R. Venkataraman - Early Life

Early Life

Venkataraman was born in Rajamadam village near in Pattukottai, near Tanjore district in Tamil Nadu. He had his school education in Govt Boys Higher Secondary School, Pattukottai & College education in National College Higher Secondary School at Trichy.

Educated locally and in the city of Madras (now Chennai), Venkataraman obtained his Master Degree in Economics from Loyola College, Madras. He later qualified in Law from the Law College, Madras. Venkataraman was enrolled in the Madras High Court in 1935 and in the Supreme Court in 1951.

While practicing law, Venkataraman was drawn into the movement for India's freedom from Britain's colonial subjugation. His active participation in the Indian National Congress's celebrated resistance to the British Government, the Quit India Movement of 1942, resulted in his detention for two years under the Defence of India Rules. Venkataraman's interest in the law continued during this period. In 1946, when the transfer of power from British to Indian hands was imminent, the Government of India included him in the panel of lawyers sent to Malaya and Singapore to defend Indian nationals charged with offences of collaboration during the Japanese occupation of those two places. In the years 1947 to 1950, Venkataraman served as Secretary of the Madras Provincial Bar Federation.