Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari (b. December 10, 1878 - d. December 25, 1972), known as Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, writer and statesman. He was the second Governor-General of independent India. Later he became the Chief Minister of Madras State, and was one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (in 1954).

     Rajagopalachari was born in a small village called Thorapalli of the then Salem District. (Now Thorapalli is in Krishnagiri District.) He had his school education at Hosur and college education at Madras (Chennai) and Bangalore. He was married to Alamelu Mangamma when he was young and they had five children. His wife died when he was 37.

     Rajaji studied law in Banglore and started his practice at Salem. He was even elected as the Municipal Chairman of Salem and he held that post for two years.

     Rajaji started to take part in the politics of the nation at the beginning of the 1900s. At first he was drawn towards Bal Gangadhar Tilak. In the year 1919 Rajaji chose to follow Mahatma Gandhi, who had just returned from South Africa.

     In the year 1921, Rajaji was selected as the General Secretary of the Congress Party. He was a member in the Congress Working Committee from 1919 to 1942 and then 1950 to 1955. Though he was active in Congress for nearly 50 years, Rajaji was not Congress president even once.

     In 1948, after Indian independence was attained, he replaced Mountbatten to become the only Indian Governor-General of India, in which post he continued till the Republic was declared on January 26, 1950.

     Rajaji became a member of Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet, first without portfolio, then, after Patel's death, as Home Minister nearly 10 months. He was chief minister of Madras from 1952 to 1954.

     Rajaji died in December, 1972 after a short illness.