Ethiraj Surendhranath Arya - An Unknown Swadeshi Patriot of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The Swadeshi Movement produced many selfless patriots like G.Subramania Iyer, V.O.C., Bharathi, Dr.Nanjunda Rao, Subramania Siva, Neelakanda Brahmchari, etc.. Among them Ethiraj Surendhr Nath Arya was a note worthy and a committed Swadeshi nationalist of Tamilnadu. Ethiraj Surendranath Arya (or) Ethiraj Surendranath Babu was a native of Madras and a son of Dhanakoti Raju Naidu of Mylopore. In 1897, he went to Calcutta and joined the Sadhu Ashram of the Brahmo Samaj, was converted to Brahmoism by Pandit Shivanath Sastri. Arya, after having trained there, returned to Madras in July 1906 and he was paid Rs.30/- per month as salary by the Samaj. He had a close contact with the Swadeshi nationalists like G. Subramania Iyer, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, Subramania Bharathi, Dr. Nanjunda Rao and others in Madras and actively involved himself in the Swadeshi movement. Arya also attended the Calcutta Session of Indian National Congress, held in December 1906.