Page 48 - NIS English 01-15,April 2023

V. V. SUBRAMANYA IYER

A NATIONALIST WHO BELIEVED IN GETTING

INDEPENDENCE USING WEAPONS

Born: April 2, 1881; Died: June 3, 1925

.V. Subramania Iyer, a revolutionary patriot, was the freedom struggle. When he arrived in Pondicherry,
born on April 2, 1881, in the village of Varakaneri he allegedly taught the youth how to use weapons
Vin the Tiruchirappalli district of what was then and also delivered weapons to other revolutionaries
Madras Pradesh. Varahneri Venkatesh Subramanya in the country. He was also an accomplished Tamil
Iyer was his full name. He began advocating in his scholar. He also made significant contributions to
district after completing his education. Later, he went the evolution of this language. V.V. Subramanya Iyer
to Rangoon in search of greater success, and then to assisted Savarkar in organising protests across India,
England to become a barrister. He passed the Barrister particularly in Punjab, Maharashtra, Bengal, Tamil
of Law examination in London but refused to take the Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. He worked on the English
degree. He is said to have met Mahatma Gandhi there. translation of Veer Savarkar's Marathi book "Swatantra
He also met Veer Savarkar and Shyamji Krishna Verma, Samar of 1857," which he secretly promoted in India.
who were fighting for India's independence. Iyer began This book has been translated into Tamil as well.
visiting 'India House,' which was once a popular hangout For the majority of his life, he kept trying to evade
for Indian nationalists in London. Veer Savarkar and arrest. However, while imprisoned by the British, he
V.V. Subramanya Iyer became friends very quickly. used his time to translate important Tamil literature
Later, he returned to India and settled in Pondicherry into English. Iyer met Mahatma Gandhi in Pondicherry
(now Puducherry) with other freedom fighters such as in 1917 and became a supporter of nonviolence. He
Subramaniam Bharathi and Mandayam Srinivasachari. also supported Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Iyer was the editor
Subramanya was a man with revolutionary ideas. He of the Tamil magazine 'Desbakthan' and was fluent in
believed that only the strength of arms could liberate several languages. He is still regarded as the father
India. He considered the assassination of tyrannical of the modern Tamil short story. He passed away on
British rulers by revolutionaries as an important part of June 3, 1925.

India world leader in gems and jewellery sector
It is said that without change, progress is impossible "and one who India world leader in gems and jewellery sector
is unable to change his thinking is unable to change anything. This Gems and jewellery worth about Rs 3 lakh crore exported from India
change was also visible in our gem and jewellery sector during our
golden period of independence. Because of this shift, our gems
and jewellery industry has the potential to achieve the goal of Export of gems and jewellery in crores of rupees
"local goes global" and "Make in India for the World' and become 291481
the driving force of New India. India's gem and jewellery industry is
well-known around the world for its attractiveness and low prices.
Furthermore, because it employs artisans, this sector embodies 184420
the spirit of New India.
n In 2021–22, India exported gems and jewellry worth about Rs
3 lakh crore.
n The gold and diamond trade contributes about 7 percent to 5247 33734
the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs over 50 lakh 618
people. 1 45
n Exports have increased almost nine times in the last two 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2010-11 2021-22
decades.
n India ranks first in the export of diamond and silver jewellery. Source: Economic Survey (2021-22, 2019-20), PIB, Dashboard

46 New India Samachar April 1-15, 2023