బలిజ కుల చరిత్ర గ్రంధకర్త - అనేక గ్రంధాల రచయిత - బలిజకులస్తులందరు బలిజకులం పేరుతొ ఏకంకావాలని కలలుగన్న సామాజిక వేత్త, 200 కోట్లరూపాయల విలువచేసే ఆస్తులను బలిజకుల పేదప్రజల విద్య అభివృద్ధి మరియు అనేక సాంఘిక సంక్షేమముల కోసం దానంచేసిన అపర దానకర్ణుడు, కోయంబత్తూరు నగర రూపశిల్పులు. వీరే లేకపోతే బలిజకులస్తుల చెరిత్ర ఛేదించడం ఇప్పటితరాలకు దాదాపు అసాధ్యం. అటువంటి ఘనకార్యాన్ని 120 ఏండ్లక్రితమే సులభం చేసి మాకు మార్గదర్శకం చేసిన కీర్తిశేషులు శ్రీశ్రీశ్రీ సేలం పగడాల నరసింహాలు నాయుడుగారికి జన్మదిన శుభాకాంక్షలు.
Life of Sri Selam Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu Garu –
(12th April 1854.- 22nd January 1922).
The Legend of Coimbatore
Sri Selam Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu's ancestors originated from Vijayanagar Empire. They were in Commanding positions in the army of the Great Kshatriya Balija King Sri Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagara Empire. When the Vijayanagar Empire was expanding towards South, his ancestor Sri Pagadala Narasimhalu naidu Garu of Kshatriya Balija Community, commanded an Army Section and moved South. His lineal descendent Sri Pagadala Narasappa Naidu Garu served as a commandant in the British Army. His son Sri Pagadala Rangasamy Naidu Garu was an Advocate in Erode. It was to him and Smt Lakshmi Ammal, Sri. S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu Garu was born on 12th April 1854. He was then named as Balakrishnan Naidu and later his name changed as Narasimhalu Naidu. His Grandfather was the District Munsiff of Salem. While he was 15 years of age his beloved mother passed away. He married Selvi Ethirajammal, the Daughter of Sri Gopalasami Naidu Garu at Coimbatore in 1868, who later died of Tuberculosis, after the death of their two sons. Subsequently, Narasimhalu Naidu Garu married Meenakshi Ammal from Palakkad in 1899.
He studied in Salem College during 1864 and later qualified in Madras University. He also passed Accounts Test of Madras Presidency. His voracious reading habits made him an expert in English, Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and several other Indian languages. He was a versatile reader of books and developed his knowledge in all fields. He travelled widely over Barath (India), up to the Holy Kailas in Himalayas and wrote books on his travel and meditative thoughts.
He wrote his first travelogue “Arya Divya Desa Yatari Sarithiram” in 1889 describing his experiences beyond the Vindhyas. He began publishing the “Salem Patriot” or “Salem Desabhimani” in 1877 to write on Social Issues. After the “Salem Patriot” closed down, he began publishing the “Coimbatore Abamaani” and then “Coimbatore Patrika” in 1879, in “Coimbatore Kalanidhi” in 1880. In 1881, he established another publication, “Coimbatore Crescent”. The Kalanidhi Press was also established by him.
Preparation of a “Hindu Bible” or “Arya Satya Vedam” was a life time work during 1890s. His voracious reading interest through the Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Puranahs, the wide range of Vaishnava & Saiva Siddhartha literature and several philosophies of other religions has contributed for the genesis of Hindu Bible - Arya Sathya Vedam. This book was first published in the year 1898. The copies were sold quickly. On account of demand from readers another edition was released in the year 1906. Later in the year 1911 an enlarged edition was published. This exposition is intended chiefly for the use of the Hindu youths to show them the high position which their own religion occupies among the religions of the world In support of this Rishi Babu Raja Naraina Bose speaks to you about the "Superiority of Hinduism to other existing religions”.
He was given the responsibilities of Census work by Madras Presidency British Government. He took over as the District census Officer and carried out the work meticulously. That gave him an opportunity to know the educational, cultural and social conditions of the various sects of people of this Country. That also lead him to write and publish a book on “Balija vaaru Puranam” or “Naidu garu Samasthana Charitra” in 1896. This was again re-published in 1905 in Tamil and at the same time was published as “Balija vamsa Puranam” in Telugu Language.
People woke up to reality with his writings and he authored more than a 100 books and booklets. The writings ranged from Widow Re-marriage to Agriculture, Religion, History, Music, Law and Medicine. He wrote about corruption even then. And, action was taken against the guilty in many cases.
Water has been a scarce commodity in Coimbatore even in 19th century. Drinking water itself was a problem. It was S.P. Narasimhalu Naidu Garu who had the vision to identify Muthikulam water (which emanates from Vellingiri Hills) for the benefit of Coimbatoreans as early as 1889 when he was just 35. The Siruvani water supply system in Coimbatore is the outcome of his study and efforts.
The First Textile Industry “Coimbatore Spinning & Weaving mills Ltd.”, (CP&W mills Ltd) was founded in 1896 by Sri S.P.N.Naidu garu along with Mr. Robert Stanes in the present land which was part of Sri S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu's Estate. He was the founder of the Coimbatore Agri-Horticultural Society. He wrote in his Crescent journal about agriculture and connected problems for giving relief to the Farmers. He subsequently published books on Agri and Horticulture for the benefit of the Farmers. He also established a Sugar Mill in Podhanur.
He donated as much as Rs.1,000/- in 1887 (then a princely sum) for the Municipal Hall planned to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Queen Victoria’s Rule. Besides, he mobilized funds of Rs. 3,000/- and constructed the Victoria Municipal Hall (now the Town Hall) which was declared open in 1892. Historian C.R. Elangovan deems this hall “a memorial not only for Queen Victoria but also for S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu”. He also involved in the establishment of the Coimbatore Cosmopolitan Club, Coimbatore College Committee and Coimbatore Co-operative store.
Narasimhalu Naidu was the Secretary of the Coimbatore unit of the Chennai Mahajana Sabha, a social reform movement. He became the Secretary of the Coimbatore unit of the Indian National Congress (INC) when it was formed in 1885. He was one among the 21 representatives from Tamil Nadu who attended the first conclave of the first Indian National Congress (INC) in Bombay in 1885 and became one of the founders of the organization. He described the great capabilities of Sri Dhadhabai Naoroji, Mr. Hume and many others in giving a shape for INC. He attended INC in 1886 at Calcutta and described the variety of delegate’s participation. He invited Sri Rabindranath Tagore to his room and had prolonged discussion on Nationalism. He attended its next convention in Calcutta in 1886 and the third in Dec 28, 1887 at Madras. He wrote and sang poems on INC and its leaders. He served as District Board Member of Coimbatore, and Honorary Magistrate.
He was an orator in Tamil and English. He was against injustice and inequality in society. He was a poet participant in the 4th Tamil Sangham organized by Sri Pandi Thevar at Madurai. He worked for the emancipation of youth from ignorance and superstitions. He promoted culture, education, independence, self improvement and realization of Parabrahmam by all people.
He inspired by the Brahma Samaj and its ideals and established bodies to spread the teachings of the Brahmo Samaj in Salem and Coimbatore. In 1920 he founded the Sri SPN Brahmo Samaj Elementary School, in Coimbatore. He provided food, shelter and clothing for the poor children and orphans in the school campus.
Sri S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu’s great soil leaved us on 22nd January 1922. Sri S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu’s Estate Trust, Coimbatore was founded by Sri S.P.Narasimhalu naidu Garu by his will of 1922. Sri. S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu Memorial High School is being run in his memory by the Trust founded by him in 1922.
In his Memory
With Warmest Regards
BalijaMahanadu