Founder of Swadeshi Shipping industry

V.O. Chidambaram Pillai (VOC) was born on September 5,1872 in a Vellala family of old time pleaders as the son of Lokanatha Pillai and Paramay Amma, in Ottapitaram in Tirunelveli (present Tuticorn ) district of Tamilnadu. Drawing inspiration from Ramakrishnanada , a disciple of Swami Vivekananda, VOC broke the monopoly of British shipping in costal trade with Ceylon. On October 16,1906 he formed the “Swedesi Steam Navigation Company Ltd”. VOC succeeded in defeating the design of the alien rulers who wanted to nip the swadeshi initiative in the bud. He procured two ships-Calia & Levo -with the help of Lokamanya Bal gangadhara Tilak and Aurobindom Ghosh. The company threw a tough challenge to the colonialists. VOC was a radical Congress man and disciple of Tilak and plunged in to the freedom movement along with revolutionary poets, Subramania Bharathy and Subramania Sivan. VOC was arrested in March 1908 on charges of sedition and sentenced to a double transportation for life. Thouh detained in Indian jails. VOC was subjected to inhuman torture. He was yoked to the oil press like an animal and made to work it in the cruel hot sun. He was finally released on December 12,1912.Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company was forced to wind up as it could not withstand the onslaught of the British pressure, in the absence of VOC’s leadership. The disheartened VOC retired from active politics and passed away on November 18,1936.”Meyyarivu”, “Meyyaram”, “Manampol vazvu”, “Akamepuram” and “Valmacku margam” are famous books written by VOC. The extraordinary zeal of this Vellala patriot from the South will always remain a source of inspiration for generations to come. “Kappalottiya Tamilian tarring Sivaji Ganeshan, ”is the Tamil film based on the life of this patriot .In his memory Rajaji released the Ship-V.O.Chidambaram on 9.2.1949.Government of India released a postal stamp in his memory. .V.O.Chidambaram College in Chidambaram Nagar in Tuticorn is a famous Educational centre.

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