Desigar Ramanujam fought for estate workers’ rights - Hakeem
Mohammed Naalir
COLOMBO:Posts and Telecommunication Minister Rauff Hakeem said
that Desigar Ramanujam was the only person who was elected to Parliament
as an independent member from a predominantly Sinhala speaking
constituency of Aluth Nuwara defeating several Sinhala candidates. He
represented this seat from 1947 to 1952.
He said Ramanujam was a pioneer trade unionist who always stood to
win the fundamental rights of Indian origin plantation workers.
Addressing the first day cover launch ceremony to mark the 100th year
birth day anniversary of late ex MP Desigar Ramanujam at Galle Face
Hotel. Minister Hakeem said that Ramanujam was born in Prathapa
Ramanathapuram South India on July 17, 1907. On the completion of his
degree he commenced his career as a journalist in late 1920’s and joined
as an editorial staffer in the Tamil Newspaper “Desa Bakthan.”
In 1934 he joined as a teacher in Dharmaraja College, Kandy and he
raised his voice against the plight of municipal workers of Kandy and
most of whom were of Indian origin.
Along with other leaders of the Ceylon Indian Congress he worked
tirelessly to uplift the socio-economic conditions of plantation
workers. |