V. Subbiah Birth Anniversary

V. Subbiah, born on 7 February 1911, in Puducherry, V. Subbiah was a distinguished politician and leader of the trade union movement in the area. At the beginning of his political career, he was greatly impressed by Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National Congress. Subbiah became actively engaged in public life when he founded the French India Youth League in 1931.

 

On February 17 1934, a branch of the All-India Harijan Seva Sangh was organised in Puducherry and V. Subbiah became its secretary. He was a follower of Gandhian principles in his everyday life. As the secretary of the sangh, he came in contact with textile workers most of whom were from the oppressed classes. He also met leaders like Amir Hyder Khan and F. Sundarayya who were organizing workers movements against the British in Madras. He played a significant role in leading the revolutionary trade union movement in Puducherry. In August 1937, he became the secretary of the Madras Mahajan Sabha.

 

Subbiah’s contribution in rousing the working class and integrating them into the freedom struggle remains central to the freedom struggle in India, playing a key role in the independence of Puducherry from the yoke of French colonialism as well.