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{{Short description|Indian merchant and political activist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gajula Lakshminarasu Chetty [[Order of the Star of India|C. S. I.]]
| native_name = గాజుల లక్ష్మీనరసు శెట్టి
| native_name_lang = te
| image = Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = A portrait of Gajula Lakshminarasu Chetty
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1806
| birth_place = [[Madras]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[Company Raj|British India]] (now [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| death_date = 1868
| death_place =
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| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| known_for = Political activism, [[publicist]]
| education =
| employer =
| occupation = [[Merchant]]
| title =
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}}

'''Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty''' [[Order of the Star of India|CSI]] ([[Telugu language|Telugu]]: గాజుల లక్ష్మీనరసు శెట్టి; 1806–1868) was an [[British Raj|Indian]] [[merchant]] and political activist who founded the Madras Native Association, one of the earliest Indian political associations, and the first Indian-owned newspaper in [[Chennai|Madras]], ''The Crescent''. He was also the second Indian to be appointed a member of the Madras Legislative Council, succeeding [[Vembaukum Sadagopacharlu|V. Sadagopacharlu]] on his death.<ref name=Muthiah/> Lakshminarasu Chetty was born in 1806 to a wealthy indigo merchant Sidhulu Chetty in Madras. On completion of his initial education, Chetty entered the family trade and succeeded as a businessman. He entered politics and devoted money for social and philanthropic causes.

== Early life ==
Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty was born in 1806 in [[Periamet]], [[Madras]] in a [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-speaking [[Balija]] family.<ref>
*{{cite book|editor1-last=Alok Kumar Kanungo, Laure Dussubieux |author2=|title=Ancient Glass of South Asia: Archaeology, Ethnography and Global Connections
|volume= |publisher=Springer Nature |year=2021|page=283|isbn=9789811636561|quote=| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YGxAEAAAQBAJ }}
*{{cite book|editor1-last=K.H.S.S. Sundar |author2=|title=Origins and growth of political consciousness in Andhra during the nineteenth century
|volume= |publisher=University of Hyderabad |year=1994|page=153|isbn=|quote=| url=https://dspace.uohyd.ac.in/bitstreams/00928d79-a1bd-41e7-982b-cf49ab818e2a/download}}
*{{cite book|editor1-last=A. Vijaya Kumari, Sepuri Bhaskar |author2=|title=Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh
|volume= |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd |year=1998|page=14|isbn=9788175330726|quote=| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-ffeWmj2JUC }}
*{{cite book|editor1-last=M.L.Kantha Rao |author2=|title=A study of the socio political mobility of the kapu caste in modern Andhra
|volume= |publisher=University of Hyderabad |year=1999|page=93|isbn=|quote=| url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/25437/ }}
</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Muthiah |first=S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tbR_LLkqdI8C&dq=Gazulu+Lakshminarasu+Chetty+Telugu&pg=PA366 |title=Madras, Chennai: A 400-year Record of the First City of Modern India |date=2008 |publisher=Palaniappa Brothers |isbn=978-81-8379-468-8 |pages=366 |language=en |author-link=S. Muthiah}}</ref> His father, Sidhulu Chetty (సిద్ధులు శెట్టి), owned a large [[indigo]], dye, and cloth business, and was the first Indian member of the [[Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry|Madras Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name=Muthiah>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-columns/the-holey-dollar/article4935194.ece|title=Activism over business|last=S. Muthiah|date=July 21, 2013|website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Due to the poor schooling facilities available in India at the time, Chetty had little formal education. However, even as a boy, Chetty was interested in politics and took part in Debating Societies.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=15 April 2022 |title=అర్జీలే అస్త్రంగా ఆంగ్లేయులపై అలుపెరగని పోరాటం |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/telugu/telangana/bharat/azadi-ka-amrit-mahotsav-social-reformer-gazulu-lakshminarasu-chetty/na20220415083550127 |access-date=11 April 2023 |website=[[ETV Network|ETV Bharat]] |language=te}}</ref>

== Business ==

On completion of his education, Chetty worked as an apprentice under his father, whose business was soon afterwards renamed Sidhulu Chetty and Co.<ref name=ILG>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liberalsindia.com/indianliberals/profiles/gazulu_lakshminarasu.php|title=Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty|access-date=2008-10-31|publisher=Indian Liberal Group}}</ref> The firm mainly dealt in handkerchiefs and soon grew into a thriving corporation. After Sidhulu Chetty's death, Lakshminarasu Chetty inherited the firm and expanded its network.

When the [[American Civil War]] broke out, cotton trade was temporarily suspended between USA and other countries. Chetty took advantage of the situation and made huge profits by speculating on the price of cotton.<ref name=DoIB>{{cite Wikisource|first=C. E.|last=Buckland|chapter=Chetty, Gazulu Lakshminarasu|wslink=Dictionary of Indian Biography|plaintitle=Dictionary of Indian Biography|year=1906|publisher=Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Lim.|wspage=81|scan=Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/97}}</ref>

== Anti-proselytization activities ==

During the mid-19th century, [[Christian mission|Christian missionaries]] indulged in open [[Proselytism|proselytisation]] in public institutions in the [[Madras Presidency]]. Their proselytisation activities were allegedly favoured by officials of the British government, who preferred native Christians to Hindus in higher appointments in order to entice Hindu Indians to embrace Christianity. The religious stance of the Madras government was frequently condemned by the Hindu population. Chetty supported their cause, and launched agitations against conversions.<ref>The First Native Voice of Madras written by B.Jagannath</ref>

On 2 October 1844, Chetty founded the ''Crescent'', the first Indian-owned newspaper in the Madras Presidency for the "amelioration of the condition of Hindus".<ref name="indian_nationalism">{{cite book | title=The Emergence of Indian Nationalism: Competition and Collaboration in the Later Nineteenth Century| last=Seal| first=Anil| year=1971| pages=198| publisher=CUP Archive| isbn=0521096529| id=}}</ref> But right from the beginning, the newspaper faced strict government opposition. An advertisement sent to the Madras government for insertion into the government publication ''Fort St George Gazette'' was rejected. Further, the government resolved to enact a law wherein a Hindu convert to Christianity would not lose his ancestral right to own property. This was severely condemned by the Hindu community of Madras who, under the leadership of Chetty, presented a memorial to the Governor on 09 April 1845. The government eventually withdrew its plans after prolonged discussions with the agitators.<ref>The First Native Voice of Madras written by B.Jagannath</ref>

Around this time, the Madras government tried to introduce the [[Bible]] as a standard textbook for the students of the [[Madras University]].<ref name="tercentenaryp348">[[#Madras Tercentenary Commemoration Volume|Madras Tercentenary Commemoration Volume]], Pg 348</ref> Students were often questioned on points connected to [[Christian theology]] and were denied government posts if their knowledge of Christian texts was found wanting. Hindus of the Madras Presidency protested against these measures. Chetty presided over a protest meeting at the [[Pachaiyappa's College]] on 7 October 1846<ref>The First Native Voice of Madras written by B.Jagannath</ref> in which it was resolved to send a memorandum to the Court of Directors of the [[British East India Company]]. Their efforts were successful and moves to introduce Christian theology in the curriculum were disbanded. In 1853, the government once again tried to introduce the Bible into the educational curriculum, but its efforts were thwarted by George and [[John Bruce Norton]] and Chetty.<ref name="tercentenaryp348" />

== Torture Commission ==

Peasants in various parts of the Madras Presidency were often subjected to cruel punishments if they failed to pay taxes on time. In 1854, with the assistance of [[Henry Danby Seymour|H. Danby Seymour]], a member of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|British House of Commons]], Chetty tried to induce the British authorities to investigate the methods of [[torture]] inflicted by the revenue collectors.<ref name=":0" /> In July 1854, Seymour tried to introduce a motion in the British Parliament. [[Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax|Sir Charles Wood]], President of the India Board, responded by appointing a Torture Commission in September 1854, to investigate the conduct of revenue officials.<ref>The First Native Voice of Madras written by B.Jagannath</ref> Further pressure was induced by a petition signed by Chetty and other Indians, which was presented in the [[House of Lords]] on 14 April 1856.<ref name=":0" />

Chetty established Madras Native Association on 26 February 1852<ref>The First Native Voice of Madras written by B.Jagannath</ref> as a platform for educated Indians to protest against any injustice on the part of the British. It was the first Indian political organization in the Madras Presidency.<ref>The First Native Voice of Madras written by B.Jagannath</ref> Chetty served as its first president.<ref name=ILG/><ref name="indian_nationalism" /><ref name="tercentenaryp348" /> Initially, his plans had been to establish a branch of the [[British Indian Association]] in Madras; however, a separate organisation was formed instead of a branch.<ref name="indian_nationalism" /> P. Somasundaram Chettiar, a close associate of Chetty, served as the Secretary of the organization.<ref name="indian_nationalism" /> The organization frequently locked horns with Christian missionaries.<ref name="indian_nationalism" />

In 1852, the Madras Native Association presented a detailed list of grievances to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]]. It was read out at the [[House of Lords]] on 25 February 1853 by the Earl of Ellenborough along with a petition from the inhabitants of [[Manchester]] that a minister and council for India be appointed and that they be made responsible directly to the British monarch.<ref>The First Native Voice of Madras written by B.Jagannath</ref> Chetty followed it up with another petition in 1855. This petition signed by over 14,000 people beseached the British Crown to take the administration of India directly under its control.<ref name=":0" /> These petitions resulted in the curtailment of the powers of the British [[East India Company]] eventually culminating in the transfer of sovereignty over India to the British Crown. The organisation was dissolved in 1867, one year before Chetty's death.<ref name=":0" />

== Honours ==

In 1861, Chetty was created [[Order of the Star of India|Companion of the Star of India]].<ref name=DoIB/><ref name="tercentenaryp348" /> Two years later, in 1863, he was nominated to the [[Madras Legislative Council]] on the death of [[Vembaukum Sadagopacharlu|V. Sadagopacharlu]], the first Indian nominated to the Madras Legislative Council as per the [[Indian Councils Act 1861]].<ref name="tercentenaryp348" />

== Death ==

Chetty died in poverty in 1868, having spent all his money in his social and political activities.<ref name=ILG/><ref name=DoIB/>

== References ==

{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book|title=Representative Indians|url=https://archive.org/details/RepresentativeIndian|pages=[https://archive.org/details/RepresentativeIndian/page/n225 193]–207|year=1897|author=Pillai, G. Paramaswaran|publisher=George Routledge & Sons, Limited|location=London}}
*{{cite book|last=Srinivasachari|first=Rao Sahib C. S.|date=1939|title=History of the City of Madras: Written for the Tercentenary Celebration Committee, 1939|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.503257|location=Madras|publisher=P. Varadachary & Co.}}

{{Indian independence movement|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chetty, Gazulu Lakshminarasu}}
[[Category:1806 births]]
[[Category:1868 deaths]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from British India]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Indian merchants]]
[[Category:People from the Madras Presidency]]
[[Category:Tamil people of Telugu descent]]

Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty - Revision history

MonteZaleski33 at 07:08, 6 February 2026