22 Facts About Arunachalam Mahadeva

Arunachalam Mahadeva, KCMG was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer, politician and diplomat.

Arunachalam Mahadeva served as Minister of Home Affairs and High Commissioner to India.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was the son of P Arunachalam, a leading civil servant, and Sornambal.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was educated at Royal College, Colombo where he won many prizes including the Turnour Prize.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn and on returning to Ceylon qualified as a barrister-at-law.

Arunachalam Mahadeva joined the Attorney General's Department as a crown counsel.

Arunachalam Mahadeva practised law as an advocate at the unofficial bar.

Arunachalam Mahadeva later served as principal of Parameshwara College, Jaffna, a boys school founded by his paternal uncle P Ramanathan.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was associated with the Ceylon National Congress, a political party founded by his father.

Arunachalam Mahadeva served as one of the CNC's secretaries from 1917 to 1924 and remained a member of the CNC even after his father left in 1921.

Arunachalam Mahadeva contested the 1924 legislative council election as a candidate for the Western Province Tamil seat and was elected to the Legislative Council.

Arunachalam Mahadeva did not contest the 1931 state council election due to the boycott organised by the Jaffna Youth Congress.

The boycott ended in 1934 and Arunachalam Mahadeva contested the ensuing by-elections in Jaffna.

Arunachalam Mahadeva won the election and entered the State Council.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was re-elected at the 1936 state council election and in 1942 he became Minister of Home Affairs.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was one of the founding members of the United National Party and served as one of its vice-presidents and secretary.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was Ceylonese High Commissioner to India from 1948 to 1949.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1955 New Year Honours.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was a member of the Public Service Commission from 1950 to 1957.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was a senior trustee of the Sri Ponnambala Vaneswara Temple at Sea Street in Kochchikade, built by his paternal grandfather A Ponnambalam and rebuilt by his uncle P Ramanathan.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was chief trustee of the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple at Mutwal, built by his parents.

Arunachalam Mahadeva was patron of the Colombo Vivekananda Society, the Jaffna Saiva Paripalana Sabai and the Colombo North Hindu Paripalana Sabai.