M.Bhaktavatsalam

Mr. Bhaktavatsalam was born in 1897. After completing his education he joined the Law College, and was enrolled an Advocate of the Madras High Court in 1923.

The legal profession did not hold his attention for long. In 1927 he gave up practice and took up business, taking up the branch secretaryship of the Tropical Insurance Co of Delhi.

Even when he was a student he was taking active interest in the Congress work. He became a member of the Provincial Congress Committee in 1922 and of its Working Committee in 1926.

To stimulate Congress propaganda he started the daily newspaper "India" in Tamil and was its Managing Director till 1933. He was the Secretary of the Madras Mahajana Sabha for many years. As Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Congress Civic Board, he took a leading part in organizing District Board and the Municipal elections in 1935 and 1936.

During the Salt Satyagraha he was injured during a lathi charge. He was convicted for six months for leading the Independence Day Procession in 1932. in 1936 he was elected to the Madras City Corporation on the Congress ticket and was chosen as the Deputy Mayor.

During the last election he was the Congress candidate to the Madras Assembly from the Tiruvalur General Rural Constituency, and was elected by am overwhelming majority. He is a whip of the Congress Party in the Legislature and Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for Local Self Government.

The eyes of expectation are riveted on Mr. Bhaktavatsalam. There is a general conviction that he has something yet to accomplish-that in fact he has not yet given his measure.

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

M. Bhaktavatsalam
After freedom, Bhaktavatsalam served as the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu