The question asks about the leader of the Satyagraha Committee organized for the removal of the Neel Statue in Chennai. This movement was a significant part of India's independence struggle, demonstrating the public's resolve against colonial symbols.

Neel Statue Satyagraha Movement

The Neel Statue Satyagraha was a non-violent protest movement in India aimed at removing the statue of Colonel James George Smith Neill, a British Army officer. The statue was located on Mount Road (now Anna Salai) in Madras (now Chennai). Colonel Neill was notorious for his brutal suppression of Indian sepoys and civilians during the 1857 Indian Mutiny (also known as the First War of Indian Independence).

• The statue of Colonel Neill was seen as a symbol of British oppression and cruelty by Indian nationalists.
• The movement to remove the statue gained momentum in the late 1920s, particularly in 1927.
• Various nationalist groups and leaders joined the cause, advocating for its removal as a matter of national pride and dignity.

N. Somayajulu's Leadership

N. Somayajulu played a crucial role in leading the Satyagraha Committee formed for the removal of the Neel Statue. He was a prominent nationalist and a strong advocate for non-violent resistance inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's principles.

• N. Somayajulu organized the committee and coordinated the peaceful protests, demonstrations, and acts of civil disobedience against the presence of the statue.
• His leadership was instrumental in mobilizing public support and keeping the focus on the non-violent nature of the protest, even in the face of British opposition.
• The relentless efforts of the Satyagraha Committee under N. Somayajulu's leadership eventually contributed to the British government's decision to relocate the statue.

Outcome of the Satyagraha

While the protest for the removal of the Neel Statue was intense and involved several arrests and public demonstrations, it highlighted the growing nationalist sentiment in South India. The statue was eventually removed from its prominent position on Mount Road in 1937 and relocated to the Madras Museum compound, where it remains today. This outcome was a significant victory for the Indian nationalist movement, symbolizing the declining hold of colonial symbols in India.