Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularily known as Rajaji, was born in 1878 in Salem district of Madras. He was educated at the Central College, Bangalore and the Presidency College and Law College, Madras. He joined the Bat in 190 and practised at Salem till 1919. His association with te freedom movement began in 1906. Fired with the urge to serve the country more devotedly, he gave up the practice and joined Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha campaign in 1919 and freedom movement in 1920. Chakravarti Rajagopalachari was General Secretary of the Indian National Congress from 1921 and a member of its Working Committee from 1922 to 1942 and again during 1946-47 and 1951-54, Between 1921-42 he was imprisoned five times for participating in the freedom movement. In April 1942, he resigned from the COngress on account of differences of opinion. He was Secretary of Prohibition League of India in 1930 and Prmier of Madras during 1937-39.

He was also Vice-President of Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha for some time. He assisted Mahatma Gandhi in his talks with the late Mr. Jinnah in 1944 and was a Member of the Interim Government during 1046-47 and Governr of West Bengal from August 1947 and June 1948. An elder statesman and a great patriot, Rajaji acted as Governor-Feneral of India in November 1047 and had the unique distinction of being the first Indian Governaor0General from June 1948 to January 1950. His elavation to the highest office of the country was a recognition of his distinguished services to the country by a grateful nation and a tribute to his outstanding capabilities. He was Minister without portfolio in the Union Cabinet, July-December 1950. Minister of Home Affairs 1950-51 amd Chief-Minister of Madras 1952-54. In 1954 he was awarded the highest honour of the land; 'Bharat Ratna' for his great services to the nation.

A strong believer in pacifism and an uncompromising critic of nuclear weapons, Rajaji carried on an incesant campaign against the use of atom bombs and was the spokesman of the three-man Indian delegation from Gandhi Peace Foundation to canvass support for the prohibition of nuclear tests. His voice against nuclear weapons was only an outward manifestation od a mind and a heart imbued with spiritual and moral values and boundless love for humanity. Basic values of religion formed the sheet anchor of his life. He wrote a number of books all of which have profound moral significance to the conflict-torn world. He was convinced that civilization beased on materialism was self-destructive. The cultivation of moral values alone could provide a durable doundation to civilization.

While Rajaji's books Marcus Aurelius and Socrates, the Vedanta, the Bhagwad Gita and the Upanishads, Voice of the Uninvolved, Kambaramayan- Ayodhya Kandam are profound, his Mahabharata and Ramayana are full of beauty and excellence. His book Hinduism- Doctranie and Way of Life is an elaboration of his "Vedanta" and is of special interest to scholars and statesmen of all countries. The crisis of the contemporary world can be overcome only by a more constructive examination and appreciation of the moral and philosophical background of the faiths and practices that have hitherto kept civilization moving towards progress instead of self-destriction.

The central theme of this book should encourage all those who are fighting the battle for a civilization governed by Moral Order. He edited Gandhiji's Yong India during tehe Later's imprisonment and was the principle contributor to the Swarajya. As an accomplished dialectrician, he always had a formula to offer for the most difficult and intricate problem. Paying tribute to C.R. in his Autobiography, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wrote: "His brilliant intellect, selfless caharacter and penetrating powers of analysis have been tremedous assets to our cause." His death on December 25, 1972 has removed from our midst a statesman, a profound thinker and a great patriot.

The P & T Department deems it a great honour to bring out a commemorative stamp in memory of this illustrious son of India on his first death anniversary.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India