P. Theagaraya Chetty

Dewan Bahadur Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty KCSI (27 April 1852 – 28 April 1925) was one of the founders of the Justice Party. He is honored as one of the senior leaders of the Dravidian movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, he was a prominent political leader of the Madras Presidency and was also renowned as an industrialist.

In 1916, along with Dr. T. M. Nair, he founded the Justice Party to voice the concerns of non-Brahmin communities. In the first elections to the Madras Legislative Council held in 1920, the Justice Party won, and he was offered the position of Chief Minister. However, he declined the post and continued as the party leader. During his leadership, A. Subbarayalu Reddiar and the Raja of Panagal served as Chief Ministers of the Madras Presidency.

When he passed away in 1925, a newly established area in Chennai was named Thyagaraya Nagar (T. Nagar) in his memory. There is also a hall in T. Nagar named “Pitty Theagarayar Hall” where government events are held. On January 1, 1909, the British government conferred upon him the title of “Rao Bahadur,” and on January 1, 1919, he was awarded the title “Dewan Bahadur.”

Pitti Theagaraya Chetty was born on 27 April 1852 in Egathur, a village in the Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), into a Telugu-speaking Devanga family engaged in trade, weaving, and leather tanning. He was the third son of Ayyappa Chettiar and Valli Ammal, a wealthy couple from Korukkupet, Chennai. His upbringing in a prosperous merchant household gave him early exposure to commerce and community leadership.

He completed his early education in Chennai and went on to study at Presidency College, Madras, where he graduated with a B.A. degree in 1876. Despite his affluent background, he was known in his youth for his humility and dedication to academics rather than ostentation.

Theagaraya Chetty married Chinnavalli Ammal, and the couple had one son and seven daughters. His education and family connections equipped him with both business acumen and leadership skills, laying the foundation for his later roles in public service, politics, and commerce.

Apart from the weaving industry, Theagaraya Chetty was also involved in leather tanning, pickle-making, and lime kiln businesses, each employing a large number of workers. To support these enterprises, he maintained his own transport fleet consisting of about one hundred boats. He organized and participated in weavers’ conferences and exhibitions, winning numerous prizes in the competitions held there.

Near his residence, he established a weaving mill called the “Pitti Weaving Mill”, which housed around one hundred looms. He was the one who introduced the method of drawing the thread through a small hook in handloom weaving—before this, the shuttle had to be thrown by hand. The “Pitti” brand handkerchiefs produced here became world-famous.

The third session of the Indian National Congress was held in Chennai, and Theagaraya Chetty took the lead in organizing it. When Mahatma Gandhi visited Chennai, he gave him a grand reception. In 1882, he founded an association under the name Madras Native Association, which later came to be known as the Madras Mahajana Sabha. This body would meet periodically in Chennai, discuss various issues, and submit petitions to the British government.

Until 1916, he was an ardent Congressman. In fact, before Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Theagaraya Chetty had initiated a self-respect movement. Disheartened by the dominance of certain factions within the Congress, he withdrew from the party. Interestingly, Periyar, who had once sharply criticized Theagaraya Chetty for leaving the Congress, would later leave the party himself for the very same reason and begin to strongly oppose it.

In the 1916 legislative elections, Dravidian leaders such as Dr. T. M. Nair, the Raja of Panagal, Rama Nayakkar, K. V. Reddy Naidu, and Sir P. Theagaraya Chetty—all contesting as Congress candidates—were defeated by the party itself.

Although many leaders from different political backgrounds held ideological differences with Theagaraya Chetty, they still had great personal affection for him. On one occasion, Tamil nationalist leader Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram (Thiru Vi. Ka.) delivered a fiery speech against his administration at a public meeting on the Chennai beach. Yet, Theagaraya Chetty maintained cordial relations with him.

During elections, C. P. Ramaswami Iyer contested against Theagaraya Chetty and even brandished a gun while campaigning. Nevertheless, Theagaraya Chetty won by a large margin. Upon his death, the very same C. P. Ramaswami Iyer moved a condolence motion in the legislature, saying, “We have lost a selfless humanitarian.”

On Monday, 20 November 1916, at the residence of Advocate T. Ethirajulu Mudaliyar in Vepery, Chennai, Sir P. Theagaraya Chetty convened a special meeting. In that meeting, it was resolved to establish and run an organization under the name South Indian Welfare Association. On behalf of this association, he also published a journal titled Justice. Over time, the organization itself came to be popularly known as the Justice Party, taking its name from this journal.

As the leader of the Justice Party, Sir P. Theagaraya Chetty managed the party with distinction. The policy statement he released generated significant public awareness, and people gave strong support to the party’s principles and programs. The Justice Party advocated for India’s independence, while also demanding full rights and protections for the backward classes, the oppressed, and the tribal communities.

Due to Sir P. Theagaraya Chetty’s selfless and tireless efforts, the Justice Party won the trust of the people. In the midst of this important work, during the 1921 elections to the Madras State Legislative Council, the Justice Party secured an absolute majority and was invited to form the government. The then British Governor, Lord Willingdon, invited Theagaraya Chetty—as the party leader—to assume the role of Chief Minister. However, he declined the position, instead recommending Cuddalore lawyer Subbarayalu Reddy, who went on to take office as the Chief Minister.

Although many believed Theagaraya Chetty to be an atheist, he was in fact deeply involved in temple and religious service work, despite his commitment to the principles of the Self-Respect Movement. He donated ₹10,000 for renovation works at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai, and arranged for the kudamuzhukku (consecration ceremony). However, the temple authorities did not permit him to climb the gopuram and pour the holy water during the consecration.

He also contributed to renovation works at the Parthasarathy Temple. For the Ursav lion vehicle of the Sri Ramalinga Sowdeswari Amman Temple in Vannarpettai, Chennai, he had two glass eyes specially made and brought from London to be fixed on it. Even today, the deity’s street procession is carried out on that very same lion vehicle.

From 1882 to 1922, Theagaraya Chetty served as a Municipal Councillor of the Corporation of Madras for approximately 40 years, presiding over 1,081 meetings. He established a public park behind the Ripon Building.

In 1905, during the Prince of Wales's (later King George V) visit to Madras, Theagaraya Chetty, a prominent Municipal Councillor, was permitted by the Governor to welcome the prince in traditional white attire.

From 1909 to 1912, he served on the Governor’s Executive Council, representing the Corporation of Madras.

He served as President of the Corporation of Madras from 1919 until he died in 1925. During this period, the Governor invited him to become Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency after the Justice Party’s 1920 election victory, but he declined for ethical reasons.

In 1920, under the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms and the Madras City Municipal Act of 1919, Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty became the first Non-official President of the Corporation of Madras. The same year, he launched the first mid-day meal scheme at a municipal school in Chennai’s Thousand Lights area to support impoverished students.

While Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty opposed Brahminism, he did not harbor hatred toward Brahmins. He advocated that non-Brahmins should resolve their legal disputes independently, without relying on Brahmin lawyers. However, he extended support to impoverished Brahmins. In the long corridor of his residence, numerous Brahmin boys studied Sanskrit and mantras, receiving various forms of assistance from him. When friends questioned this support, given his leadership in the anti-Brahminism movement, Theagaraya Chetty clarified, “I do not hate Brahmins. Let them pursue their traditional occupations. Governing is the duty of our hereditary ruling class. If we ask Brahmins not to encroach on our roles, where else can they go?” Additionally, when Yagnyaraman, a Brahmin who worked for the upliftment of marginalized communities and lived in a slum, was ostracized and lost his job, Theagaraya Chetty intervened and secured him a position as a lecturer at Pachaiyappa’s College.

Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty funded the establishment of several schools and colleges from his personal wealth, including Theagaraya College in Chennai. He played a significant role in founding the University of Madras and Andhra University. Due to the lack of initiatives for Tamil language development at the University of Madras, he collaborated with the Raja of Chettinad, Annamalai Chettiar, to establish Annamalai University. He also initiated technical training schools alongside academic institutions. As a member and president of the Muslim Educational Trust, he implemented numerous reforms. Additionally, he restructured the Pachaiyappa’s Educational Trust to ensure inclusivity, enabling membership from all communities.

In honor of Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty, a college in Chennai bears his name, as does the neighborhood of Thyagaraya Nagar (T. Nagar) in Chennai and a locality in Bengaluru. The Government of India recently issued a commemorative postage stamp featuring his portrait, with the background depicting a weaver at a loom, adding to his legacy. A statue of Theagaraya Chetty stands at the entrance of the Ripon Building, the Chennai Corporation office. In 1959, when the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) won the Chennai Corporation election for the first time, its members paid tribute by garlanding his statue before entering the council premises.

• List of presidents of the Justice Party

• Ralhan, O. P. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Political Parties. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. ISBN 978-81-7488-865-5.
• Some Madras Leaders. 1922., Pg 38 - 42