Dictionary of Indian Biography/Chetty, Gazulu Lakshminarasu
CHETTY, GAZULU LAKSHMINARASU (1806–1868)
Son of an indigo merchant : joined his father in trade and amassed a large fortune at the time of the American war : founded the Madras Native Association, of which he was President : opposed the proselytizing tendencies of the missionaries and successfully resisted the attempt made to introduce the Bible as a text-book in Government Schools in 1843 : was forward in the agitation carried on in 1853–5 regarding the grievances of the natives, which led to the Torture Commission : after incurring much odium as a seditious person, in 1861 he was made a C.S.I. : he next directed his attention to the affairs of Mysore and the Tanjore widows : lost most of his fortune and died a poor man, leaving a name for patriotism and self-sacrifice.