The Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company started by late V.O. Chidambaram Pillai was “propelled by patriotism and not steam”, describes historian A.R. Venkatachalapathy in his latest book Swadeshi Steam published by Penguin. The book documents the late freedom fighter’s battle against the British maritime empire and also south India’s role in the country’s freedom struggle.
At the official book launch on the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) premises in Chennai, its chairperson and former Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami released the first copy and former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi received it.
Describing the author as a prolific writer, Mr. Gopalaswami pointed out that this was the sixth book in English by Mr. Venkatachalapathy, who has also authored 15 books in Tamil, four of which was on VOC. He noted how the authored nurtured his love for VOC from the time he was a high school student.
