OUR FOUNDER
DESIKOTTAMA Dr G RAMACHANDRAN

Contd.. from Founder page ..

  • Joined Non Co-operation movement in 1920 and participated in the Tilak Swaraj Fund collection.
  •  Became one of the earliest Honours Graduate of the Viswa Bharathi in 1924 and then Sabarmathi Ashram.
  •  Took part in the Salt-Satyagraha Revolution in 1930 together with Rajaji at  Vedaranyam. Sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for one year and a fine of Rs. 500/-.
  • Functioned as the Provincial Secretary of the Harijan Sevak Sangh in Tamilnadu and Kerala and member of the Central Executive Committee of Harijan Sevak Sangh
  • Took active part in the Temple Entry movement in Tamilnadu and Kerala (Vaikom). Spent six years as one of the general Secretaries of the Hindustani Tamil Sangh in Sevagram and actively promoted Basic Education in Tamil Nadu, Mysore and Andhra.
  • Was appointed the Chairman of the Basic Education Assessment Committee set up by the Government of India.
  •  Became the General Secretary of the All India Village Industries Association, Maganwadi.
  • Appointed Educational advisor of Rajaji Government of Madras State.
  •  Joined the Pattom Thanu Pillai Cabinet (in Travancore) as a Minister.
  • Served the Indian Express as an Editor
  • Along with his wife Dr (Mrs) Soundram Ramachandran founded Gandhigram in 1947 and was its Director for 15 years
  • Was the member of the Rajya Sabha for 6 years
  •  Served on the Balwant Ray G Mehta Committee on Community Development
  • General Secretary of the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi for 3 years.
  • Founder Secretary of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, Editor of Gandhi Marg (English Journal)
  • Conferred the Degree of D. Litt by the Kashi Vidya Peeth, title of “Desikottama” by Viswabarathi University and Doctorate by Gandhigram Rural University
  • Travelled widely; lectured in the universities in England, Germany, United States, Soviet Union, Poland, Yugoslavia, Ceylon etc. spreading the message of Mahatma Gandhi
  • Was a member of the delegation sent to Moscow by the Gandhi Peace foundation along with the Congress President UN Debar to take the message of peace and to prevent the use of Nuclear weapons
  • Authored Several Books like Thought and Talks, Village Reconstruction Step by Step, The Man Gandhi, A Sheaf of Gandhi Anecdotes, Higher Values of life, Adventuring with Life etc
  • Wrote several poems, drawings and made handicraft-items to his credit
  • Received peace awards from Grambling University, USA and from the Soka Gakkai International, Tokyo
  • As a “last venture” founded the Madhavimandiram Loka Seva Trust, at the age of 76 bequeathing all his ancestral property (to the Trust) in memory of his mother Smt. Madhavi Thankachi. The Trust runs Mahatma Gandhi Vidya Peedom as its educational wing and is involved in various social service activities.