V. L. Ethiraj

{{Short description|Indian lawyer and philanthropist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}

{{infobox person

| name = V. L. Ethiraj

| image = VlEthiraj.jpg

| birth_name =

| birth_date = 18 July 1890

| known_for = Barrister and the Founder of the Ethiraj College for Women

| birth_place = Vellore, Madras Presidency, British India

| death_date = {{death date and age|1960|8|18|1890|7|18|df=yes}}

| occupation = Lawyer

| spouse = Kathreen

| children =

| alma_mater = Presidency College, Chennai
Trinity College Dublin

}}

Vellore Lakshmanaswamy Ethiraj (18 July 1890 – 18 August 1960) was an Indian lawyer and philanthropist who founded Ethiraj College for Women, a college in Chennai, India.{{cite news |title= Biography released |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/27/stories/2008032757000200.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125162049/http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/27/stories/2008032757000200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-25 |date=2008-03-27 |work= The Hindu |access-date=2008-06-17 }} He was the first Indian to be appointed as Crown Prosecutor by the British Raj. He also served as the President of the Madras Bar Association.{{cite web|url=http://madrasbarassn.in/presidents-secretaries|publisher=Madras Bar Association|title=Madrasbarassn.in }}

Ethiraj was born on 18 July 1890 in a Arcot Mudaliar{{Cite book|last=Karuppiah|title=Varalaru padaitha valakaringar Ethiraj|year=1988|location=Chennai}}{{Cite journal|first=Padmini R|last=Chandralekha|date=2001|title=History of |journal=Madras University Journal|volume=Chapter 4}}{{cite book | author = Vellore Lakshmanaswamy Mudaliar | title = The Absorption of Hydrocarbon Gases by Nitrogen and Other Gases | year = 1935 | publisher = Indian Press | url = https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Absorption_of_Hydrocarbon_Gases_by_N/Mq1mAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Vellore+Lakshmanaswamy+Mudaliar+Ethiraj&dq=Vellore+Lakshmanaswamy+Mudaliar+Ethiraj&printsec=frontcover }} family of Vellore and was born to Lakshmanaswamy and Ammayi Ammal. V. L. Ethiraj received his undergraduate degree from Presidency College, Chennai and received his law degree from Trinity College Dublin.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}

One of Ethiraj's successes was the Lakshmikanthan murder case, which he successfully fought in defense of Tamil actors M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and N. S. Krishnan.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}} His advocacy was described by C. P. Ramaswami Iyer as "a marvel of the 20th century".{{cite news|title=V.L. Ethiraj: Unrivalled in 'court craft'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=coRlAAAAIBAJ&pg=847%2C275452|newspaper=The Indian Express: Express Weekend|access-date=8 February 2018|page=2|date=11 August 1990}} He mentored a number of young lawyers in Madras including his nephew M. Narayan Moorthy, who later became a Justice on Madras High Court.Guy, Randor (1997), Memories of Madras : Its Movies, Musicians & Men of Letters, pp. 462.