K. Natesa Iyer
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: கோ. நடேசய்யர்
K. Natesa Iyer (January 14, 1887 – November 7, 1947) was born in Tamil Nadu and lived in Malayagam, Sri Lanka. He was a Tamil scholar, publisher, politician, journalist, writer and pioneer of Sri Lankan trade union movement.
Birth, Studies
Kodandarama Natesa Iyer was born on January 14, 1887 to Kodandarama Iyer and Bhagirathammal at Valavanur in Villupuram (then South Arcot) district of Tamil Nadu. Natesa Iyer was studying in English medium government school, however, he dropped out in 1907 due to arousing nationalist spirit at the time of Bengal partition. He joined the Government Training Institute, Chennai and underwent vocational training. Natesa Iyer took up weaving for some time. He then obtained a diploma in commerce. He worked as a vocational education teacher at Kalyanasundaram Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur for a few years. Natesa Iyer was fluent in Tamil and English languages.
Private Life
By the initiative of Natesa Iyer, South Indian Merchants Association, South Indian Mill Owners Association and Thanjavur District Rice Mill Owners Association were started in India in 1914 and 1915. He enrolled subscribers for Varthaka Mithran magazine from Sri Lanka also. Natesa Iyer visited Colombo to participate in the annual event of South Indian merchants in 1919. Returning to Sri Lanka in 1920 with his wife Meenakshi Ammai, Natesa Iyer learned the enslavement of the Malayagam workers and devoted his life to the Malayagam Tamils by staying permanently in Sri Lanka. After the death of his first wife, Natesa Iyer admitted Meenakshi Ammai as his wife. His wife, Meenakshi Ammal, was a Malayagam Tamil poet, writer and social activist, in particular, she worked for the suffrage of Sri Lankan women.
Natesa Iyer who settled in Hatton town at the foot of the Malayagam in 1930, continued to visit the gardens and addressed the people. Along with Natesa Iyer, his wife Meenakshi Ammai also worked for the welfare of plantation workers. Songs 'Thozhilalar Chattakkumi' sung by both of them for the workers were popular.
