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S. Satyamurti
S. Satyamurti, was born on August 19th 1887 at Thirumeyyam in the former pudukottah State.Satyamurti after finishing Intermediate in the Pudukottah Maharaja's College joinedin the MAdras Christian College for his B.A.(History).After graduation, he worked as a tutor in his own college before joining the Madras Law College.On completing Law he worked initially in the Chambers of Mr. V.V. Screenivasa Iyengar and later with Shri S. Sreenivasa Iyengar, former President of the Indian National Congress.
Qualities of eloquence, dignity and integrity in Satyamurti came to be recognised by Lokmanya Tilak and Srinivasa Sastri.It was a fitting tribute to his talents that young Satyamurti was chosen to accompany such giants to Britain in 1919 as Secretary of the Congress delegation on the eye of the passage of the Montage-Chelmsford Reforms by the British Parliament.In 1926 the Swaraj Party sent him to Britain to explain to the British public the Indian Point of view.
Obeying the clarion call of the Mahatma for non co-operation with British ruler both in 1930-1932, Satyamurti defied prohibitory orders and, courting imprisonment, was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment.
Right from the mid-twenties, Satyamurti had been an active and eloquent member of the Madras University Senate and Syndicate helpingto usher in numerous reforms in the educationalfield.His service to education led him toplay a major role in the creation of the AnnamalaiUniversity.All along, whenever timecould be spared from his political work, it wasdevoted to the promotion of Carnatic musicand the resurgence of classical dance.He becamethe Vice-President of Madras MusicVilas Sabha, a prominent amateur theatricalgroup.
In 1939 he was elected Mayor of Madras and during his tenure he worked tirelessly to makeMadras what he called 'the city beautiful'.He initiated the Poondi Reservoir Scheme, now called the Satyamurti Sagar.
In 1940 Satyamurti participated in the 'individual satyagraha' campaign, defying a prohibitory order and making an anti-war speech.
He was detained for 8 months in prison.In 1942while returning from the Congress Working Committee meeting in Bombay, when thehistoric 'Quit India' resolution was adopted, he was arrested before he reached Madras.
Alongwith other leaders from the south, he was detained in Amraoti.Broken by the privations of jail, he died on 28th March, 1943 in the Madras General Hospital, a Martyr for freedom.
The Department of Posts is privileged to issue a commemorative stamp on Shri S. Satyamurti in the series India's Struggle for Freedom.
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