Nationality Indian Religion Hindu Spouse(s) Mangalammal Name T. Iyer | Occupation judge, bureaucrat Died December 1, 1927 Profession law | |
Born 23 June 1861
Kumbakonam, Madras Presidency ( 1861-06-23 ) | ||
Diwan Bahadur Sir Thyagaraja Sadasiva Iyer M.A., B.L., (23 June 1861 – 1 December 1927) was an Indian judge and theosophist who served as the Chief Justice of Travancore from 1905 to 1910. He was also the first President of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Board, Madras Presidency.
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Early life and education
Sadasiva Iyer was born in Kumbakonam on 23 June 1861 to Mangudi Thyagaraja Iyer, who was a daayadhi (cousin by paternal lineage) to Nobel Laureate C. V. Raman. He was educated at Kumbakonam and Madras and mastered in Hindu law. Sadasiva Iyer's younger brother was Justice T Paramasiva Iyer, the father of the Kannada playwright T. P. Kailasam.
Judicial career
Sadasiva Iyer started his judicial career as an apprentice to Raja T. Rama Rao before enrolling as a vakil in the Madras High Court. After joining service as District Munsiff of Madura in 1887 and District Judge [must be Munsif; he became District Judge much later] at Tinnevely, Sadasiva Iyer was made a Sub-Judge in 1905. In 1905, he was appointed Chief Judge of Travancore High Court and served till 1910, when he reverted to British service and was posted as District and Sessions Judge of Ganjam. In 1912, Sadasiva Iyer was appointed judge of the Madras High Court as Additional Judge and served from 1912 till his retirement in 1921. In 1915 he was elected as Vice-President of the National Indian Association, Madras.
In 1921, Sadasiva Iyer was appointed President of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Board, newly established by the Justice Party government of the Raja of Panagal. Sadasiva Iyer was made a Knight Bachelor in the King's Birthday Honours' List of 1921.
Theosophical Society and Social Reform
Sadasiva Iyer was an active member of the Theosophical Society presiding over several meetings and serving as the General Secretary of its India Section from 1924-1925. In 1918, Annie Besant and the leaders of the Home Rule League established the Wood's College at Madanapalle as the first National University, Sadasiva Iyer was appointed as its Vice Chancellor and Rabindranath Tagore its Chancellor.
Death
Sadasiva Iyer died at Madras on 1 December 1927 at the age of 66.
Family
Sadasiva Iyer married his maternal cousin, Mangalammal. The couple had five sons (Viswanathan, Krishnamurthy, Thyagarajan, Swaminathan, and Ramachandran) and three daughters (Balamma, Syamala, and Parvati). His brother in law was Dewan Bahadur R. V. Srinivasa Aiyar.