Sachivottama Sir Chetpat Pattabhiraman Ramaswami Iyer KCSI KCIE |
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Portrait of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, 1940
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Diwan of Travancore | |
In office 8 October 1936 – 19 August 1947 |
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Monarch | Sri Chithira Thirunal of Travancore |
Preceded by | Muhammad Habibullah |
Succeeded by | P. G. N. Unnithan |
Member of the Executive Council of the Viceroy of India | |
In office 1931–1936 |
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Monarch |
George V of the United Kingdom, Edward VIII of the United Kingdom |
Governor-General | Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon |
Law Member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras | |
In office 1923 – 10 March 1928 |
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Premier |
Raja of Panagal, P. Subbarayan |
Governor |
Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon, Sir Charles George Todhunter (acting), George Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen |
Succeeded by | T. R. Venkatarama Sastri |
Advocate-General of Madras Presidency | |
In office 1920–1923 |
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Governor | Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon |
Preceded by | S. Srinivasa Iyengar |
Succeeded by | C. Madhavan Nair |
Personal details | |
Born | 12 November 1879 Wandiwash, North Arcot District, Madras Presidency, British India (now Vandavasi, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India) |
Died | 26 September 1966 London, United Kingdom |
(aged 86)
Nationality | British Indian (1879-1947) Indian (1947-1966) |
Political party | Indian National Congress |
Spouse(s) | Seethamma |
Children |
C. R. Pattabhiraman, C. R. Venkata Subban, C. R. Sundaram |
Residence | The Grove, Madras |
Alma mater | Presidency College, Madras |
Occupation | lawyer, |
Profession | Attorney-General, Statesman |
Signature |
Sachivottama Sir Chetpat Pattabhiraman Ramaswami Iyer, KCSI, KCIE (12 November 1879 – 26 September 1966), also called "C. P.", was an Indian lawyer, administrator and politician who served as the Advocate-General of Madras Presidency from 1920 to 1923, Law member of the Executive council of the Governor of Madras from 1923 to 1928, Law member of the Executive Council of the Viceroy of India from 1931 to 1936 and the Diwan of Travancore from 1936 to 1947. Ramaswami Iyer was born in 1879 in Madras city and studied at Wesley College High School and Presidency College, Madras before qualifying as a lawyer from the Madras Law College. He practised as a lawyer in Madras and succeeded S. Srinivasa Iyengar as the Advocate-General of the Madras Presidency. He subsequently served as the Law member of the Governor of Madras and of the Viceroy of India before being appointed Diwan of Travancore in 1936.
Ramaswami Iyer served as Diwan from 1936 to 1947; during his tenure, many social and administrative reforms were made. However, at the same time, he is also remembered for the ruthless suppression of the communist-organised Punnapra-Vayalar revolt, and his controversial stand in favour of an independent Travancore. He resigned in 1947 following a failed assassination attempt. He served as a leader of the Indian National Congress in his early days. He was made a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire in 1926 and a Knight Commander of the Star of India in 1941. He returned these titles when India attained independence in 1947. He was also a member of the 1926 and 1927 delegations to the League of Nations. In his later life he served in numerous international organisations and on the board of several Indian universities. Ramaswami Iyer died in 1966 at the age of 86 while on a visit to the United Kingdom.