REGISTERED NO. D. 221
The Gazette of India
EXTRAORDINARY
PART I—Section 1
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 2 9 1] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1972/PAUSA 5, 1894
Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation.
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 26th December 1972
No. 3/16/72-Pub. II.—The death of Shri Chakravarti Rajagopalachari at 5.
P.M. on the 25th December, 1972 hag removed from our midst a statesman, profound thinker and a great patriot. As a close associate of Mahatma Gandi as an indefatigable freedom fighter, as Chief "Minister of Madras, as Govern or West Bengal, as Home Minister of India and as the first Indian to hold to office of Governor-General of India, Shri Rajagopalachari left an indelib impress of quality and distinction on our contemporary life
Shri Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji" or ''CR,", was born 1878 in the- Salem district of Madras. He was educated at the Central Colle- Bangalore and the Presidency College and Law College, Madras. He joined to Bar in 1900 and practised at Salem till 1910. His association with the freedo movement began in 1906. Fired with the urge to serve the country mo devotedly, he gave up the law practice and joined Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagral campaign in 1919 and the Freedom Movement in 1920.
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2l6 Tlin OAZL-TTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART I—SEC. 1]Shn Rajagopalachan was the General Secretary of the Indian National
K Congress from 92 to 1922 and a member of its WorkinR Committee from 1922 to 1042 and again in 1946-47 and 1951-54. Between 1S21—42, he was imprisored five times for participation in the freedom movement. In April 1942 he rcsicned from the Congress on account of difference of opinion. He'was Secretary of the Prohibition League of India in 1930 and Premier of Madras during 1937—39 He was also Vice-President of Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Safbha .for some time. He assisted Mahatma Gandhi in his talks with Mr. Jlnnah In 1944' and was a Member of the Interim Government, 1946-47 and Governor of West Bencal August, 1947—June, 1948.
An older statesman and a great patriot, Raiaji acted as Governor-General oi India m November. 1947 and had the unique distinction of being the first Indian Governor-General from June, 1E48 to January, 1950. His elevation to the highest oflice of the country was a recognition by a grateful Natior, of his distinguished services to the country and a tribute to hia outstanding capabilities He was Minister without portfolio in the Unior. Cabinet, July—December 1950 Minister of Home Affairs, 1950-51 and Chief Minister of Madras, 1952—54. In' 1954 he was awarded the highest honour of the loud the BHARAT RATNA for his great services to the nation.
A strong believer in pacifism and nn uncompromising critic of the nuclear weapons, Rajaji earned on an incessant campaign against the use of atom bombs and was the spokesman uf the Three-man Indian delegation from the Gandhi Peace Foundation to canvass support for the prohibition of nuclear tests, Hia voice against the nuclear weapons was onlv an outward manifestation of a mind and a heart imbued with spiritual and moral values and boundless love for humanity. Basic values of. religion formed the sheet anchor of his life. He Wrote a number of books, all of which have profound moral significance to the conflicttorn world. He was convinced that civilization based on materialism was self-destructive. The cultivation of moral values alone could provide a durable foundation to civilization.
While Rajaji's books Marcus Aurelius and Socrates, the Vedanta, the Bhagvad Gita and the Upnishads, Voice of the Uninvolved, Kambaramayanam-Ayodhya Kandam are profound, his Mahabharata and Ramayana are full of beauty and exquisijeness. His book Hinduim—Doctrine and Way of Life, is an elaboration of his Vedanta and is of special Interest to scholars and statesmen of all countries The crises of the contemporary world can be overcome only by a more constructive examination and appreciation of the moral and philosophical background of the faiths and practices that have hitherto kept civilization moving towards progress instead of self-destruction. The central Iheme of this book should encourage oil those who are fighting the battle for a civilization governed by Moral Order, TIr edited Gandhiji'a Young India during the latter's imprisonment and waa the piincipal contributor to the Swarajva Weekly. As an accomplished dialectician, he always had a foimula to offer for the most difficult and intricate problems, Paying tribute to C.R. in his Autobiography Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wrote: "His brilliant Intelect, selfless character and penetrating powers of analysis have been tremendous asset to our cause".
GOVTND NARAIN, Secy.
[PART I--SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 21 j 7 J n8 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY fltoi*'*H-*Kfc. 1]