History of VOC

1. The life and times
of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai (Vaa
Vu Ce)
Slide Presentation to accompany a talk by VTS. 2007
IATLH Utsav/Azadi Diwas, Saturday, August 28, 2007,
Heritage Hall, Tallahassee, FL 32399.
Aug 18, 2007 1
VTS | IATLH Utsav/Azadi Diwas | Tallahassee, FL

2. Vaa Vu Ce’s childhood
• Born September 5, 1872
• Ottapidaram, Tamilnadu
• Eldest son of an attorney
• Became an attorney
• Defended poor
• Involved in freedom struggle
Photo Courtesy of Vaa Vu Ce’s grandson
Aug 18, 2007 2
VTS | IATLH Utsav/Azadi Diwas | Tallahassee, FL

3. Personal Life
• Married Valli Ammai (deceased)
• Married Meenaskhi Ammal
• Four sons and four daughters
Photo Courtesy of Vaa Vu Ce’s grandson
Aug 18, 2007 3
VTS | IATLH Utsav/Azadi Diwas | Tallahassee, FL

4. Freedom Struggle
• Defied British Raj
• Started a indigenous shipping
company
• Bought ships with help of Tilak &
Rai
• Ran shipping line between
Tuticorin and Colombo
Aug 18, 2007 4
VTS | IATLH Utsav/Azadi Diwas | Tallahassee, FL

5. Harsh sentence
• Convicted of sedition
• Sent to life in prison
• Endures torture and harsh
treatments
• Pulls yoke of a oil press under
hot sun (instead of bull)
• Loses wealth and health
Aug 18, 2007 5
VTS | IATLH Utsav/Azadi Diwas | Tallahassee, FL

6. Help
• Bharathiyar and S. Siva help
• Sir Aurobindo help
• People raise money
Aug 18, 2007 6
VTS | IATLH Utsav/Azadi Diwas | Tallahassee, FL

7. Great Human Being
Aug 18, 2007 7
VTS | IATLH Utsav/Azadi Diwas | Tallahassee, FL