Former TN Chief Secretary P. Sabanayagam, who worked with three Chief Ministers and Indira Gandhi, dies at 101

P. Sabanayagam, former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, who celebrated his 100th birthday in June 2022, died in Chennai on June 22. He was 101. He is survived by two sons and a daughter. Chief Minister M K Stalin had participated in his centenary celebrations.

P. Sabanayagam, former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, who celebrated his 100th birthday in June 2022, died in Chennai on June 22. He was 101. He is survived by two sons and a daughter. Chief Minister M K Stalin had participated in his centenary celebrations.

In 33 years as civil service officer, he had worked with Rajaji as his private secretary and with former Chief Minsiters K Kamaraj, M. Bhaktavatsalam, C.N. Annadurai, and M. Karunanidhi; and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

He became the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu in March, 1971 and continued in the post till April 1976. He was the Secretary of Industries when R. Venkatraman was in the ministry in the state and made the state a destination of industries.

Writing in The Hindu, historian V. Sriraman, had said Sabanayagam’s other great contribution was the popularisation of Indian handlooms in the U.S., for which he literally walked from store to store in that country, lugging samples. His efforts ensured the Madras Checks came to be protected under the Patent Law in the 1960s.

After the declaration of Emergency, he was transferred to Delhi as Secretary, Government of India and had even represented India at the meetings of UNESCO in Paris.

Though he was senior-most secretary of the Indian Government, he was overlooked for the post of Cabinet Secretary because Sanjay Gandhi, the son of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, “wanted a personal commitment and personal loyalty to him as an individual.”

In his memoir, ‘Service to the Nation’, he also recalled his meeting with Indira Gandhi to register his complaint about being overlooked for the appointment of the Cabinet Secretary. When he told her that Sanjay had recommended Shri Grewal, Indira Gandhi thumped the table with her first and said, “It was my decision.”