Educators have urged the Tamil Nadu government to expand coverage of lesser-known freedom fighters in the state’s uniform school textbooks, saying many sacrifices and contributions are not given adequate space.
They noted that current lessons on the freedom struggle include detailed chapters on leaders such as Veerapandiya Kattabomman, V.O. Chidambaranar, Mahakavi Bharathiar, Velu Nachiyar and Tiruppur Kumaran. However, several other figures are either mentioned only in passing or omitted altogether.
Among those cited is Thyagi Viswanatha Das, who used theatre stages to spread patriotism through songs and plays and was arrested multiple times by the British. Educators also pointed to Thyagi N.G. Ramasamy of Coimbatore, who mobilised weaving-mill workers and was active in labour rights, anti-untouchability efforts and the “Quit India” movement, but whose story is not covered in depth.
They said F.G. Natesa Iyer—Trichy municipal chairman and theatre artiste inspired by Mahatma Gandhi—took part in the Salt Satyagraha and the Non-Cooperation Movement, yet lacks detailed textbook coverage. Similarly, Madurai’s Padmasani Ammal, who participated in campaigns such as the boycott of foreign cloth and liquor-shop picketing while mobilising women, is said to receive only a nominal mention.
Educators also highlighted brief references to Coimbatore’s Govindammal, who served in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army in the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, as well as figures like Justice S. Subramania Iyer, Anjalai Ammal, Rukmani Lakshmipathi and expatriate freedom activist Senbagaraman Pillai. They called for new standalone chapters and expanded notes so students can learn the freedom struggle more comprehensively.
