G. Ramachandran

Who was G. Ramachandran?

G. Ramachandhran was a soldier for the Gandhian cause, social reformer and a teacher. With his wife, Dr. Soundram Ramachandhran, daughter of T V Sundaram Iyengar, founder of TVS Group, he started the Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu in 1945. He authored several books. Viswabharati, Rabindranath Tagore's University, in Santhiniketan awarded him the higher Title;"DESIKOTTAMA"'The Best teacher'.Being and educationist all his life,he wanted to impart all his knowledge and experience for the future generation. His dream was to bring up children as "International Citizens".

After severing various cadres before and after the Independence of India he returned to his native hometown Neyyattinkara, Kerala and started his last venture “The Madhavimandiram Loka Seva Trust” for the welfare of women and children in 1980. During the year 1991 he started a public school at Neyyatinkara. The name of the school is Dr GR Public school, it is affiliated to C.B.S.E. The present strength of the school is more than 2000 with classes from LKG to XII.

He was an MP and Health and Education Minister in Pattom Thanu Pillai’s Ministry in Kerala. He was the Chairman of All India Khadi Village Industries Commission. He was the founder and First Vice Chancellor of and we all fall down Gandhigram Rural University. His centenary year was celebrated during 2004–2005. Sri G. Ramachandran met Gandhi at Dilkush in 1921, during Gandhiji’s famous "21 days fast". He was then a student of Mr. CF Andrews at Santiniketan. The discussions GR was privileged to have with Gandhi on the occasion drew him closer to the Mahatma. Ramachandran soon became an inmate of Gandhiji’s ashram at Sevagram and under Gandhiji’s direct guidance and supervision plunged himself into the national movement and the Gandhian Constructive Programme. During the Freedom struggle, he courted arrest eleven times and spent seven years in jail. Gandhi chose him as a close disciple and entrusted to him several important missions. He was sent to Jamia Millia Islamia as per the request of Dr Zakhir Hussain where he served a lecturer and taught Spinning. Khadi work brought him closer to the common man and the distinguished Rajaji.He began Khadi work selling Khadi yarn and cotton and became the Chairman of ALL INDIA KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES COMMISSION of India. During his tenure as Chairman, he started the People’s Education Programme for poor.