Calavala Cunnan Chetty
A commemorative postage stamp on the 150th Birth Anniversary of Dharmamurthi Rao Bhahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty Garu, an Indian philanthropist :
Issued by India
Issued on Aug 24, 2019
Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a commemorative postage stamp to mark his 150th Birth Anniversary.
Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma
Type : Stamp, Mint Condition
Colour : Multi Colour
Denomination : 500 Paise
Stamps Printed : 402345
Printing Process : Wet Offset
Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad
Name : Calavala Cunnan Chetty
Born on 1869 at —
Died on Jul, 1920 at —
About :
- Dharmamurthi Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty was born in the Calavala family in the year 1869. His father, Chellam Chetty was a prominent member of the business community in those days. He was a senior partner in Messrs King and Company dealing in timber. After graduating from Pachaiyappa’s College and Madras Christian College, Calavala Cunnan Chetty took over the family business. As a result of his persevering efforts and business acumen, he elevated Messrs King and Company to great heights which earned him wealth and fame.
- Calavala Cunnan Chetty spent his wealth magnanimously on noble deeds of charity, considering wealth as merely ephemeral, which will not accompany us after death. He established a number of charitable institutions and gave large sums of money annually to the charitable endowments instituted by him in the city of Madras and other locations.
- Calavala Cunnan Chetty established a Sanskrit College at Triplicane to popularize the study of ancient Sanskrit texts. Various elementary schools were started by him for the poor in the city of Madras and other places, such as a Primary School for Girls at Chintadripet, a Girls’ School in Narayana Mudali Street, the Middle School at Tiruvellur, a School at Mambalam and another School in Thambu Chetty Street. He held many posts in various public charitable and service organizations.
- Besides giving large monetary assistance to the Madras Social Service League, he was one of its Vice-Presidents. He also established a library for the benefit of the students of the city of Madras. He started Ayurvedic Hospitals in Triplicane, Nellore and Nungambakkam and was also managing them. Deeply moved by the sight of the children dying for want of unadulterated milk, he made arrangements for the free distribution of milk at his home at Govindappa Naick Street, George Town. He also made arrangements to feed large number of poor children. He constituted an annual grant for the Ramakrishna Mutt at Mylapore to help the needy. He constructed a building especially for the Annadana Samajam, where hundreds of poor people are fed daily. He was instrumental in starting Night Schools for Adults in economically backward areas like Perambur.
- Calavala Cunnan Chetty showed great interest in the development of industries and deputed students on scholarship to Bombay for industrial training. Every Sunday, hundreds of poor people were fed by him at Krishnappa Naick Street, Park Town. He built a huge Free Choultry at Egmore for the benefit of long distance travelers and patients who come to Madras for treatment. Residents of Triplicane honored this philanthropically minded great man by conferring on him the Title of “Kodai Vallal”. He made his Last Will and Treatment on 19.7.1920, by which he bequeathed his entire property for the cause of education and other public charitable purposes. To fructify his vision he established a Hindu Public Charitable Trust “Dharmamurthi Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty’s Charities” and nominated prominent citizens from Arya Vysya Community as its members including his wife Smt. Calavala Seethamma whose willing co-operation and selfless magnanimity made it possible for the Dharmamurthi to create the Trust. The Trustees of Dharmamurthi Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty’s Charities are continuing the charitable activities as envisaged by Sri Calavala Cunnan Chetty who attained Acharya Thiruvadi in July 1920.
- Dr. Annie Besant, Freedom Fighter along with leading citizens of Madras paid a tribute to late Calavala Cunnan Chetty in a Memorial Meeting held on 5th August 1920. Dr. Annie Besant said wherever help was needed, help was given by late Mr. Cunnan Chetty. She conferred the title “Dharmamurthi” on him posthumously. The citation “Rao Bahadur” was conferred by the British Government for his service to society.
- Text : Based on information received from the proponent.
Super you are real of vysyas community