V. O. Chidambaram Pillai

V. O. Chidambaram Pillai
V. O. Chidambaram
Born	5 September 1872 Ottapidaram, Thoothukudi District, British India
Died	18 November 1936(1936-11-18) (aged 64) Thoothukudi, British India
Other names	V. O. C, Va Voo Cee, Kappal Oottiya Tamilzhan, Sekkizuththa semmal
Organization	Indian National Congress, Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company
Movement	Indian Independence Movement

Valliappan Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai (5 September 1872 – 18 November 1936), popularly known by his initials, V.O.C. (spelt Vaa. Oo.Ce in Tamil), also known as Kappalottiya Tamilan "The Tamil Helmsman", was a Tamil political leader. He was a disciple of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

He launched the first indigenous Indian shipping service between Tuticorin and Colombo with the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, competing against British ships. At one time a member of the Indian National Congress, he was later charged with sedition by the British government and sentenced to life imprisonment; his barrister license was revoked.

V. O. Chidambaram Pillai was born on 5 September 1872 in Ottapidaram, Tuticorin district to Olaganathan Pillai and Paramayee Ammal. When Chidambaram was six years old he learnt Tamil from the teacher Veeraperumal Annavi. He heard stories about Lord Shiva from his grandmother and stories from Ramayana from his grandfather. He heard stories from Mahabharatha told by Allikulam Subramanya Pillai. As a child, he played goli (marbles), kabaddi, horse riding, swimming, stilt walking, archery, wrestling, silambattam and chess.

He learnt English from a Taluk Officer named Krishnan in the evenings. When Krishnan was transferred, Chidambaram's father built a school with the help of the villagers and appointed Aramvalarthanatha Pillai from Ettayapuram as the English teacher. The school was run by a priest at Pudhiamuthur. At fourteen, Chidambaram went to Thoothukudi to continue his studies. He studied at St. Xaviers High School and Caldwell High School, Thoothukudi and Hindu College High School, Tirunelveli.