Obituary in The Hindu dated September 19, 1953 – Passing away of Thiru.Vi.Ka
The scholar-writer Mr. T.V.Kalyanasundara Mudaliar (71), well-known as "Thiru Vi.Ka.", passed away in his residence in Ganapathi Mudali Street, Royapettah, Madras, on the evening of the 17th. He had lost consciousness at about 5 p.m. and breathed his last at 7-40 p.m.
An eminent scholar in Tamil, a great writer, a fluent speaker, and a former Trade Union Leader, Thiru.Vi.Ka. had been ailing for about three months. His 71st birth-day had been celebrated not long before.
Thiru Vi.Ka. had written nearly 50 books on subjects of varied interest — such as school education, social service, and religion.
He was an ardent follower of the teachings of Saint Sri Vallalar Ramalinga Swamigal. Thiru.Vi.Ka. provided written commentaries on Tirukkural and Periya Puranam.
He composed too a number of fine Tamizh poems. Among his outstanding works were
"Pennin Perumai"
"Manitha Vazhkkaiyum Gandhiyadigalum" and
"Murugan (Azhagu)"
He had been a keen advocate for workers’ rights, but retired from trade union and political activity in 1947.
Born in Tullam village in Chinglepet district in 1883, Mr.Kalyanasundara Mudaliar went to the Wesley College High School.
He worked in Spencers in Madras for a short time, and later as a teacher in the Thousand Lights School. During 1916-17 he was employed as a Tamil lecturer in the Wesley College. In December 1917 he joined the editorial staff of Desabakthan, a Tamil daily, which he served for more than two years.
Thiru.Vi.Ka. entered the field of trade union activity in 1918. Joining hands with Mr. B.P.Wadia, he was responsible for the establishment of the labour movement for the first time in South India in 1918. Thiru.Vi.Ka. started the Tamil weekly Navasakthi in 1920.
He was President of the Tamizh Nadu Congress Committee in 1926. Mr.C.Rajagopalachari, Chief Minister of Madras, called at the residence of the late Thiru V.Kalyanasundara Mudaliar and paid his last respects to the departed leader. Among others who visited the residence were
Messrs.
J.Sivashanmugham Pillai, Speaker of the Madras Assembly,
T.Chengalvaroyan, Mayor,
S.Parthasarathi Iyengar, Commissioner of Police,
M.Bhaktavatsalam,
M.P.Sivagnana Gramani,
T.P.Meenakshisundaram,
S.S.Vasan,
Abdul Hameed Khan,
Dawood Shah,
Periaswami Thooran,
Dr.B.Natarajan,
Dr.P.Varadarajalu Naidu,
Kotthamangalam Subbu,
N.D.Sundaravadivelu,
K.Chandrasekharan,
K.S.Ramaswami Sastri,
Pandithai Krishnaveni Ammal,
Mrs. Neelavathi Ramasubramaniam,
Dr.Dharmambal, and
Mrs.Tara Cherian.
The body of Thiru Vi. Ka. was removed to the premises of the Madras Labour Union in Perambur Barracks Road, from where it was to be taken in procession through the main roads of the City to Mylapore for the last rites.
