C. P. Ramaswami Iyer

Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer KCSI KCIE
Portrait of Ramaswami Iyer, The Hindu (1939)
8th Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University
In office 1 July 1954 – 2 July 1956
Appointed by	Rajendra Prasad
Preceded by	Acharya Narendra Dev
Succeeded by	Veni Shankar Jha
Diwan of Travancore
In office 8 October 1936 – 19 August 1947
Monarch	Sri Chithira Thirunal of Travancore
Preceded by	Muhammad Habibullah
Succeeded by	P. G. N. Unnithan
Member of the Executive Council of the Viceroy of India
In office 1931–1936
Monarchs	George V of the United Kingdom, Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Governor‑General	Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
Law Member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras
In office 1923 – 10 March 1928
Premier	Raja of Panagal, P. Subbarayan
Governor	Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon, Sir Charles George Todhunter (acting), George Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen
Succeeded by	T. R. Venkatarama Sastri
Advocate-General of Madras Presidency
In office 1920–1923
Governor	Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
Preceded by	S. Srinivasa Iyengar
Succeeded by	C. Madhavan Nair
Personal details
Born	13 November 1879 Wandiwash, Madras, British India (present-day Vandavasi, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India)
Died	26 September 1966(1966-09-26) (aged 86) London, United Kingdom
Nationality	British Indian (1879–1947) Indian (1947–1966)
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse	Seethamma
Children	C. R. Pattabhiraman C. R. Venkata Subban C. R. Sundaram
Residence(s)	The Grove, Madras
Alma mater	Presidency College, Madras
Occupation	Lawyer
Profession	Attorney-General, Statesman
Signature

Dewan Bahadur Sachivottama Sir Chetput Pattabhiraman Ramaswami Iyer KCSI KCIE (12 November 1879 – 26 September 1966), popularly known as Sir C. P., was an Indian lawyer, administrator and politician who served as the Advocate-General of Madras Presidency from 1920 to 1923, Law member of the Executive council of the Governor of Madras from 1923 to 1928, Law member of the Executive Council of the Viceroy of India from 1931 to 1936 and the Diwan of Travancore from 1936 to 1947. Ramaswami Iyer was born in 1879 in Madras city and studied at Wesley College High School and Presidency College, Madras before qualifying as a lawyer from the Madras Law College. He practised as a lawyer in Madras and succeeded S. Srinivasa Iyengar as the Advocate-General of the Madras Presidency. He subsequently served as the Law member of the Governor of Madras and of the Viceroy of India before being appointed Diwan of Travancore in 1936.

Ramaswami Iyer served as Diwan from 1936 to 1947; during his tenure, many social and administrative reforms were made. However, at the same time, he is also remembered for the ruthless suppression of the communist-organised Punnapra-Vayalar revolt, and his controversial stand in favour of an independent Travancore. He resigned in 1947 following a failed assassination attempt. He served as a leader of the Indian National Congress in his early days. He was made a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire in 1926 and a Knight Commander of the Star of India in 1941. He returned these titles when India attained independence in 1947. He was also a member of the 1926 and 1927 delegations to the League of Nations. In his later life he served in numerous international organisations and on the board of several Indian universities. Ramaswami Iyer died in 1966 at the age of 86 while on a visit to the United Kingdom.