Savalai Ramaswami Mudaliar

Rao Bahadur Raja Sir Savalai Ramaswami Mudaliar (1840–1911) was an Indian merchant, dubash (interpreter and commercial agent), politician and philanthropist who was known for his wealth. He was also one of the early leaders of the Indian National Congress.

Ramaswami Mudaliar was born on 13 October 1840 to a building contractor from Pondicherry. His father had been declared insolvent and moved to Madras in order to escape creditors. Ramaswami Mudaliar joined Dymes and Co., exporters of cotton and natural fibres and importers of teak, and soon rose to become its dubash. As dubash, Ramaswami Mudaliar amassed a huge fortune.

Mudaliar was known for his philanthropic activities in Madras Presidency. The lying-in hospital, inaugurated in 1880, was his first major contribution. He also built mother and child-care hospitals in Cuddalore, his home town, and Kanchipuram. All of them are still going strong, but now managed by the local municipalities. In 1884, the large choultry near Central Station was opened and served the public well till the 1960s. The choultry when built had one block for Mudaliars, Nayudus and Pillais, another for Brahmins, a third for Marwaris and Chetties, a fourth for `Muhammadans', a fifth for `Native Christians and Eurasians' and a sixth for himself and his descendants. The first institution of its kind in Madras, Ramaswamy Mudaliar endowed it handsomely to ensure its maintenance and its separate kitchen facilities. He also built numerous dispensaries, smaller choultries and water troughs for animals in the city and the mofussil.

With this kind of record, it was inevitable that honours would follow. He was a Rao Saheb and had been awarded the CIE (a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire) when, in 1886, he was named the 158th Sheriff of Madras, the first Indian to hold the office. He was to be Sheriff two more times. During his second term, 1887, he was knighted on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign. Four years later, he was conferred the title of Raja as a personal distinction, i.e. it was not hereditary since he was a non-royal.

Mudaliar was associated with the Indian National Union and was a part of its 1885 three-member delegation to England. He was also associated with the Indian National Congress in its early stages.

Mudaliar died in 1911 at the age of 71 and was buried at his private burial ground at Kilapuk Garden Road Kilpauk, Chennai. His statue was erected by his friends which is kept in the Choultry.