When Tamil Nadu assembly met in the Nilgiris

UDHAGAMANDALAM: It is a cool slice of Tamil Nadu’s legislative history that has almost been forgotten. The Tamil Nadu assembly last met in Ooty in 1959 for ten days from April 20. Arranmore Palace, once the home of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, (now known the government guest house Tamizhagam) was the venue.
The short-lived session was never repeated as the then Congress government was lambasted by the Opposition for emulating the erstwhile colonial rulers and shifting the summer sessions to cooler climes.

The ballroom which became a conference hall
Located at the north of the Ooty Lake, Arranmore Palace’s rectangular rosewood panelled ballroom with its glittering chandeliers was refurbished as the assembly hall. There was a special box for the governor and seats for 180 members. As the assembly meeting attracted a large number of local dignitaries, visitors galleries for men and women were also set up.
The diary of A. Dharmalingam, veteran journalist of the Nilgiris district, records the events. The entry dated April 20, 1959, reads: “Legislative Assembly Session began to-day at Arranmore Palace.”
An entry on April 21, 1959 reads: “Attended the 2 nd day’s session of the legislative assembly. Met Kamaraj, Chief Minister……” By all accounts, Dharmalingam had a good rapport with leaders of the day.
His diary also records the swearing-in of R Venkataraman, who went on to become the President of India, as a minister in the Congress government. The page of April 26, 1957, reads: “Met Mr. R. Venkataraman, Minister for Labour, who was sworn in at ‘Raj Bhavan’ in Ooty by A. J. John, Governor of Madras.”