral tributes to Shri Chakravarti Rajagopalachari in Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on his Birth Anniversary.

About C. Rajagopalachari:

• Full Name: Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji.
• Born: 10 December 1878, in Thorapalli, Tamil Nadu.
• Conferred Bharat Ratnain 1954 for contributions to politics and literature.

Role in the Independence Movement:

• Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi in 1919, he left his legal career to join the freedom struggle.
• Participated in significant movements:
  • Rowlatt Act agitation.
  • Non-Cooperation Movement.
  • Vaikom Satyagraha.
  • Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Jailed five times between 1912 and 1941 for his activism.

Contribution to Governance:

• Served as a member of the Constituent Assembly representing Madras under the Congress Party.
• Played a key role in debates on religious freedom and citizenship in the Assembly.

Literary Contributions:

• Renowned for retelling the Mahabharata and Ramayana in English and Tamil.

Authored “Ramayana – Chakravarti Thirumagan” in Tamil.