G. A. Natesan

Ganapathi Agraharam Annadhurai Ayyar Natesan (25 August 1873 – 29 April 1948) was an Indian writer, journalist, publisher, politician and freedom-fighter from the erstwhile Madras Presidency. He was the founder and proprietor of G. A. Natesan & Co. which published nationalist books, the most prominent among whom was The Indian Review.

Natesan was born in the village of Ganapathi Agraharam in Thanjavur district on 25 August 1873. He had his schooling in Kumbakonam^[1] He graduated in arts from the Presidency College, Madras^[2] and started a career as a publisher. He first apprenticed under Glyn Barlow before starting his own publishing company, G. A. Natesan & Co. in 1897.^[2][3]

Natesan was involved with the Indian independence movement right from his early days. In 1900, he started The Indian Review, a monthly publication in English.^[4] While covering mostly nationalistic themes, The Indian Review also included literary reviews, illustrations and sections on economy and agriculture.^[4] Natesan advertised on the front page that his publication was "devoted to the discussion of all topics of interest".^[4]

When Mahatma Gandhi visited Madras for the first time since his arrival in India in 1915, he stayed at Natesan's house at Thambu Chetty Street, Georgetown.^[5][6] His stay lasted from 17 April 1915 to 8 May 1915.^[6]

في أواخر حياته، غيّر ناتيسان توجهاته الفكرية وانضم إلى الحزب الليبرالي الهندي . ^{[ 7 ]} انتُخب سكرتيرًا مساعدًا للحزب الليبرالي عام 1922. ^{[ 7 ]} رُشِّح لأول مرة كعضو غير رسمي في مجلس الدولة عام 1923، ثم مرة ثانية عام 1931. ^{[ 7 ] [ 8 ]} خلال فترة عضويته في مجلس الدولة، عمل ناتيسان عضوًا في الوفد الهندي إلى الرابطة البرلمانية للإمبراطورية في كندا . ^{[ 1 ]} كما شغل منصب عضو في مجلس تعريفة الحديد والصلب الهندي في الفترة 1933-1934. ^{[ 7 ] [ 9 ]} عُيِّن ناتيسان عمدةً لمدينة مدراس عام 1938. ^{[ 7 ]}

توفي ناتيسان في 29 أبريل 1948 عن عمر يناهز 74 عامًا. وظل نشطًا حتى وفاته. ^{[ 1 ]}