T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai

Sivagnanam Pillai was born on 1 April 1861 to Nelliappa Pillai.[1] He came from Tinnevely.[2][3] He had his undergraduation in the Madurai Diraviyam Thayumanavar Hindu College, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He graduated from Madras Christian College. He completed law from Madras Law College in 1882 and practised as an advocate.[4]

Sivagnanam Pillai was selected for the Provincial Civil Service and served as a Deputy Collector.[5][6] Upon retirement, he joined the Justice Party. In 1919, he was elected to the Madras Legislative Council from Tinnevely.[2] He replaced Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu as Minister of Development on 19 November 1923.[5][6][7]

Sivagnanam Pillai was appointed Minister of Development in 1923, replacing Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu. Critics often opine that this was a move planned by the Raja of Panagal to appease the Tamil-speaking people of the Presidency.[5] Sivagnanam Pillai thus has the distinction of becoming the First Tamil Minister.

During his tenure as the Minister of Development, Sivagnanam Pillai participated in the 9th All-India Non-Brahmin Conference held at Madras on 19 December 1925.[8] He was knighted in the 1926 New Year Honours list,[9] and formally invested with his knighthood by the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, on 18 February 1927 at Delhi.[10]

Sivagnanam Pillai had three children: T S Avudaiappa Pillai, Sivakami Ammal and T S Ramalingam Pillai. Avudaiappa Pillai, born 28 March 1897, a career civil servant initially served in the provincial Civil Service and after Indian Independence in 1947, served in the Indian Administrative Service until 1952. He acted as the Revenue Officer and Commissioner, Corporation of Madras in 1947. His wife, Mrs. Subbammal was a great sports enthusiast and was South India Table Tennis champion.

Sivagnanam Pillai was a prominent freemason and was a member of the Carnatic Lodge from 1905 to 1914[11] and 1925 to 1929.[12]