The colonial rule in India evoked a wide range of socio-cultural responses from different parts of the country. The colonial rule and the independence struggle threw up a number of educated and vociferous protagonists espousing the interests of different socio-cultural segments of society. Contribution of such leaders to the overall dynamics that worked in the pre-independence India and that ultimately led to independence, cannot be underestimated. While some of them assumed a pan national stature, some of them devoted themselves completely to voicing the aspirations of particular segments of society. A.T. Paneerselvam was one such personality.


He was born on 01.06.1888 at Selvapuram in Thiruvarur District in Tamil Nadu. He completed his early studies in Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli. He studied law in London and joined the Madras High Court. Subsequently he came back to Thanjavur and continued his practice. He joined the Justice Party in 1917. He strongly advocated the cause of downtrodden on various platforms. He, along with Arcot Sir A. Ramasamy represented the minorities before the Simon Commission and supported community based reservation and asked for Dominion status for India. In 1927 he came in contact with Mahatma Gandhi. In 1930 he got elected from the Tiruchi-Thanjavur reserved constituency and remained Member of the Legislative Assembly for ten years. He participated in the two Round Table Conferences in 1930 and 1931.


In 1934 he became a Member of the Administrative Council to the Governor. In the same year he became the Minister of Finance & Home in the interim Ministry formed by the Justice Party in Tamil Nadu after the Congress decided not to form the government even after winning the elections. The Congress, however, formed the government in 1937 under C. Rajagopalachari.


In 1938 the British conferred the title 'Sir' to Paneerselvam. On 1st March 1940, as he was on way to London upon the invitation of the British he died in an air crash.


His devotion to social issues has many admirers.


India post is pleased to release a postage stamp on A. T. Paneerselvam.


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