>SierraTangoCharlie1 at 14:46, 29 July 2021

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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Bollini Munuswamy Naidu
| honorific-suffix =
| image = B.muniswaminaidu.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| order1 = 5th
| office1 = Chief Minister of Madras Presidency
| term_start1 = 27 October 1930
| term_end1 = 4 November 1932
| governor1 = [[George Frederick Stanley]]
| monarch1 =
| primeminister1 =
| predecessor1 = [[P. Subbarayan]]
| successor1 = [[Raja of Bobbili]]
| order2 = Minister of Local Self-Government (Madras Presidency)
| term_start2 = 27 October 1930
| term_end2 = 4 November 1932
| monarch2 =
| premier2 = B. Munuswamy Naidu
| governor2 = [[George Frederick Stanley]]
| predecessor2 = [[P. Subbarayan]]
| successor2 = [[Raja of Bobbili]]
| birth_date = 1885
| birth_place = [[Tiruttani]], [[Chittoor district]], [[Madras Presidency]]
| death_date = 1935
| death_place = [[Madras]]
| nationality = [[India]]n
| party = [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]]
| religion =
| alma_mater =
| profession = [[lawyer]]
| occupation = [[politician]]
| spouse =
}}
'''Bollini Munuswamy Naidu''' (1885 – 1935) was the [[List of chief ministers of Madras Presidency|Chief Minister of Madras Presidency]] from 27 October 1930 to 4 November 1932.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rangarajan |first1=A.D. |title=A rich political tradition |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/advertorial/article30175393.ece |access-date=29 July 2021 |work=Frontline |publisher=thehindu.com |date=6 May 2011 |language=en}}</ref> He was conferred 'Rao Diwan Bahadur' by British Government.

Munuswamy Naidu was born in [[Tiruttani]], [[Madras Presidency]] in 1885 in a family of agriculturists. He studied law and worked as a lawyer and businessman. He was one of the early members of the Justice Party. On the death of the Raja of Panagal in 1928, Munuswamy Naidu was appointed President of the Justice Party.

Munuswamy Naidu served as the President of the Justice Party from 1928 to 1932. Under his leadership, the Justice Party won the 1930 Madras Assembly elections and Munuswamy Naidu served as Chief Minister or Premier from 1930 to 1932. During Naidu's tenure, Madras was engulfed in a financial crisis arising out of the [[Great Depression]]. His tenure is also remembered for his clash with zamindars and his rivalry with the Raja of Bobbili. Naidu resigned in 1932 sensing serious opposition in party ranks. He lost the leadership of the party to the Raja of Bobbili and eventually retired from active politics. Munuswamy Naidu died in 1935.
Munuswamy Naidu was a close associate of [[N. G. Ranga]]. Naidu's leadership is also remembered for his efforts to remove restrictions on Brahmins joining the party.

== Early life ==
Munuswamy Naidu was born in 1885 in Velanjeri in [[Tiruttani]], [[Chittoor district]]<ref name="chittoor1">{{cite book | title=Me and My Times| last=Narasimhan| first=C.| year=1986| publisher=Radna Corporation| page=60}}</ref> of farmers.<ref name="politicsforpower">{{cite book | title=Politics for Power: The Role of Caste and Factions in Andhra Pradesh, 1880–1980| last=Innaiah| first=N.| year=1981| pages=180| publisher=Scientific Services}}</ref> He was the first Chief Minister from the Justice Party with an agriculturist background.<ref name="e249">[[#Ralhan|Ralhan]], p. 249</ref>

Munuswamy Naidu had his early education at [[Madras Christian College]]<ref name="mcc_alumni">{{cite web|title=Some Outstanding Alumni of the College |publisher=Madras Christian College |url=http://www.mcc.edu.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=155 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227130028/http://www.mcc.edu.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=155 |archive-date=27 December 2008 }}</ref> and graduated in law and practised as a lawyer. He was also a moneylender, farmer and businessman and owned a mill in Chittoor district.<ref name="politicsforpower" />

== Rise to power ==
The [[Raja of Panagal]], President of the [[South Indian Liberal Federation]], died on 18 December 1928.<ref name="panagal_death">{{cite book |title=History of Modern Andhra| last=Rao| first=P. Raghunadha| year=1983| publisher=Sterling Publishers |page=116}}</ref> Munuswamy Naidu was nominated to succeed him.<ref name="raja_president">{{cite book |title=Vishnu's Crowded Temple: India Since the Great Rebellion |last=Mishra |first=Maria |year=2007 |publisher=Allan Lane |isbn=978-0-7139-9367-7|page=137}}</ref><ref name="innaiah2">{{cite book | title=Politics for Power: The Role of Caste and Factions in Andhra Pradesh, 1880-1980 |last=Innaiah |first=N. |year=1981 |publisher=Scientific Publishers |page=47}}</ref> Munuswamy Naidu led the Justice Party throughout its period in opposition between 1928 and 1930. He also led the party during the assembly elections held in 1930.

In the elections held in October 1930 in [[Madras Presidency]], the [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]] fielded 45 candidates and was in an alliance with the Ministerialists.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp196">[[#Ralhan|Ralhan]], p. 196</ref> As the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee did not participate in the elections,<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp196" /> the Justice Party swept to power without encountering any serious opposition.<ref name="anthropology">{{cite book|title=Anthropology Tomorrow|pages=20|publisher=University of Chicago Anthropology Club}}</ref> The Justice Party secured an overwhelming majority in the districts of [[Vizagapatam]], [[Chingleput]], [[West Godavari]], [[Bellary]], [[Trichinopoly]] and [[Tinnevely]].<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp196" /> It claimed to have won nearly 70% of the total number of votes polled.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp196" />

B. Munuswamy Naidu, the leader of the Justice Party, formed a government on 27 October 1930.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp196" /><ref name="justicepartysouvenirp230">{{cite book|title=The Justice Party: A Historical Perspective, 1916–37|pages=230|first=P.|last=Rajaraman|publisher=Poompozhil Publishers|year=1988}}</ref><ref name="nambiarooran">{{cite book|title=Tamil Renaissance and Dravidian Nationalism, 1905–1944|first=K. Nambi|last=Arooran|publisher=Koodal|page=175|year=1980}}</ref><ref name="andhracneutry">{{cite book|title=A Century of Politics in Andhra Pradesh: Ethnicity & Regionalism in Indian State|first=N.|last=Innaiah|publisher=Rationalis Voice Publications|year=2002}}</ref>

== As Chief Minister of Madras Presidency ==
Munuswamy Naidu took office as Chief Minister on 27 October 1930 and served till 4 November 1932<ref name="listofchiefministers1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_BrProvinces.htm#Madras|title=Provinces of British India|access-date=20 October 2008|publisher=World Statesmen| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081101171538/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_BrProvinces.htm| archive-date= 1 November 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="listofchiefministers2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tn.gov.in/tnassembly/cmlist-1920.htm |title=List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu |access-date=20 October 2008 |publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026080841/http://www.tn.gov.in/tnassembly/cmlist-1920.htm |archive-date=26 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Munuswamy Naidu's tenure as Chief Minister was afflicted by controversies.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp197">[[#Ralhan|Ralhan]], p. 197</ref> He assumed the Chief Ministership at a critical juncture. The [[Great Depression]] was at its height and the economy was crumbling. Moreover, the southern districts of the Presidency had been afflicted by floods.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp197" /> The government was, therefore, compelled to increase the land tax in order to compensate for the fall in prices.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp197" />

{| class="wikitable sortable" align="right"
! colspan="2"| Munuswamy Naidu's Cabinet
|-
! Portfolio
! Minister
|-
| Local Self-Government
| B. Munuswamy Naidu '''(Also Chief Minister)'''
|-
| Development, Public Works and Registration
| [[P. T. Rajan]]
|-
| Education, excise
| [[S. Kumaraswami Reddiar]]
|-
| colspan="2" align="left"|<small>''Source: Encyclopaedia of Political Parties''</small>
|}

Soon after Munuswamy Naidu formed the government, the Justice Party was torn apart by factionalism.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp197" /> The Zamindars who had supported the Justice Party were disgruntled at the fact that two of the foremost landlords of the Presidency, the Raja of Bobbili and the Kumara Raja of Venkatagiri had not been included in the Cabinet.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp197" /><ref name="justicepartysouvenirp177">{{cite book|title=The Justice Party: A Historical Perspective, 1916–37|pages=177|first=P.|last=Rajaraman|publisher=Poompozhil Publishers|year=1988}}</ref> Under the leadership of M. A. Muthiah Chettiar, the disgruntled Zamindars organized a "ginger group" in November 1930.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp197" /><ref name="justicepartysouvenirp177" />

This "ginger group" accused Munuswamy Naidu of having a soft corner for the [[Indian National Congress]] and [[Swarajya Party|Swarajists]].<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp197" /> Moreover, Munuswamy Naidu was also close to [[N. G. Ranga]], the leader of the Ministerialists who were opposed to the Zamindars.<ref name="innaiah2" /><ref name="charismainpoliticsp38">{{cite book | title=Charisma in Politics: A Special Study of Andhra Pradesh Politics| last=Innaiah| first=N.| year=1985| publisher=V. Komala| page=47}}</ref> Munuswamy Naidu gave his explanation
{{quotation|I did not provide a place in the ministry for a ''zamindar''. I had no prejudice against any one, but in choosing my colleagues I had to be guided by the feeling in the party as a whole...The choice that I eventually made was not agreeable to the Hon. the Raja of Bobbili and some of his friends and consequently they began giving trouble in the party<ref name="manikumarp186">{{cite book|title=A Colonial Economy in the Great Depression, Madras (1929–1937) |first=K. A. |last=Manikumar |publisher=Orient Blackswan |year=2003 |isbn=978-81-250-2456-9 |page=186}}</ref>}}
When two of his ministers, [[P. T. Rajan]] and S. Kumaraswami Reddiar resigned their posts, Munuswamy Naidu resigned before any no-confidence motion could be brought forward.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp197" /> He r. Munuswamy Naidu was succeeded by the [[Ramakrishna Ranga Rao|Raja of Bobbili]] as Chief Minister.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp197" />

== End of party leadership ==
The Twelfth Annual Confederation of the Justice Party was held at Tanjore on 10 – 11 October 1932.<ref name="e250">[[#Ralhan|Ralhan]], p. 250</ref> The Raja of Bobbili was chosen to preside over it.<ref name="e250" /> However, a faction supporting Munuswamy Naidu (then the Chief Minister) refused to allow the proceedings to continue. An eyewitness records that furniture and shoes were hurled around by members of opposing factions. However, the Raja of Bobbili prevailed and eventually assumed the leadership.<ref name="e250" /> This marked the end of Munuswamy Naidu's influence in the party and he gradually faded from limelight.

== Later life and death ==
Post Premiership, Munuswamy Naidu formed a separate party called Justice Democratic Party with his supporters and additionally had the support of 20 opposition members in the legislative council. He died in 1935 and his supporters rejoined the Justice party.<ref name="politicsforpower" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Hamsapriya|first=A|title=Role of the opposition in the Madras legislature 1921–1939|year=1981|publisher=Madras University|pages=85|url=http://dspace.vidyanidhi.org.in:8080/dspace/bitstream/2009/3327/4/MAU-1981-035-3.pdf|access-date=1 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721182606/http://dspace.vidyanidhi.org.in:8080/dspace/bitstream/2009/3327/4/MAU-1981-035-3.pdf|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> A road in [[K. K. Nagar, Chennai]] has been named after him as Munuswamy Salai. (The caste suffix "[[Naidu]]" was dropped when caste suffixes were dropped from names of public places). A Bridge in the village [[Penamaluru]] in [[Krishna District]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]] was named after him.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article738814.ece Boy feared drowned]. ''The Hindu''. 21 September 2010.</ref>

== Ideology ==
Munuswamy Naidu was a staunch supporter of the Justice Party and the non-Brahmin movement. At the same time, he also supported the admission of Brahmins in the party.<ref name="selfrespectmovement">{{cite book | title=Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu, 1920–1940| last=Mangalamurugesan| first=Nataraja Kandasamy | year=1979| publisher=Koodal Publishers| page=101}}</ref><ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp165">[[#Ralhan|Ralhan]], p. 165</ref>

At a tripartite conference between the Justice Party, Ministerialists and Constitutionalists in Madras in 1929 a resolution was adopted recommending the removal of restrictions on Brahmins joining the organization.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp164">[[#Ralhan|Ralhan]], p. 164</ref> The Executive Committee of the party drafted a resolution to this effect and placed it before the Eleventh Confederation of the party at Nellore, for approval.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp165" /><ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp164" /> At this Confederation, Munuswamy Naidu spoke:

{{quotation|So long as we exclude one community, we cannot as a political speak on behalf of or claim to represent all the people of our presidency. If, as we hope, provincial autonomy is given to the provinces as a result of the reforms that may be granted, it should be essential that our Federation should be in a position to claim to be a truly representative body of all communities. What objection can there be to admit such Brahmins as are willing to subscribe to the aims and objects of our Federation? It may be that the Brahmins may not join even if the ban is removed. But surely our Federation will not thereafter be open to objection on the ground that it is an exclusive organization<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp165" />}}

However, the resolution faced strong opposition and was eventually withdrawn.<ref name="encyclopediapoliticalpartiesp166">[[#Ralhan|Ralhan]], p. 166</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Cited sources ==
{{Commons category|B. Munuswamy Naidu}}
* {{cite book |title=Encyclopaedia of Political Parties |last=Ralhan |first=O. P. |year=2002 |publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD| isbn=978-81-7488-865-5|ref=Ralhan}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before= [[Raja of Panagal]] | title=President of the [[South Indian Liberal Federation]] | after= [[Raja of Bobbili]] | years=1928–1932}}
{{succession box | title=Minister of Local Self-Government in Madras Presidency | before= [[P. Subbarayan]] | after=| years=27 October 1930 – 4 November 1932}}
{{succession box | before= [[P. Subbarayan]] | title=[[List of chief ministers of Madras Presidency|Chief Minister of Madras Presidency]] | after= [[Ramakrishna Ranga Rao|Raja of Bobbili]] | years=27 October 1930 – 4 November 1932}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Naidu, B. Munuswamy}}
[[Category:1885 births]]
[[Category:1935 deaths]]
[[Category:Telugu politicians]]
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Madras Christian College alumni]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:People from Chittoor district]]

B. Munuswamy Naidu - Revision history

>SierraTangoCharlie1 at 14:46, 29 July 2021