M. A. Ayyangar

Madabhushi Ananthasayanam Ayyangar was the first Deputy Speaker and then Speaker of the Lok Sabha in the Indian Parliament. He also served as the 5th Governor of Bihar.

Early life and education

He was born in Thiruchanoor, Tirupati district of Madras Presidency, British India. He completed his early education from Devasthanam High School, Tirupati and the Pachiappa's College, Chennai. He obtained a law degree from Madras Law College in 1913.

He was teacher in Mathematics and later became a lawyer between 1915 -1950. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi he participated actively in Indian Freedom Struggle and was jailed twice.

He was elected as member of Central Legislative Assembly in 1934. He was elected to the first Lok Sabha from Tirupathi and to the second Lok Sabha from Chittoor constituencies in 1952 and 1956 respectively.
He was elected in 1952 as the first Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha with Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar as the Speaker. After the death of Mavalankar in 1956, he was elected as Speaker of Lok Sabha. Dowry prohibition act 1961 was passed by joint session of parliament with M. A. Ayyangar as speaker. He worked as Governor of Bihar between 1962 and 1967.

After his tenure as governor, Ayyanagar retired from politics and moved back to Tirupati.

A life size bronze statue of this celebrated statesman was erected at his hometown Tirupathi in 2007.

M. A. Ayyangar was born on 4 February 1891 in the village of Thiruchanur, near the world-famous temple town Tirupati, in Tirupati district. His father was M. Venkatavaradhachariar. M. A. Ayyangar worked as mathematics Teacher in Pachaiyappa's College at Esplanade, Chennai. Ayyangar married Choodammal in 1919, with whom he had four sons and eight daughters.