Selected Works of C. Rajagopalachari: Vol 1

by C. Rajagopalachari, Mahesh Rangarajan (Editor), N. Balakrishnan (Editor)

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1878–1972), popularly known as Rajaji, was the first Governor General of independent India (1948–50). A lawyer by profession, he was drawn into the non-violent nationalist movement steered by Mahatma Gandhi and came to be known as his ‘conscience-keeper’. He was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1955. A prolific writer, he is also known for his books on the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

This volume looks at the period when Rajaji became involved in the freedom movement (1907–21). It is a collection of articles and letters he wrote to prominent leaders like Gandhi, Gokhale, Vijiaraghavachariar, and in newspapers like The Hindu, Madras Mail and Commonweal. These give us an insight into the thoughts of one of the most important leaders of the Indian national movement in the Madras Presidency.

Selected Works of C. Rajagopalachari, Vol. I, 1907–21 is the first in a series of ten volumes published in association with Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) on the writings of Rajaji.

472 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2014

About the author

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer, and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India. He also served as leader of the Indian National Congress, Premier of the Madras Presidency, Governor of West Bengal, Minister for Home Affairs of the Indian Union, and Chief Minister of Madras state, and as such, he rendered yeomen service to the nation.

Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party and was one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He vehemently opposed the use of nuclear weapons and was a proponent of world peace and disarmament. During his lifetime, he also acquired the nickname 'Mango of Salem'.

Rajaji was a great patriot, astute politician, incisive thinker, great visionary, and one of the greatest statesmen of all time. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, hailed as conscious-keeper of the Mahatma.

Rajaji was closely associated with Kulapati Munshiji and he was among the distinguished founder-members of the Bhavan (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan). The Bhavan has published 18 books by him so far, the copyright of which he gifted to the Bhavan.
Rajaji wrote not only in English but also in chaste Tamil, his mother-tongue. He was at his best as a short-story writer.

Rajaji passed away in 1972 at the age of 94.