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Chidambaram Subramaniam

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Chidambaram Subramaniam
Subramaniam in September 1995
Minister of Agriculture
In office
1964–1966
Prime MinisterLal Bahadur Shastri
Preceded bySwaran Singh
Succeeded byJagjivan Ram
Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
In office
2 May 1971 – 22 July 1972
Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi
Preceded byD. R. Gadgil
Succeeded byDurga Prasad Dhar
Minister of Finance
In office
1975–1977
Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi
Preceded byYashwantrao Chavan
Succeeded byHaribhai M. Patel
Minister of Defence
In office
28 July 1979 – 14 January 1980
Prime MinisterCharan Singh
Preceded byJagjivan Ram
Succeeded byIndira Gandhi
Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
In office
2 May 1971 - 10 October 1974
Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi
Preceded byMinistry created
Governor of Maharashtra
In office
15 February 1990 – 9 January 1993
Preceded byKasu Brahmananda Reddy
Succeeded byP. C. Alexander
Personal details
Born(1910-01-30)30 January 1910
Died7 November 2000(2000-11-07) (aged 90)
Political partyIndian National Congress (Urs)
Alma materUniversity of Madras
AwardsBharat Ratna (1998)

Chidambaram Subramaniam (commonly known as CS) (30 January 1910 – 7 November 2000), was an Indian politician and independence activist. He served as Minister of Finance and Minister of Defence in the union cabinet. He later served as the Governor of Maharashtra. As the Minister for Food and Agriculture, he ushered the Indian Green Revolution, an era of self-sufficiency in food production along with M. S. Swaminathan, B. Sivaraman and Norman E. Borlaug.[1] He was awarded Bharat Ratna, Indian's highest civilian award, in 1998, for his role in ushering Green Revolution.

Early life and education

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Subramaniam was born in Senguttaipalayam a village near Pollachi in Coimbatore district, Presidency of Fort St. George (now the Tamil Nadu state).[2] Subramaniam completed his early education in Pollachi before moving to Chennai where he did his B.Sc in Physics at the Presidency College, Chennai (affiliated to the University of Madras). Later he graduated with degree in law from Madras Law college, Chennai (then affiliated to the same university). During his college days, he started Vanamalar Sangam and published a magazine called Pithan from Gobichettipalayam along with Periyasaamy Thooran, K. M. Ramasami Gounder, O. V. Alagesan and Justice Palanisami.[3] His inspiration was his uncle Swami Chidbhavananda.

Political career

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Early years

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Subramaniam was an active member of the Civil disobedience movement against the British during his college days. He was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement in 1942.[2] He was later elected to the Constituent Assembly and had a hand in the framing of the Constitution of India. He was a minister of Education, Law and Finance for Madras State from 1952 to 1962 under chief ministers Rajaji and K. Kamaraj. He was the First Leader of the House in the Madras Legislative Assembly for the entire duration. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1962 and was the Minister for Steel and Mines. Subsequently, he served as the Minister for Food and Agriculture. He also worked as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission from 2 May 1971 to 22 July 1972.

Green Revolution

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Along with M. S. Swaminathan and B. Sivaraman, Subramaniam was the architect of India's modern agricultural development policy, after the success of his programme which led to a record production of wheat in 1972 termed as the Indian Green Revolution. As Minister for Food and Agriculture, he introduced high-yielding varieties of seeds and more intensive application of fertilizers which paved the way for increased output of cereals and attainment of self-sufficiency in food-grains in the country. About his contribution, Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, writes:[1]

The vision and influence of Mr. Subramaniam in bringing about agricultural change and in the very necessary political decisions needed to make the new approach effective, should never be under-emphasized. The groundwork for this advance (in the production of wheat) was solidly laid during that period (1964–67) when Mr. Subramaniam was the guiding political force instituting change.

He appointed M. S. Swaminathan, who played a major role in green revolution and Verghese Kurien as the chairman of National Dairy Development Board when he ushered the Indian White Revolution. Kurien says, that the key role played by Subramaniam in the whole thing (Operation Flood) is hardly mentioned. He founded the National Agro Foundation, Chennai and Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli.[4]

Finance ministry and emergency

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When the Indian National Congress split in 1969, he became the interim president of the Congress (R) faction led by Indira Gandhi. Later, he was appointed Minister of Finance in the union cabinet by Indira Gandhi. He advised her to devalue Indian rupee and was the finance minister during the Emergency in 1976.[3] After the Emergency, he parted ways with Indira and joined the breakaway Congress faction led by Devraj Urs and Kasu Brahmananda Reddy.

Later years

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He was appointed the union Minister of Defence by Charan Singh in 1979. He became the Governor of Maharashtra in 1990. He resigned after his criticism of the style of functioning of the then Indian Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao.[5]

Subramaniam died on 7 November 2000 at the age of 90 in Chennai.[6] At his death, he was the last surviving cabinet minister who had served under Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as the last surviving cabinet minister from the Shastri and Nanda cabinets.

Awards

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  • Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, 1998[7]
  • Y. B. Chavan National Integration Award[8]
  • U Thant peace award, 1996
  • Norman Borlaug award, 1996[2]
  • Anuvrat award, 1988[1]

Publications

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  • The New Strategy in Indian Agriculture
  • Some Countries which I visited Round The World
  • The India of My Dreams

Legacy

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Subramaniam on a 2010 stamp of India

A commemorative coin in his honour, was released by the Government of India in August 2010.[9] A commemorative postage stamp was also released in his honour in 2010.

Shri Chidambaram Subramaniam Award - For Excellence in Character has been instituted by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans which is awarded to its students annually.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "C. Subramaniam, bio data". Rajbhavan, Maharashra state, India. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "CS ushered in Green Revolution". The Hindu. India. 8 November 2000. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  3. ^ a b "A visionary and a statesman". Frontline. India. 20 March 1998. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  4. ^ "More light on personal facets of C. Subramaniam". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 31 October 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  5. ^ "C Subramaniam resigns".
  6. ^ Dugger, Celia W. (10 November 2000). "Chidambaram Subramaniam, India's 'Green' Rebel, 90, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  7. ^ "C.Subramaniam awarded Bharat Ratna". Rediff. 18 February 1998. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  8. ^ "C Subramaniam passes away". Business Line. India. 8 November 2000. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Yeoman services rendered by Subramaniam to nation recalled". The Hindu. India. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Agriculture
1964–1966 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
1971–1972 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Finance Minister of India
1975–1977 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Defence Minister of India
1979–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Maharashtra
1990–1993 		Succeeded by
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