M. C. Veerabahu Pillai

M. C. Veerabahu Pillai (19 May 1903 – 15 April 1976) was an Indian lawyer, businessman, and politician from Tamil Nadu, who served in the first Lok Sabha of independent India; he was also an independence activist.

M. C. Veerabahu Pillai
Member of Constituent Assembly
In office 1950–1952
Prime Minister	Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Personal details
Born	19 May 1903 Thoothukudi
Died	15 April 1976(1976-04-15) (aged 72)}
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Indian National Congress
Alma mater	Madras Law College
Profession	Politician

Early life

M. C. Veerabahu was born to M. Chidambaram Pillai and Gomathi Ammal at Thoothukudi on 19 May 1903. His family was involved in Export Business to Colombo. Veerabahu was related to the prominent freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram Pillai. At a very early age, Veerabahu was involved in Indian Independence Movement.

Independence activism

Prior to Indian independence, Veerabahu sacrificed his law career to participate in Mahatma Gandhi's struggle. He was closely associated with stalwarts like Kamaraj and Rajaji. He actively worked for removal of untouchability, prohibition and championed the cause of Scheduled Castes.

Political career

He was a member of the Constituent Assembly and the Provisional Parliament from 1946 to 1952. Veerabahu signed the original Constitution of India in his mother tongue, Tamil, being the only member of the Constituent Assembly to do so.

After independence, he served in the first Lok Sabha of independent India. Despite his contributions, he chose not to take a pension for freedom fighters, managing his family expenses through his ancestral property and income.

Legacy

He passed away on 15 April 1976 at age 72