Unsung Heroes Detail

Omandur Ramasamy Reddiyar was born on 1 February 1895, in the village of Omandur near Tindivanam in the South Arcot district. He was an Indian freedom fighter and politician of the Indian National Congress. He served as the Premier of the Madras Presidency from 23 March 1947 to 6 April 1949. Ramaswamy Reddiyar became the Chief Minister or Premier of Madras on 23 March 1947 and was in power till 6 April 1949. During his tenure, the Madras Temple Entry Authorization Act 1947 was passed. This act was intended to give Dalits and other prohibited Hindus full and complete rights to enter Hindu temples. This was approved by the Governor on 11 May 1947 and passed as Madras Act 5 of 1947. The Devadasi Dedication Abolition Act of 1947 put an end to the devadasi system that was in vogue in many Hindu temples. It was during his tenure that India achieved independence from the United Kingdom.