Arunachalam Mahadeva facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Arunachalam Mahadeva
KCMG MLC MSC
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அருணாசலம் மகாதேவா
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| Minister of Home Affairs | |
| In office 1942–1946 |
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| Preceded by | D. B. Jayatilaka |
| Succeeded by | Oliver Goonetilleke |
| Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon for Western Province Tamil |
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| In office 1924–1930 |
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| Member of the State Council of Ceylon for Jaffna |
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| In office 1934–1947 |
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| Ceylonese High Commissioner to India | |
| In office 1948–1949 |
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| Preceded by | M. W. H de Silva |
| Succeeded by | C. Coomaraswamy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
A. Mahadeva
5 October 1885 Matara, Ceylon |
| Died | 8 June 1969 (aged 83) |
| Citizenship | British Ceylon |
| Nationality | British Ceylonese |
| Political party | United National Party |
| Alma mater | Christ's College, Cambridge |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva (born October 5, 1885 – died June 8, 1969) was an important person from Ceylon. He was a lawyer, a politician, and a diplomat. He served as the Minister of Home Affairs from 1942 to 1946. Later, he became the High Commissioner to India from 1948 to 1949. This means he was Ceylon's top representative in India.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Arunachalam Mahadeva was born in Matara, southern Ceylon, on October 5, 1885. His father, Ponnambalam Arunachalam, was a well-known government official. His mother was Sornambal.
Mahadeva went to Royal College, Colombo, a famous school. He won many awards there, like the Turnour Prize. After school, he studied mathematics at Christ's College, Cambridge, a university in England. He earned a special degree with honors.
In 1918, Mahadeva married Sivakami. She was the daughter of M. Mootatamby. They had two children: a son named Balakumar and a daughter named Swarnam.
His Career Journey
After finishing his studies, Mahadeva became a lawyer. He qualified as a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He worked for the government in the Attorney General's Department. He also worked as a private lawyer.
Later, he became the principal of Parameshwara College, Jaffna. This was a boys' school started by his uncle, P. Ramanathan.
Getting Involved in Politics
Mahadeva joined the Ceylon National Congress (CNC). This was a political party that his father helped create. He worked as one of the CNC's secretaries from 1917 to 1924. He stayed with the party even after his father left it.
In 1924, Mahadeva ran for election to the Legislative Council. This was like a parliament for Ceylon. He won the election and became a representative for the Western Province Tamil area.
He did not run in the 1931 election. This was because the Jaffna Youth Congress organized a boycott, meaning many people refused to vote.
Serving in Government
After leaving the Legislative Council, Mahadeva worked at the State Mortgage Bank. The boycott ended in 1934. Mahadeva then ran in a special election for Jaffna and won. He became a member of the State Council. He was re-elected in 1936.
In 1942, he became the Minister of Home Affairs. This was a very important job, overseeing many government departments.
Mahadeva also helped start the United National Party (UNP). This became one of the main political parties in Sri Lanka. He was a vice-president and secretary for the party. In the 1947 election, he ran for parliament in Jaffna but did not win.
From 1948 to 1949, Mahadeva served as the Ceylonese High Commissioner to India. This meant he was Ceylon's main diplomat in India, helping to build good relationships between the two countries.
Honors and Later Life
Mahadeva received special honors for his service. He was knighted in 1949, which means he was given the title "Sir." In 1955, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. This is a very high honor.
From 1950 to 1957, he was a member of the Public Service Commission. This group helped manage government jobs.
In his retirement, Mahadeva focused on cultural and religious activities. He was a senior trustee for the Sri Ponnambala Vaneswara Temple. This temple was built by his grandfather and rebuilt by his uncle. He was also the chief trustee of the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, built by his parents. He supported many cultural and religious groups, like the Colombo Vivekananda Society.
Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva passed away on June 8, 1969.
See Also
- Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy family
