Rettamalai Srinivasan

A commemorative postage stamp on Diwan Bahadur R. Srinivasan, an Ambedkarite politician and brother-in-law of Tamil activist Ayothidhasa Pandithar [a part of the series ‘Great Leaders : Social and Political : Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, R. Srinivasan, Jaglal Choudhary and Radha Gobinda Baruah‘] :

Issued by India

Issued on Aug 15, 2000

Issued for : This year India celebrates 50 years of its Republic status. During the struggle for freedom, and in independent India leaders with rare insight and broad vision played catalystic roles in the process of national awakening, and building up of the nation as per the provisions of the Constitution of India, to expedite the process of socio-economic empowerment of the weaker and deprived sections of society. The Department of Posts issues a set of stamps to honour the memory of four such personalities who have made notable contributions : Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, R. Srinivasan, Jaglal Choudhary and Radha Gobinda Baruah.

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 300 Paise

Overall size : 2.9 x 3.9 Cms.

Printing size : 2.9 x 3.9 Cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

Name : Rettamalai Srinivasan

Born on 7 Jul, 1859 at Madras Presidency, British India

Died on 18 Sep, 1945 at Madras Presidency, British India

About : 

• Diwan Bahadur R. Srinivasan (1859-1945), a great leader of the depressed classes in the erstwhile province of Madras, did pioneering work for the eradication of untouchability. Having completed his higher education in Madras and Coimbatore, he also worked in government service in South Africa during 1904-1920. As early as 1891, he organised the ‘Adi-Dravida Mahajana Sabha‘, for safeguarding the claims of the so-called untouchables. He started a newspaper “Paraiyan” for the benefit of the depressed classes, and to spread social and political consciousness. He appealed through his journal to the leaders of society to encourage and help their less fortunate brethren to acquire education and to seek government service. During 1930-31, R. Srinivasan attended the first session of the Round Table Conference in London as a representative of the depressed classes.