The farmer with a vision, V.C.Vellingiri Gounder ( 1880 - 1948 ) was an amazing people's representative. He was born as the eldest son of Chinnappa Gounder in Vellakinar.
The farmer with a vision, V.C.Vellingiri Gounder ( 1880 - 1948 ) was an amazing people's representative. He was born as the eldest son of Chinnappa Gounder in Vellakinar.
Vellingiri Gounder had to take over the family affairs in the year 1902 due to the passing away of his father. He was the eldest among four brothers and two sisters. The family had huge land holdings those days. V.C.Vellingiri Gounder ( VCV ) was the father of one son and two daughters. He was tall, stately and had a fine personality. Imbued with dignity and nobility of character, VCV stood for principles and was able to see things from the perspective of other people. He was religious and God fearing. This ' simply ' dressed gentleman was available for counselling to all without discrimination.
The family of VCV was endowed with huge tracts of land in Coimbatore ad Thanjavur. He founded the Coimbatore Agricultural Association along with T.A.Ramalingam Chettiar and he ensured that the grievances of the farmers were addressed through the same. VCV took keen interest in the improvement of cattle breeding. The Kongu country had always been famous for cattle rearing. Lord Patteswarar of Perur is a standing proof for this attribute. VCV introduced tractors and modern irrigation methods with electric motors and centrifugal pumps. He had installed a generator in his farm to produce electricity. The progressive farmer felt the need to add value to the farm output. Therefore he founded a number of agro industries. One of the earliest ginning mills was established in the interest of the cotton growers. The founding of the Gnanambigai Mills was one more step in the same direction. A sugar cane growers co operative was nurtured by him and a sugar mill in Podanur addressed the needs of the sugar cane farmers.
VCV gave land and money to the Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya and supported its founder T.S.Avinashilingam Chettiar in all his efforts. The social reformer was often seen attending social occasions connected with Dalits and also the financially under privileged. He had settled a number of land, personal and community disputes through the Panchayat headed by him. VCV took to nationalistic ideals even before 1920. He took active part in temperance campaigns and the Swadeshi movement. The sincere farmer refused to give his coconut groves for toddy tapping. In this regard, he was closely associated with K.S.Ramaswamy Gounder from Tirupur, C.V.Venkataramana Iyengar of Coimbatore and E.V.Ramaswamy Naicker of Erode.
The dynamic leader did not find it difficult to enter the first legislature from Coimbatore during 1921. He served his people through the legislature until 1926. His achievements during this period made him known outside Coimbatore too. Subsequently, he won the Indian Council of States election in the year 1932. It was a time when undivided India and Burma were being governed together. Therefore VCV got an opportunity to interact with people from Burma to Afghanistan. During this period, he worked for the modernization of agriculture. He took keen interest in the improvement of live stocks in India. VCV was a Member of the Live Stock Development Board and was also on the Central Cotton Committee between the years 1931 and 1937. His services to the old Coimbatore District was more remarkable during his tenure as the District Board President. His management was efficient and he enjoyed the confidence of the people. Those were times when trains were managed by the District Boards and VCV took up the Coimbatore - Pollachi rail link.
The tenure of VCV as the President of the District Board was quite fruitful. He widened the Sathyamangalam - Dimbham- Mysore ghat road and built the protection wall. He took the initiative for supplying protected water to Mettupalayam and its neighbourhood. A number of village shandies were established and developed by him. This helped the farmer to reach the market early.
Tuberculosis was a scourge of the times. VCV actively supported the District Tuberculosis Society by serving its Vice President. He worked along with R.K.Venkataswamy Naiker and T.A.Ramalingam Chettiar for providing relief to people who suffered due to this dreaded disease. Those were times when marriages were celebrated for seven long days. This resulted in the loss of productivity and therefore VCV persuaded people to spend lesser money and time on weddings. He took steps to end child marriages and marriages among close relatives. VCV was quite successful in bringing in reform with regard to marriages. He worked against untouchability and this helped in the upliftment of the Dalits.
V.C.Vellingiri Gounder was not a firebrand orator but he could convey and convince his listeners. He was a moderate when it came to ideology. His temperament, tenacity of purpose and the strong desire to render services to his people has left an indelible mark in the region. 2019 is a seminal year because we are witnessing the elections to the Indian Parliament. The ' Festival of Democracy ' is on. Let us take a look at the speeches of VCV in the legislature between the years 1921 and 1926. The great man had published his speeches in the year 1931 and they had been printed in the ' Vellala Achukoodam '.
J.Balamurugan, the great grand son - in - law of VCV was happy to share some snippets about him. " The book printed by VCV contains 190 pages. His first speech was on 10/3/1921. The speeches contain a lot of insight. They are full of points and he has not hesitated to express what is right. Satire, pun and humour are part of the repertoire. 44 of the 54 interactions cum speeches are connected with our region and about 10 are connected with other parts of the Madras Presidency. Its interesting to note that he has dwelt on a number of subjects under the sun with great finesse. He was keen on ' skill development '. The style with which VCV has deliberated with the other members is remarkable. There is much to assimilate from the people of the past."
A number of points stand out from the interactions that VCV. His wit with regard to the dairy industry is full of pun. He wants to know if development in this field is connected with importing milk powder and using a mechanical process to make people consume it ! VCV brought in a Rs.10 cut motion on the Mettur project. This was done in the interests of the farmers of this region. He speaks about the reports to be filed by the senior policemen. The leader feels that writing too many reports will divert the attention of the man on duty at times of need. While talking about Government departments VCV felt that the authorities created buildings and employed people in order to occupy them. Thereafter they had to ' make people work ' and therefore ' work ' was created. Profound !
VCV speaks about the developments at the agricultural college. He wants to know whether farmers are being benefited due to its presence. He wants the authorities to avoid wasteful expenditure. VCV feels that the interactions between the agricultural college and farmers was not enough. His speeches focus on grazing lands and levies connected with them. Water body restoration, maintenance and creation of new water bodies seem to be his focus. Clean water bodies are part of his suggestions. Issues connected with potatoes, spending too money on research projects are his concern. He wants research to be effective. VCV feels that rain fed lands should be given a priority when it comes to water supply.
The handloom sector and prohibition are also his focus. We get to learn that hand spun and hand woven fabric was cheaper than mill goods. Therefore he wanted to promote handlooms which were not only cost effective but also provided employment. VCV states that the Government wastes the tax collection on useless projects. He is very much against alcohol and wants full prohibition. VCV felt that big projects like the Mettur Dam helped lesser number of people when compared to effective spending on traditional water bodies. Education and health were also dwelt upon. Grants to the ' District Boards ' are also part of the focus.
VCV speaks about right equipment for farming while also focusing on the right methods. He feels that the absence of workshops and skills came in the way of using equipment . He feels that some steps taken in the agricultural sector will take about 150 years for the farmer to reap dividends. He was right !!! Land classification is also dwelt upon by this sage leader. Status of reports on famine is also found in his speeches ! One can understand that the European approach to farming, irrigation projects and handlooms had destroyed the economy. We can also understand that the same approach had been used in a free country later.
The speeches of V.C.Vellingiri Gounder were in the interest of the people. He did not sell himself to fancy or impractical economic ideologies and was practical. People like V.C.Vellingiri Gounder are the need of the hour.