P.M. Thevar

October 30, 1995

A commemorative postage stamp on the birth anniversary of U. Muthuramalingam Thevar, Tilak of South India, former national deputy chairman of All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) :

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 30, 1995

Credits :
Stamp : ISP Nasik
FDC : Sankha Samant
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Single Colour

Denomination : 100 Paise

Overall size : 4.06 x 2.73 Cms.

Printing size : 3.71 x 2.38 Cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Harrison & Sons un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in reels 47 cms. width

Number of Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Pasumpon Ukkirapandi Muthuramalinga Thevar

Born on Oct 30, 1908 at Pasumpon, Ramanathapuram district, Madras Presidency, British India [now in Tamil Nadu, India]

Died on Oct 30, 1963 at Tirumangalam, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India

About :

Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar was born in Pasumpon Village, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu on 30.10.1908. His parents were Ukkirapandia Thevar and Indirani. Thevar studied upto Secondary School. He loved horse riding, shooting and martial arts.
Known for his integrity, scholarship and eloquence at his maiden speech in 1933 at the Vivekananda Library at Sayalgudi, Thevar spoke for three hours before a spellbound audience.
In 1934, the British Government promulgated the Criminal Tribe Act, thereby branding ‘Mukkulathor‘ as a Criminal Tribe. Thevar opposed this and because of his relentless efforts the C.T. Act was abolished in May, 1948.
In the General Elections held in 1937 Thevar contested on a Congress ticket against the Rajah of Ramanathapuram representing the Justice Party, and won.
To mitigate the plight and the sufferings of the peasants, Thevar established the “Agriculturist Association” and through it he fought to abolish the Zamindari System. A Committee was formed as a result of his efforts under the Chairmanship of Sri Prakasam, and culminated in the ‘Zamindari Abolition Act’.
A devout follower of Gandhiji, Thevar worked for Gandhian ideals of using Khadi and promoted prohibition and removal of untouchability. Thevar led the historic entry of Harijans into the Meenakshi Temple, Madurai.
Thevar got elected unopposed from Muthukulathoor Constituency in the Legislative Assembly elections held in 1946. His association with Netaji Subash Chandra Bose brought down the wrath of the British Government on him. When Netaji formed the Forward Bloc in Congress Party he joined him to found the Forward Bloc in Tamil Nadu. In 1952, Thevar contested successfully both from Madras Legislative Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies.
Thevar devoted his entire life to the upliftment of the downtrodden, be they peasants, industrial workers or untouchables. His career was marked by his nationalism, spiritual discipline, courage and compassion. He died at Madurai on 30^th October, 1963.