Sir P. T. Rajan
1892 – 1974
Oxford-educated advocate who was briefly First Minister in 1936 and led the rump Justice Party after 1944, winning its only seat in 1952.
Sir Ponnambala Thiaga Rajan (12 April 1892 – 25 September 1974) was born in Uthamapalayam and educated at The Leys School, Cambridge, and Jesus College, Oxford, where he studied history and law. He practised as an advocate before joining the Justice Party.
Elected to the Legislative Council in 1920, he served until his defeat in 1937, holding office as Minister of Public Works and as First Minister from 4 April to 24 August 1936, a term of 143 days.
Rajan supported Periyar from 1939 to 1944 but joined the rebels who opposed him, and refused to accept the Salem resolutions that turned the party into the Dravidar Kazhagam. He led the breakaway group that claimed to be the original Justice Party, and in the 1952 Assembly election he was its only successful candidate; he also served as interim Speaker that year. Wikipedia records that his son Palanivel Rajan was a DMK minister and Speaker, and his grandson Palanivel Thiaga Rajan a Tamil Nadu minister.
Key contributions
- First Minister of Madras, April–August 1936
- Minister of Public Works
- Led the rump Justice Party after 1944
- Sole Justice Party winner in the 1952 Assembly election