List of Former Governors of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, a state rich in cultural heritage and historical significance, has been governed by a succession of distinguished leaders over the years. The role of a governor in this southern state of India is pivotal, acting as a constitutional head and representing the Union Government. Let’s delve into the list of former governors who have left an indelible mark on Tamil Nadu’s governance landscape.

Governors of Tamil Nadu

Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Edward Nye, a distinguished British Army officer, held the position of Governor of Madras from May 6, 1946, to September 7, 1948. Since his tenure, Tamil Nadu has seen a total of 31 governors. R. N. Ravi succeeded Banwarilal Purohit as Governor on September 10, 2021.

Inaugural Governor of Tamil Nadu

Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Edward Nye, a prominent British Army officer, served as the inaugural Governor of Madras, now Tamil Nadu, from May 6, 1946, to September 7, 1948. He held the distinction of being the first governor of the newly independent state, marking a significant chapter in its governance history.

Current Governor of Tamil Nadu

R. N. Ravi assumed office as the Governor of Tamil Nadu on September 10, 2021. With a background in governance and administration, he now serves as the state’s incumbent governor, entrusted with the responsibility of upholding constitutional principles and fostering development in Tamil Nadu.

Longest Serving Governor of Tamil Nadu

Surjit Singh Barnala holds the distinction of being the only governor to serve two terms in office in Tamil Nadu. His tenure spans nearly six and a half years, from November 3, 2004, to August 31, 2011. With this extended period of service, Barnala left a significant mark on the governance landscape of the state.

Shortest Serving Governor of Tamil Nadu

M. M. Ismail holds the record for the shortest term as the acting Governor of Tamil Nadu, serving for a mere nine days from October 27, 1980, to November 4, 1980. Despite the brevity of his tenure, Ismail’s brief stewardship contributed to the state’s governance during that short period.

List of Former Governors of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, a state rich in cultural heritage and historical significance, has been governed by a succession of distinguished leaders over the years. Here is the complete list of former Governors of Tamil Nadu:

Former Governors of Tamil Nadu
S. No.	Name	From	To
1.	Lieutenant General Sir Archibald	06 May 1946	07 Sep 1948
2.	Maharaj Sir Krishna Kumarasinhji	07 Sep 1948	12 Mar 1952
3.	Sri Prakasa	12 Mar 1952	10 Dec 1956
4.	A.J. John	10 Dec 1956	30 Sep 1957
5.	Pakala Venkata Rajamannar	01 Oct 1957	24 Jan 1958
6.	Bhishnuram Medhi	24 Jan 1958	04 May 1964
7.	Maharaja Sir Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur	04 May 1964	24 Nov 1964
8.	P. Chandra Reddy	24 Nov 1964	07 Dec 1965
9.	Maharaja Sir Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur	07 December 1965	28 Jun 1966
10.	Sardar Ujjal Singh	28 Jun 1966	14 Jan 1969
11.	Sardar Ujjal Singh	14 Jan 1969	27 May 1971
12.	Kodardas Kalidas Shah	27 May 1971	16 Jun 1976
13.	Mohan Lal Sukhadia	16 Jun 1976	08 Apr 1977
14.	P. Govindan Nair	09 Apr 1977	27 Apr 1977
15.	Prabhudas Patwari	27 Apr 1977	27 Oct 1980
16.	M. M. Ismail	27 Oct 1980	04 Nov 1980
17.	Sadiq Ali	04 Nov 1980	03 Sep 1982
18.	Sundar Lal Khurana	03 Sep 1982	17 Feb 1988
19.	P. C. Alexander	17 Feb 1988	24 May 1990
20.	Surjit Singh Barnala	24 May 1990	15 Feb 1991
21.	Bhishma Narain Singh	15 Feb 1991	31 May 1993
22.	Marri Chenna Reddy	31 May 1993	02 Dec 1996
23.	Krishan Kant	02 Dec 1996	25 Jan 1997
24.	M. Fathima Beevi	25 Jan 1997	03 Jul 2001
25.	C. Rangrajan	03 Jul 2001	18 Jan 2002
26.	P.S. Rammohan Rao	18 Jan 2002	03 Nov 2004
27.	Surjit Singh Barnala	03 Nov 2004	31 Aug 2011
28.	Konijeti Rosaiah	31 Aug 2011	30 Aug 2016
29.	C. Vidyasagar Rao	02 Sep 2016	06 Oct 2017
30.	Banwarilal Purohit	06 Oct 2017	10 Sep 2021
31.	R.N. Ravi	10 Sep 2021	Incumbent