Context
A statue of C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) has been installed at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing Edwin Lutyens’ statue. (Page 4)
Who Was Rajagopalachari?
- Freedom fighter, statesman, writer
- Close associate of Mahatma Gandhi
- Last Governor-General of India (1948–50)
- Founder of Swatantra Party (pro-market, anti-license raj)
Role in Freedom Struggle
Civil Disobedience Movement
- Led Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha (1930)
- Southern counterpart of Gandhi’s Dandi March
Non-Cooperation & Khilafat
- Active organiser in South India
Quit India
- Initially opposed; later supported national consensus
Administrative Roles
- Premier (CM) of Madras Presidency (1937–39)
- Governor of Bengal (1947)
- Governor-General of India
- Chief Minister of Madras (1952–54)
Rajagopalachari Formula (1944)
Proposal to resolve Congress–Muslim League deadlock:
- Muslim League to support independence movement
- After independence, Muslim-majority districts could opt out via plebiscite
- Safeguards for minorities





