Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = His Highness Raja
| name = Shanmugha Rajeswara
| honorific-suffix = Sethupathi
| image =
| imagesize =
| order1 = Minister of Public Works (Madras state)
| term_start1 = 13 September 1953
| term_end1 = 13 March 1957
| premier1 = C. Rajagopalachari,
K. Kamaraj
| predecessor1 = N. Ranga Reddi
| successor1 = P. Kakkan
| order2 = Minister of House Rent Control (Madras state)
| term_start2 = 10 April 1952
| term_end2 = 13 September 1953
| premier2 = C. Rajagopalachari
| predecessor2 = None
| successor2 =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1909|11|09}}
| birth_place = Ramanathapuram,
Madura District,
Madras Presidency,
British India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1967|03|04|1909|11|09}}
| nationality = British subject (1909-1947), Indian (1947-1967)
| party = Justice Party (1929-1946)
Indian National Congress (1946-1967)
| alma_mater = Madras Law College
| profession =
| spouse =
| children = Dasarathan Sethupathi Rajkumar Sethupathi, Latha
}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| country = India
| role = Batsman
| club1 = Madras
| year1 = {{nowrap|1941/42–1943/44}}
| columns = 1
| column1 = First-class
| matches1 = 4
| runs1 = 129
| bat avg1 = 21.50
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 31*
| hidedeliveries = true
| catches/stumpings1 = 0/–
| date = 1 March
| year = 2022
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/raja-of-ramnad-33600 Cricinfo
}}
Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi (9 November 1909 – 4 March 1967) or Naganatha Sethupathi was an Indian politician of the Justice Party and later, the Indian National Congress and head of the zamindari of Ramnad or Ramnad kingdom from 1929 to 1967. He was a member of the Madras Legislative Assembly from 1951 to 1967 and served as a minister in C. Rajagopalachari and K. Kamaraj's cabinets. He was popular as the main political opponent of U. Muthuramalingam Thevar.
Sethupathi had a passionate liking for horses and was a fine sportsman. He represented the Madras cricket team in four first-class matches.
Early life
Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi was born to Raja Rajeswara Sethupathi or Muthuramalinga Sethupathi who ruled the estate of Ramnad{{cite book|title=History of Tamilnad|pages=87|publisher=Koodal Publishers|author=N. Subrahmanian|year=1977}} on 9 November 1909.{{cite book|title=The Setu and Rameswaram|url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.9894|pages=ix|author=N. Vanamamalai Pillai|publisher=V. Narayanan & Bror.|year=1929}} Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi had an English education and graduated in law. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his father in 1929.
As soon as Shanmugha took over the administration of the estate, the land became embroiled in a number of disputes and lengthy court cases. Between 1935 and 1945, the estate was administered by the Court of Wards.
Politics
= Electoral records =
He served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as an Indian National Congress candidate from Ramanathapuram constituency in 1952 and 1962 elections[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_MADRAS.pdf 1951/52 Madras State Election Results, Election Commission of India] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320181221/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_MADRAS.pdf |date=20 March 2012 }}[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1962/StatRep_Madras_1962.pdf 1962 Madras State Election Results, Election Commission of India] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007003737/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1962/StatRep_Madras_1962.pdf |date=7 October 2010 }} and as an Independent candidate in 1957 election.[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1957/StatRep_Madras_1957.pdf 1957 Madras State Election Results, Election Commission of India] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122651/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1957/StatRep_Madras_1957.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }}
= Justice Party =
Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi joined politics at an early age. He was elected to the Madras Legislative Council as a candidate of the Justice Party and served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council until 1937 when he lost to Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar of the Indian National Congress. During his period of service with the Justice Party, he served in the Economic Depression Enquiry Committee which enquired into the causes and impact of the Great Depression in Madras Presidency.{{cite book|title=A Colonial Economy in the Great Depression, Madras (1929–1937)|first=K. A. |last=Manikumar|publisher=Orient Blackswan|year=2003|id={{ISBN|8125024565}}, {{ISBN|978-81-250-2456-9}}|pages=142}}
= Indian National Congress =
Shanmugha Rajeswara joined the Indian National Congress in 1946 and was elected again to the Madras Legislative Council as an Indian National Congress candidate. He stood in the 1951 elections from Ramanathapuram assembly constituency and was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly.{{cite web|title=Statistical report on General Election 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of Madras|url=http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_MADRAS.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217065636/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_MADRAS.pdf|archivedate=17 February 2007|df=dmy-all}} He served as the Minister of House Rent Control from 10 April 1952 to 13 September 1953 and as the Minister of Public Works from 13 September 1953 to 31 March 1957.{{cite web|title=Council of Ministers and their Portfolios (1952-1957)|work=A Review of the Madras Legislative Assembly (1952-1957)|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/review_01assly/table04.pdf|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017181036/http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/review_01assly/table04.pdf|archivedate=17 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}
Other interests
Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi had a passionate liking for horses. He owned a stable of over 50 horses in Calcutta.{{cite news|title=When the postman knocked|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/29/stories/2003122900050300.htm|date=29 December 2003|work=The Hindu|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502144809/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/29/stories/2003122900050300.htm|archivedate=2 May 2008|df=dmy-all}} He also owned an extensive car collection including Rolls Royces and Bentleys. The Raja owned extensive land in different parts of Madras city. Hotel Woodlands is located on the exact spot where the Raja's official residence in the city had earlier stood. The Shanmugha Sethupathi Cup for horse racing has been instituted in his memory.{{cite news|title=Star Phoenix wins feature|date=20 February 2009|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/20/stories/2009022061032400.htm|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224211244/http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/20/stories/2009022061032400.htm|archivedate=24 February 2009|work=The Hindu|df=dmy-all}}
Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi was also a fine cricketer. He played four first class matches during the 1941/42 and 1943/44 seasons for the Madras cricket team scoring 129 runs at an average of 21.50.{{cite news|title=Cricinfo - Players and Officials - Raja of Ramnad|url=http://content.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/33600.html|work=Cricinfo}} He also played for the Indians against the Europeans.{{cite web|title=First Class Match: Indians v Europeans at Madras, 26-27 Dec 1942|work=Scorecards from Cricinfo|url=http://www.cricinfomobile.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1942-43/IND_LOCAL/OTHERS/IND_EURO-IND_26-27DEC1942.html|publisher=Cricinfo}}{{cite web|title=First Class Match: Indians v Europeans at Madras, 25-26 Dec 1943|work=Scorecards from Cricinfo|url=http://www.cricket.com.hk/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1940S/1943-44/IND_LOCAL/OTHERS/IND_EURO-IND_25-26DEC1943.html|publisher=Cricinfo|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130107163536/http://www.cricket.com.hk/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1940S/1943-44/IND_LOCAL/OTHERS/IND_EURO-IND_25-26DEC1943.html|archivedate=7 January 2013|df=dmy-all}}
Death
Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi died on 4 March 1967 and was succeeded as the titular Raja of Ramnad by his son.{{cite web|title=Obituary Reference|work=The Madras Legislative Assembly, Fourth Assembly - First Session, March 15–30, 1967 Resume|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/04assly/04_01_1.pdf|publisher=Government of Madras|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904133940/http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/04assly/04_01_1.pdf|archivedate=4 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{ESPNcricinfo|id=33600}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=Raja of Ramnad|before=Raja Rajeswara Sethupathi|after=Ramanatha Sethupathi|years=1929–1967}}
{{succession box|title=Member of Madras Legislative Council|before=|after=|years=1930–1937}}
{{succession box|title=Member of Madras Legislative Assembly|before=|after=T. Thangappan|years=1946–1967}}
{{succession box|title=Minister of House Rent Control (Madras state)|before=None|after=|years=1952–1953}}
{{succession box|title=Minister of Public Works (Madras state)|before=N. Ranga Reddi|after=P. Kakkan|years=1953–1957}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sethupathi, Shanmugha Rajeswara}}
Category:Tamil Nadu cricketers
Category:Justice Party (India) politicians
Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu
Category:Madras MLAs 1952–1957