Tilak Ghat A vast portion of the silvery sand on the beach of Madras (now Chennai) opposite the imposing building of the Presidency College has for long been popularly known as Tilak Ghat. It was so named in 1908 by Subramania Siva who was a revolutionary patriot and freedom fighter, in honour of his mentor and radical national leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856-1920), who gave the clarion call to the people, “Freedom is my birth-right”. During the surge of national spirit sequel to the agitation against the partition of Bengal into two provinces in 1905, it was the trio V.O.Chidambaram Pillai (1872-1936), Subramania Bharati (1882-1921) and Subramania Siva (1884-1925) who kindled in Madras province, national sentiment and resentment to British rule by their fiery speeches and writings during 1907-1908. It was during one of the public meetings organized by the nationalists at Madras Beach opposite the Presidency College early in 1908 that Subramania Siva in his sterling voice sang aloud Subramania Bharati’s patrioc song in Tamil hailing Tilak, beginning with the lines Vaazhga Tilakan Naamam! Vaazhga Vaazhga ve! Veezhga kodungonmai! Veezhga Veezhga ve” (“Long live the name of Tilak, Down the despotism, down, down”). At the end of his speech Subramania Siva declared that from that day on that square at the beach shall be known as Tilakar Tidal (Tilak Ghat). Subramania Bharati on the dais rose to congratulate his comrade Subramania Siva and seconded the naming of the square as Tilak Ghat. The assembled audience roared with prolonged applause expressing their unanimous approval to the naming. Henceforth, the name Tilak Ghat to the stretch of beach opposite the Presidency College came into vogue among the public and the press. The triumvirate V.O.Chidambaram Pillai, Bharati and Siva operated jointly for some months addressing meetings at Tilak Ghat and elsewhere with their anti-British orations condemning also in strong words the deportation in May 1907 of Punjab Lion Lala Lajapat Rai. Bharati wrote fiery articles in his Tamil Weekly India, throwing his lot with the extremist groups in the Indian National Congress. Subramania Siva and Chidambaram Pillai were arrested, tried on sedition charges and awarded ten years ‘rigorous imprisonment’ (on appeal, it was reduced to six years). To avoid possible arrest, Bharati in September 1908 fled to the nearby Pondicherry which was then a French territory and continued anti-British propaganda through his weekly India, publishing it from Pondicherry. Special Significance of Tilak Ghat in freedom-struggle: Tilak Ghat has long been the venue of public meetings in Madras City, addressed by national luminaries like Bipin Chandra Pal, Bala Gangadhar Tilak, Chitta Ranjan Das (C.R.Das), Mahatma Gandhi, Annie Besant, Subash Chandra Bose and others. The sands of Tilak Ghat also reverberated now and then with the speeches of political stalwarts like S.Satyamurthy, Kamaraj Nadar, Bhaktavatchalam, Ma.Po.Sivagnana Gramani, T.Prakasam, etc. Bipin Chandra Pal’s Visit Bengal’s architect of new nationalism Bipin Chandra Pal (1858-1932) created history by his three fiery lectures delivered at Tilak Ghat during the first week of May 1907. In his speeches on different days at the beach, Bipin Chandra Pal rejected Dadabhai Naoroji’s conception of swaraj which aimed at self-government of India, as in other colonies, under British tutelage. Pal declared that nothing but absolute autonomy outside the British Empire will satisfy Indian aspiration. He also reiterated his insistence on national education and Swadeshi, as well as boycott of British goods. The impact of Bipin Pal’s historic visit to Madras and his lectures were far-reaching. Later, Government’s Sedition Committee report held him responsible for the widespread political unrest that surfaced in South India just after his visit (Source; Bipin Chandra Pal by Saral Kumar Chatterji, Publication Division of Government of India). Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s visit in 1918: Bal Gangadhar Tilak was arrested in June 1908 and sentenced to six years’ jail and exiled to Burma for imprisonment in Mandalay Fort. He was released in 1914. He visited Madras Province for the first time in 1918 and addressed a huge public meeting at Madras beach on 30th December 1918 at the same venue which has been named after him a decade ago by Subramania Siva. He was on his way to England via Colombo, leading a national delegation to apprise the British higher-ups in London of the demands of the Home Rule League which he had founded. (The League is different from and more radical than the one of the same name started by Annie Besant in 1916.) Mahatma Gandhi at Tilak Ghat; 18th March 1919: Mahatma Gandhi’s first ever public meeting was held at Tilak Ghat on the Madras beach on 18th March 1919. S.Kasturi Ranga Ayengar presided. At this meeting, Gandhiji called upon Government to withdraw the Rowlatt Bills. He said that he had “pledged myself to offer Satyagraha against the Bills”, and invited all men and women to do likewise. After Gandhiji’s speech, V.O.Chidambaram Pillai spoke in Tamil, followed by a speech in Telugu by Harisavatha Rao. Gandhiji’s speech on 20th March 1919: Two days later on 20th March 1919, Mahatma Gandhi again addressed a public meeting at Tilak Ghat and spoke in detail explaining the salient features of non co-operation movement. Salem C.Vijaraghavachari presided. The following resolution was passed unanimously at the meeting. “In view of the unanimous opposition of India to Rowlatt Bills and the fact that not a single non-official member voted with the Government for the passing of Bills, this public meeting appeals to H.E.the Viceroy to withhold his assent to the Act for the signification of His Majesty’s pleasure under section 68 of the Government of India Act.” (Source: Collected works of Mahatma Gandhi, Volume 15, Page-141). Then Sarojini Naidu spoke in English, followed by a speech in Tamil by S.Somasundara Bharati. Tilak Passes away: Tilak passed away at mid-night of 31st July – 1st August 1920. Gandhi attended the funeral procession in Bombay. On 2nd August, he issued a statement to the press paying tributes to the departed leader. In his article in Young India (04.08.1920), Gandhiji wrote: “Patriotism was a passion with Tilak…He will go down to the generation yet unborn as a maker of modern India.” (A decade earlier, an all-British Enquiry Committee described Tilak as the Father of Indian Unrest!) Gandhiji at Tilak Ghat again in 1920: It is significant that it was at Tilak Ghat on Madras Beach that on 12th August 1920, Mahatma Gandhi for the first time after the demise of Tilak 12 days earlier, addressed a public meeting paying oral tributes to the great departed leader “Lokamanya Tilak Maharaj”. Gandhiji began his speech with these words: “Before I approach that question (of non-co-operation) on this dear old beach of Madras, you will expect me- you will want me to offer my tribute to the great departed, Lokamanya Tilak Maharaj (Loud and prolonged cheers). I wish to offer my tribute to the departed patriot and I think that I cannot do better than say that his death, as his life, has poured new vigour into the country. If you were present as I was present at that great funeral procession, you would realize with me the meaning of my word. Mr.Tilak lived for his country which he called Swaraj; the inspiration of his deathbed was also freedom for his country. And it was that which gave him such marvelous hold upon his countrymen; It was that which commanded the adoration not of a few chosen Indians belonging to the upper strata of society but of millions of his countrymen. His life was one long sustained piece of self-sacrifice. He began that life of discipline and self-sacrifice in 1879 and he continued that life up to the end of his day and that was the secret of his hold upon the country… I hope then that whatever I say this evening to this vast mass of people, will bear fruit in that same sacrifice for which the life of Lokamanya Tilak Maharaj stands…” (Source: The Hindu, 13.08.1920). With this introduction, Gandhiji went on to elaborate the salient forms of the Non-co-operaton that has been inaugurated on 1st August 1920, namely, boycott of the councils, courts and Government aided schools and colleges, besides surrender of titles awarded by the British Government. The twin objective of the Movement was to right the Khilafat Wrongs of the British Government, and against the Punjab atrocities under Martial law Regime. Gandhiji ended his speech with these words: “May God grant the people of India the right path, the true vision and the ability and courage to follow this path, difficult and yet easy, of sacrifice”. (Source Collected works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol-18, P 154). 8th April 1921: Gandhiji again came to Madras in April 1921 and addressed a huge public meeting at Tilak Ghat. Newspapers estimated that 50,0000 people had assembled on the Madras Beach that evening. Gandhiji spoke in English which was translated into Tamil, first by Rajaji and later by A. Rangaswami Ayyengar, Kasturi Ranga Ayyengar preside. Gandhiji spoke at length about the Brahmin-non-Brahmin question and the grievances of non-Brahmins against Brahmins peculiar to Madras Province. Gandhiji inter alia said; “ I have no shadow of doubt that Hinduism owes it all to the great traditions that the Brahmins have left for Hinduism. They have left a legacy for India, for which every India, no matter to which Varna he may belong, owes a deep debt of gratitude. Having studied the history of almost every religion in the world, it is my settled conviction that there is no class in the world that has accepted poverty and self-effacement as its lot as the Brahmin Community. I would therefore urge a non-Brahmin myself- I would urge all non-Brahmins who may compose the audience and all non-Brahmins to whom my voice may reach, that they will make a fundamental error if they belief that they can better their position by decrying Brahmins. Even in this black age, travelling throughout the length and breadth of India, I notice that the Brahmins take the first place in self-sacrifice and self-effacement. I am at the same time aware that the non-Brahmins of Madras have many things to say against Brahmins, for which there is some cause. But let non-Brahmins realize that by quarrelling with Brahmins, by being jealous of them and mud-slinging they will not better their lot, but will degrade Hinduism itself…Let non-Brahmins beware of attempting to rise upon the ashes of Brahminism. And therefore, I would urge non-Brahmins, if they cannot throw themselves heart and soul into this (non-co-operation) movement, at least to refrain from interfering with this movement by intriguing with the Government.” Gandhiji went on to say: I am content to be a Hindu, I am content to die a Hindu and I am ready and I hope to die for the defence of my religion at any moment; but I should cease to call myself a Hindu if I believe for one moment that Hinduism requires me to consider it a sin to touch a single human being. Therefore, I invite the Brahmins and non-Brahmins of this Presidency to battle against this curse of untouchability and rid themselves of it…(Source: The Hindu, 09.04.1921). 15th September 1921: Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Madras on 15th September 1921 and in the evening addressed a monster meeting at Tilak Ghat at the beach, Yakup Hassan was in the chair. Gandhiji addressed the audience in clear and ringing tone for over an hour and was heard with great attention. The speech was in English and translated sentence by sentence by A.Rangaswami Ayyengar (Editor, Swadeshmitran, a Tamil Daily and later of The Hindu) first and then by Congress leader and orator S.Satyamurthi (1887-1943). Gandhi spoke of the importance of Swadeshi and the significance of the spinning-wheel. Among other things, Gandhiji said: “Swaraj, as Tilak Maharaj has said, is our birthright. Similarly, Khilafat is a sacred treasure with our Mussulman Countrymen; redress of the Punjab wrongs is a sacred trust. Let us not betray our birthright, our religion and our trust by proving false to a creed (of non-violence) to which we subscribed twice over last year… The next few months must be to us times of turmoil, troubles, imprisonments and many other things. All the world over darkness is the deepest before dawn and I want you with the eye of faith to see the rays of dawn coming out through this deep darkness that has overshadowed the land. And I ask the men and women of this great Presidency to discharge their trust in such an honourable manner that the future generations may be able to say that the Madras Presidency was in no way behind other Presidencies in doing its duty. I pray to God that He may give us all strength and courage and a fixed purpose to enable us to reach our goal.” (Source: The Hindu, 16.09.1921). 4th September 1927: Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Madras on 3rd September 1927 and addressed a public meeting the next day at Tilak Ghat. Adayar Theosophical Society (of which Annie Besant was the president) had arranged for mike and loud speakers for the meeting. The people were therefore able to hear Gandhiji’s speech clearly. Gandhiji spoke in English. It was translated by Rajaji and Satyamurthi. Muthuranga Mudaliyar presided. In his speech, Gandhiji referred to the agitation that was going on in Madras City by a group of youngsters for the removal of the Neile Statue. He advised the young men who were behind this movement not to spoil a good cause “by a single hasty and inconsiderate step”. Gandhiji also stressed the importance of Khadi. ‘Complete National Independence’ Resolution at Madras Congress Session (Decemmber 1927): Madras was again the venue where the Congress session was held in the City at Spur Tank Maidan on 26th December 1927. It was here at Madras that the Congress for the first time unequivocally “declared the goal of the Indian people to be Complete Independence”. Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Resolution and it was unanimously passed. Annie Besant who participated in the Congress and in the subjects committee of the Congress session earlier, described the resolution as a “dignified and clear statement of India’s goal.” (Source: Pyarelal’s Mahatma Gandhi, Volume 6, Page 89). During this Congress session, Gandhiji was in Madras having arrived here on 22nd December 1927 after the end of his Orissa tour. He attended the Congress Session on the opening day only, but took no further part in the deliberations, partly owing to indifferent health. He left Madras for Ahmedabad on 28th December 1927. (The decision of the Madras Congress declaring complete Independence as India’s goal was reiterated at the Congress session held in Calcutta between December 29, 1928 and 1st January 1929, in which Gandhiji participated. In the crowded Congress Session held the next year (1930-December) at Lahore with Jawaharlal Nehru as President, Gandhiji himself sponsored a resolution proclaiming Poorna Swaraj (completed Independence) as the country’s immediate goal. Gandhiji was authorized to launch a Civil disobedience movement to achieve it. It was in accordance with this mandate that Mahatma Gandhi launched the Salt Satyagraha on March 12, 1930 inaugurating his Salt March to Dandi that day). Salt Satyagraha at Tilak Ghat in April 1930: Tilak Ghat was the venue of a landmark event in the annals of freedom movement in South India. During the Salt Satyagraha in April 1930 it is on the sea-shore of Tilak Ghat hundreds of people rushed to the beach and made salt by boiling pots of sea-water defying salt laws. On 6th April 1930, Mahatma Gandhi, leading a chosen posse of 78 co-workers, had ended his 241-mile walk from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to Dandi sea-shore and collected salt. This event signaled a non-violent insurrection all over India’s long coasts. Congress workers and villagers invaded the nearest beach to make salt. In Madras Province, a parallel March was conducted under the leadership of C.Rajagopalachariar (Rajaji) who led one hundred chosen Congress volunteers to walk 150 miles in 15 days from Tiruchirappalli to Vedaranyam (then in Tanjore district) to make salt. This peace brigade braved all the hazards of Government’s repressive measures-lath blows, prohibitory orders, arrests and imprisonment. Simultaneously, in Madras City, Salt Satyagraha was spearheaded by Andra Kesari T.Prakasam at the seashore adjoining Tilak Ghat. In this Durgabai Deshmukh, Vy.Mu.Kodanayagi and hundreds of other women also participated. A near-by bungalow known as ‘Udayavanam’ was used as Satyagraha Ashram. T.Prakasam and others were arrested at this venue. People took out a large procession through Pycraft’s Road shouting anti-British slogans. Police resorted to firing, killing C.K.Govindasami, an advocate, and wounding many. It was thus Govindasami of Madras was the first casuality who lost his life in the all-India Salt Satyagraha. “Politics is not mere songs and fiery speeches; it requires bravery even to sacrifice one’s life thundered Jeeva at Tilak Ghat”. Netaji Subash Chandra Bose at Tilak Ghat in 1939: It was at a mass meeting at Tilak Ghat held on 4th September 1939 that Netaji Subash Chandra Bose during his visit to Madras, spoke challenging the British Empire. Subash Bose, who had left the Congress in May 1939 owing to difference of opinion with Congress high-command, had formed a radical party, namely, Forward Bloc. At Madras, local Congress leaders did not turn up to receive him as he had been removed from the Congress organization. Still, the general public, students and representatives of various local organizations turned up at the meeting held at Tialk Ghat on 4th September 1939. S.Srinivasa Iyengar, who was once Congress President but ceased to take in part in politics since 1929, presided over the meeting. Before commencing his speech, Subash Chandra Bose read aloud the front page news published in that day’s evening edition of The Hindu. The headline was “Britain Declares War against Germany”. Subash Bose raised his voice to a high pitch and roared, “Now, the time has come to catch the British lion in its own den and free Bharat-Maata from its clutches.” Thunderous ovation rent the air. In view of the national significance of Tilak Ghat in the history of freedom struggle, Shri.P.N.Srinivasan, Freedom fighter, Editor, “Bharathamani” and founder-trustee and Director Gandhi Darshan Kendra (a registered public charitable trust formed with the object of propagating Gandhian ideals) had long been striving to galvanize public opinion and Gandhian Institutions in Chennai to get official recognition to the naming of the Ghat as Tilakar Tidal (Tilak Ghat). A major step was taken when Gandhi Darshan Kendra organized Republic Day function on 27th January 2003 at the Tilak Ghat. Those who took active part in the movement included K.Kasturi Rangan (former Editor of “Dinamani”), Senior Advocate R.Gandhi, B.S.Rahavan, I.A.S. Rtd., and Kumari Anandan, President, Gandhi Peravai and former President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. A granite slab in Tamil prepared jointly by Gandhian Organisations declaring the spot as Tilakar Tidal in memory of Bal Gangadhar Tilak was displayed and unveiled at the function. Resolutions were passed appealing to the Government of Tamil Nadu to install such a plaque and to declare the venue as Tilak Ghat. Accordingly, a representation was sent to the Chief Minster, Tamil Nadu on 14th February 2003 followed by a reminder dated 10th March 2003, . Again on 19th May 2003, a similar letter was addressed to the Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Government. Since there was no response from the Government, Shri.P.N.Srinivasan filed a writ petition in Madras High Court in June 2004 seeking their direction to the State Government to declare the beach opposite the Presidency College as Tilakar Tidal. On 29th June 2004, the High Court directed the State Government to dispose off the representation dated 19th June 2003 within four months. In response, the State Government (Information, Tourism & Memorials Department) wrote to Srinivasan on 21st September 2006 that his proposal to erect a plaque “is negatived since the Government is striving to bring back the glory and beauty of the beach and has therefore taken a policy decision to maintain the beach without any structure/construction.” Against this decision, a Public-Interest writ petition dated 11th September 2009 was again filled by Srinivasan in Madras High Court to quash the order and to direct the State Government to declare the place as Tilakar Kattam and also to erect a plaque. When the writ petition came up for consideration in Madras High Court on 11th November 2009, Senior Counsel of the petitioner Mr.R.Gandhi ably argued that if a policy decision has been made not to allow any construction on the Marina Beach, there can be no objection to a plaque being put up. The High Court disposed the petition with these directions to the state: i. There should be no difficulty in declaring the stretch of sands in front of the Presidency College as “Tilak Ghat”, since no construction or erection of monument is involved, and that “it only requires the will of the State.” ii. The Court suggested to the Government Pleader that the 60th anniversary of Republic of India might be a good occasion for the State to come forward on its own to commemorate the day by putting up of the plaque at the Tilak Ghat. Sequal to these directions of the High Court, the State Government of Tamil Nadu decided to declare the stretch of sands in front of the Presidency College as “Tilak Ghat” or “Thilakar Kattam” and to put up two plaques (English and Tamil) at the Ghat on 26th January 2010. It was thus the Tamil Nadu Government quickly arranged to install granite plaques with inscriptions in Tamil and English on 26th January 2010 at a prominent spot on the beach-line opposite the Presidency College without any formal function or announcement. The place has at last got the official recognition as Tilak Ghat, thanks to a nearly decade-long peaceful agitation led by “Bharathamani Srinivasan”. Case in High Court Madras to declare the name, the place opposite to Presidency College as “Thilagar Kattam” and also to erect a plaque IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS (SPECIAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION) FRIDAY, THE ELEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE PRABHA SRIDEVAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M. SATHYANARAYANAN WRIT PETTITION NO.4609 OF 2008 P.N.SRINIVASAN, FREEDOM FIGHTER AND FOUNDER TRUSTEE OF GANDHI DARSHAN KENDRA CHENNAI (REGD.) NO.1 5TH CROSS STREET, SARVAMANGALA NAGAR, CHITLAPAKKAM, CHENNAI-600 064. . . PETTITIONER 1. GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, HOME DEPARTMENT, FORT ST.GEORGE, CHENNAI-600 009. 2. THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU, REP. BY ITS DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATINOS AND EX OFFICIO JOINT SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, TAMIL DEVELOPMENT, RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS AND INFORMANTIONS (MEMORIALS) DEPARTMENT, FORT ST. GEORGE, CHENNAI-600 009. 3. THE UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST, NEW DELHI. 4. THE UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF CULTURE, NEW DELHI. Pettition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying that in the circumstances stated therein and in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court will be pleased to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the order of the 2nd respondent in his letter No.29025/Memorials/2006 dated 21.09.2006 communicated to the petitioner by the 2nd respondent in his letter No.44728/Memorials/2007-1 dated 24.12.207 and to quash the same and to direct the respondents 2 to 4 to declare the name, the place opposite to Presidency Co0llege as “Thilagar Kattam” and also to erect a plaque informing the leaders who had addressed on the sands and importance of the place. Order:- This Writ Petition coming on for hearing on this day upon perusing the petition and the affidavit filed in support thereof and upon hearing the arguments of Mr.R.Gandhi, Senior Counsel for M/s R.G.Narendhiran, R.Kamalarani & P.G.Rajasri, Advocats for the petitioner and of Mr.M.Dhandapani, Special Government Pleader on behalf of the respondents 1 & 2, the Court made the following order: O R D E R ( Delivered by Prabha Sridevan, J. ) A freedom fighter and the Founder Trustee of the Gandhi Darshan Kendra, has filed this writ petition seeking a direction to erect a plaque opposite the Presidency College near the historic place known as “Tilak Ghat” or “Thilagar Kattam”. 2. Learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner became quite emotional at the delay in orders being passed on the writ petition. The historical significance of “Thilak Ghat” has been explained in paragraph 2 of the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition and we are extracting the following portions thereof : “This pertains to Triplicate “Tilak Ghat”, where the Tamil National poet Subramania Bharathi sang three National patriotic song to enthrall the audience of about more than 5000 people. This happened at Tilak Ghat at Triplicane. The silver bed of Marina Beach at Madras was the venue where the great national leaders like balagangadhara Thilakar, Lala Lajpath Rai, Bipin Chandran Paul, Mahatma Gandhi, Subash Chandrabose, C.R.Doss, Mahakavi Bharathi, V.O.Chidambaram Pillai and others made their clarion call to the people of the land to raise against the British rules. In 1908, Subramania Siva, a core patriotic and friend of Subramania bharathi have named this part of the Beach in Triplicane opposite to Presidency College as Tilak Ghat. The Government of Tamil Nadu has issued notification in the 40th year of Independence in that, a special mention about the Thilakar Ghat has been made. Whenever Mahatma Gandhi visited Madras, he used to address his patriotic meeting at Tilakar Ghat. In 1919, March 18th and 20th, he delivered two speeches on his Sathiyagraha plans against British Government’s Rowlat Bill. Both the meetings were presided over by Shri.S.Kasthuri Iyengar, Editor of the Hindu and Shri.Vijayaraghavan, a leading lawyer. Due to Gandhiji’s ill health, his speeches were read by Mahadev Desai on both these occasions. In the same year, Gandhiji was invited to address a public meeting at “Thilakar Kattam” organized by Madras Sathiyagraha Sabha. During 1920, on August 12th, Mahatma Gandhi spoke on non-coperation movement at the same venue i.e., Tilakar Ghat opposite to Presidency College. The popular traveller and author Mr.A.k.Chetttiar (1911-1983) Editor of Tamil Magazine “Kumari Malar”, wrote several articles with the caption “under the foot step of Gandhi Annal”, where he has written about the meeting that had taken place at Thilakar Kattam. Tilakar Ghat is a place where great leaders have addressed meetings to attain independence. This place has a very great significance in our freedom struggle with a heritage value. Similar places in India were maintained by the Government of India, here is a place of importance and a monument. The future generation must have regard for the sacrifices made by the forefathers for the freedom of the nation. Freedom movement of this country is not an ordinary event. It has national significance. This place opposite to Presidency College, Madras on the Beach of Marina must be protected as a place of heritage connected to freedom movement of this nation, and the name given by the Tamil great poet Subramania Bharathi as Tilakar Kattam, in English, “Tilakar Ghat”, must be remembered forever.” It is also seen that great leaders of Tamil Nadu like Shri Sathiamoorthy, Shri Kamajar, Shri Srinivasa Iyengar, Shri Subramania Siva, Mahakavi Bharathi and others have gathered in this place and discussed about the freedom struggle of this country. It is in March 1819, the Mahadev Desai read out the sterling message from Mahatma Gandhi at Tilakar Ghat, where he called upon the people to make sacrifices and made two promises, one of which related to the withdrawal of the Rowlatt Bill. In 1987, on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of India’s independence, the Government of Tamil Nadu issued a Gazette Notification under the heading of “Tilak Ghat”, which is as follows :- The slivery sand of the Marina Beach on the Bay of Bengal was the venue where great National leaders used to address the people to arouse the national consciousness. Leaders like Bala Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandrapal, Gandhiji, Subash Chandra Bose, C.R.Das, Poet Bharathi, V.O.Chidambaram Pillai and others made their clarion call to the natin to rise against the British rule from this place. In 1908, Subramaniya Siva, a compatriot of Poet Subramanya Bharathi, christened this point of the beach as Thilak Ghat. This place has witnessed the fiery patriotic speeches of several national leaders and the fireless tides kissing the sand still land luster to the soil touched by the great sons and daughters of the Bharat Matha”. Even in the minutes of the meeting of the National Committee for Celebration of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi held in 1994, suggestions were made, which can be classified into the following four categories : 1. The need for a historical presentation which would tell the people about Mahatma Gandhi’s life and times; 2. Activities to make information about Mahatma Gandhi readily available and accessible; 3. Implementation of various programmes emenating from Gandhian thought; 4. Undertaking activities to demonstrate the relevance of Gandhiji not only to India, but to the whole world.” It is the earnest desire of the writ petitioner that the “Thilak Ghat” or Thilagar Kattam” should be declared as place of heritage and a huge inscription must be erected at this place so that the future generation knows the importance of this place and is reminded about the sacrifice of our freedom fighters, upon which alone our independence was founded. 3. The immediate grievance of the writ petitioner is that his request for declaration of this part of the beach as “Thilagar Kattam” is negative by the Government. The Government has indicated that it is striving to bring back the lost glory and beauty of Marina Beach and has taken a policy decision in this regard, to maintain the entire stretch of the beach without any structure or construction”, and has intimated the same to the petitioner by their letter dated 21.09.2009, which was communicated to the petitioner on 24.12.2007. 4. In the typed set of papers filed by the petitioner, a Xerox copy of the Commemoration of celebration of the 40th Anniversary of India’s Independence is enclosed, wherein it is seen that a National Committee consisting of Union Ministers, Chief Minsters, Governors, leaders of politicial parties and eminent figures from all walks of life has been constituted to provide guidelines to the Government and to identify programmes which would re-qcquaint our people, especially the youth, with the saga of our freedom struggle which our leaders symbolized. Following this, a State Level Committee was also formed and we find the name of the Honourable Chief Minister of the State of Tamil Nadu as a Member of the said committee at Sl.No.15. Amongst the programmes and schemes approved by the Committee, one related to Tilak Ghat. The typed set of papers also contains a proforma of what should be inscribed in the plaque. 5. On 29.06.2004, the same writ petitioner had filed a wit petition for erection of a proper monument at Tilak Ghat and this Court had directed the Chief Secretary of the State to dispose of the representation of the petitioner in this behalf writhin four months. However, nothing appears to have been done since then. 6. Learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner referred to the Fundamental Duties enshrined under Article 51A of the Constitution of India which are enumerated hereunder : “51A It shall be the duty of every citizens of India – (a) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flat and the Natinal Anthem; (b) To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom; etc. “ Learned senior counsel also submitted that the present generation must not forget history. He strussed the importance of Bharathiyar’s poems like “என்று தணியும் இந்த சுதந்திர தாகம்”. He feared that the future will forget Gandhiji, Tilak and others. His prayer in the writ petition is a step in this direction. 7. Learned Special Government Pleader submitted that a policy decision had been taken by the State Government to maintain the Marina Beach without any structure or construction. This statement is recorded. 8. He further submitted that in fact, the Government of Tamil Nadu respects the memory of freedom fighters and noble leaders by maintaining 46 memorials, three auditoriums, five commemoration pillars and one memorial park and the Government of Tamil Nadu has always honoured and respected the memories of great leaders. He has also brought to our notice that a proposal has been forwarded for putting up the plaque and submitted that it will be possible for him to report to report to this Court a positive outcome, if some time is given. 9. Learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that even if a policy decision has been taken in future there will not be any construction on the Marina Beach, there cannot be any objection to a plaque being put up which is visible to all. The learned senior counsel also submitted that inspite of his representation, a statutue had been put up on the same stretch and he has also filed a writ petition in that behalf, which is pending before this court. 10. However, the learned Special Government Pleader is quite vehement in stating that there is a policy decision of the Government that the beauty of the sands of Marina Beach will not be marred by any construction. Even if that be so, there cannot be any difficulty in declaring that stretch of sands in front of the Presidency College as “Tilak Ghat” or Thilagar Kattam”, since no construction is required for such a declaration and no monument needs to be erected. It only requires the will of the State. We also suggested to the learned Special Government Pleader that 26th January 2010 will be the 60th Anniversary of the day on which we became a Republic and it might be a good occasion for the State to come forward on its own to commemorate the day, by putting of the plaque at the “Thilak Ghat” or Thilagar Kattam”. We are sure that there will be positive direction when the matter is taken up on 9th October 2009. 11. Post. the writ petition on 9th October 2009. Sd/ Asst.Registrar /true copy/ Sub Asst.Registrar (20.10.2009) To 1. THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU, HOME DEPT, FORT ST. GEORGE, CHENNAI-600 009. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AND EX OFFICIO JOINT SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, TAMIL DEVELOPMENT, RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS AND INFORMATIONS (MEMORIALS) DEPARTMENT FORT ST.GEORGE, CHENNAI-600 009. 3. THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST, NEW DELHI. 4. THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF CULTURE, NEW DELHI. DATED: 11.09.2009 ORDER Wp.No.4609 OF 2008 Giving directions as stated Within. NG (CO) GSK 09.10.2009.
This achievement was possible due to the tireless pleadings and arguments in the Chennai High Court by the eminent lawer by profession and good hearter Shri.R.Gandhi, Senior Advocate.
To view the website of Tilak Ghat in tamil please visit http://tilakarthidal.blogspot.com