Preceded by Hiralal Shastri Died June 16, 1999 Role Political figure | Name C. Venkatachari Succeeded by Jai Narayan Vyas Party Indian National Congress | |
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Political party Indian National Congress Education Central College of Bangalore, University of Madras | ||
Cadambi Sheshachar Venkatachar, CIE, OBE (11 July 1899 – 16 June 1999) was an Indian Civil Servant, diplomat and the Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 6 January 1951 to 25 April 1951.
Born a Brahmin in a village about 25 km from Bangalore, to a professional family (both his father and uncle had been educated in English, and were employed by the British Raj) C.S. Venkatachar was educated at Maharaja's Central College,Bangalore and thence at Madras University where he graduated in Chemistry in 1920. In 1921 he travelled to London and sat for the Indian Civil Service exam and was one of the 16 successful entrants (13 Indian and 3 European) out of the Approximately 150 who sat for the exam.He completed his probtionary year of service at Cambridge University and joined the Indian Civil Service in 1922.
Initially, he served in Uttar Pradesh and was associated closely with the Census of India, 1931. He was then appointed to the Indian Political Service a rare honour, as this service was de facto reserved for British Military Officers. From 1939 to 1941 he was the Agent of the Government of India in British Malaya, and was appointed an OBE in the 1941 Birthday Honours List. In 1942 he was the commissioner of Allahabad, and was appointed a CIE in the 1946 Birthday Honours List.
Later, he became the Diwan of Jodhpur State and the Prime Minister of Bikaner State in October 1948, succeeding the eminent scholar and diplomat Sardar Kavalam Madhava Panikkar.In 1947, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly. From 10 April 1949 to 5 January 1951 he was the Regional Commissioner and Advisor (Home and Finance) to the Rajpramukh of Rajasthan state. After the resignation of Hiralal Shastri, he held the office of the Chief Minister from 6 January 1951 to 25 April 1951. On 26 April 1951, a new ministry headed by Jai Narayan Vyas assumed the office.
In 1951 he became the secretary to the Ministry of States of the Government of India and from 1953–58 he was the secretary to the President of India, Rajendra Prasad. From August 1958 to October 1960 he was the High Commissioner to Canada.
He died a month short of his 100th birthday on 16 June 1999.
Major works
A collection of his writings edited by S. Sapru and K.M. Acharya was published under the title, Witness to the Century: Writings of C.S. Venkatachar, ICS.