A well-known journalist and editor of pre-independence era, C. Y. Chintamani was associated with several newspapers and journals such as The Leader (which he edited for 29 years), The Indian People and The Hindustan Review. He was also a founder-member of the Liberal Party and represented it at the Round Table Conference. He was the General Secretary of the National Liberal (Party) Federation of India for nine years and held the post of its President twice—in 1920 and 1931.