The Hindu : This day that age: dated February 23, 1952

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Saturday, Feb 23, 2002

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Miscellaneous - This Day That Age

This day that age: dated February 23, 1952

Sri Prakasa — Governor of Madras

Mr. Sri Prakasa. Minister for Natural Resources and Scientific Research, Government of India was appointed Governor of Madras. He was due to succeed Maharaja of Bhavanagar, who had expressed a desire, for personal reasons, to be relieved of his office as Governor of Madras. "As the President and the Prime Minister would not take a `No', I have accepted the high honour it has pleased them to confer upon me in a spirit of deep humility," said Mr. Prakasa when he was informed of his appointment at his Delhi residence.

"I am not aware", he said "of the difficulties that lie before us in the great task of consolidating the unity and liberty of our land. At the present moment I just feel overwhelmed with a sense of high responsibility that has suddenly devolved upon me and I may only say that I shall try to do my duty to the best of my ability. I pray for assistance and cooperation from all in the great and historic State of Madras.

"The place of Madras is high indeed in both legend and history and the great part it has played to the spiritual and political life of the country through the centuries is known to all. Madras has given some of our greatest men in every sphere of our national life who helped to raise the stature of the race at a time of darkness and despondency and made it possible for us to enjoy the freedom of to-day. It is indeed a great privilege to be asked to serve a State of such hallowed and rich associations and I only hope I may prove worthy of the task that has been entrusted to me."

Son of Dr. Bhagvan Das, the well known philosopher, Mr. Sri Prakasa was born in 1890 at Benares. He belonged to the Sah family of Benares who were bankers of the East India Company since the middle of the 18th century. Mr. Sri Prakasa had been a member of the Theosophical Society since 1911 and founded a branch at Cambridge in 1922.

One year junior to Mr. Nehru in Cambridge Mr. Sri Prakasa began his political career as an ardent worker in the cause of the Home Rule movement of the late Dr. Besant. He was the member of the All India Congress Committee from 1917 to 1945. He was imprisoned five times during the national movement and was a prominent member of the Central Assembly from 1935 to 1946.

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This day that age: dated February 23, 1952

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