'The Congress is slowly disintegrating because
of its attitude and its performance'

We have heard that the freedom movement was more active in Bengal and the northern part of India than in the south. Is it true?

No, I don't think you can put it that way. There were pockets that were much more active than Madras. It all depended upon the leadership. For example, Rajaji replicated Gandhiji's march from his ashram to Dandi. This had a great impact in the minds of people.

During that period, did you go to the northern part of India and meet leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, etc?

They used to visit Madras state (now known as Tamil Nadu) and other places. I met Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and all the other leaders when they came over here.

Otherwise, was your activity centred here?

Yes, we worked in Madras. We used to go there (northern India) for the Congress sessions and, at that time, we could meet all the leaders. The Congress session was a big meeting where delegates came from all over India. Various resolutions were passed. It was a big gathering, it used to be like a jamboree. It was an opportunity for people from various parts of India to interact with each other.

When did you first meet Mahatma Gandhi?

Mahatma Gandhi was a unique personality. I don't think such personalities come into existence very often. More than anything else, it was his simplicity that would attract everyone. He only wore a loin cloth and a towel on his shoulders. But he was one of the most attractive personalities one had ever seen. A strict disciplinarian, he also expected others to observe discipline. He not only got the co-operation but also the devotion of thousands of people. People even worshipped him as an avatar.

What impressed you about Mahatma Gandhi when you first saw him in person?

Of course, I had seen him before but I met him for the first time when he visited Coimbatore. That was in 1934, when he undertook the journey to popularise the Harijan movement.

He visited one of the educational institutions run by Sri Avinasilingam Chettiar, who was a great friend of mine. I was in the Vidyalaya at that time. Gandhiji stayed there for one night. And I was given the great privilege of serving him. He used to get up by four in the morning and start working immediately. It was a great experience to be with him.

From there, he went to Conoor and remained there for four or five days. I accompanied him on that visit.

We heard that Mahatma Gandhi wanted to dissolve the Congress after it served its purpose?

Now they have effectively dissolved it in their own way. But this was not the way in which Gandhiji wanted the Congress dissolved. Today, the Congress is slowly disintegrating because of its attitude and its performance.

Were you very hopeful about the future of India when we won independence for the country?

Yes. It was our dream. After we attained freedom, we thought it was possible for us to remove all the obstacles to our progress and make our country strong. And, more than anything else, eradicate poverty and ignorance. But we have not achieved these goals as yet.