M. Singaravelar

March 2, 2006

A commemorative postage stamp on Malayapuram Singaravelu, founder of the first trade union in India :

Issued by India

Issued on Mar 2, 2006

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar

Born on Feb 18, 1860 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Died on Feb 11, 1946 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

About :

Shri M. Singaravelar was a freedom fighter, a lawyer, labour union leader and the first member of the Corporation of Madras.
He was born in a wealthy family, the third son of Venkatachalam Chetty and Valliammai on 18^th February 1860. He had his schooling from Hindu High School at Triplicane and graduated from the Presidency College. He then took a degree in law and practiced as a lawyer at the Madras High Court. It was the time when he met the great poet Bharathiar, V. Sakkarai Chettiar, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai as well as some revolutionary Congress leaders. Inspired by the news of the Russian Revolution of 1905 and the working class struggle in Bombay in 1908, he was drawn to the nationalist movement and fought for the betterment of the conditions of the Indian working class. He worked tirelessly for the unity and welfare of the working class.
Singaravelar was instrumental in spreading the communist movement in India. Although he worked as a member of the Congress Party, after 1921 he dedicated himself to the establishment of the communist movement. Along with Vi. Kalyanasundaranar, a veteran trade unionist and congressman, he actively associated in the formation of Madras Labour Union.