FACTFILE
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Promoters
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Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar (RSAC)
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Born
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September 30, 1881(1881-09-30) Sivagangai District, India
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Died
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June 15, 1948 (aged 66)
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Nationality
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Indian
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Occupation
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The Rajah of chettinad, Philanthropist, Industrialist, Aristrocract, Banker, Educationalist Patron of Arts
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Spouse(s)
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Rani Lady Seethai Achi
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Parents
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S.R.M.M. Muthiah Chettiar (father)
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Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar KCSI was born on September 30, 1881 at Kanadukattam in the Sivagangai District of Tamil Nadu, India. His father, S.R.M.M. Muthiah Chettiar was a rich landlord,influential businessman and a prrominent banker.He was to married Rani Seethai Achi ,the couple had Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar as their son.
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Early life
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After his schooling, he joined his family business. During the course of his business, he visited some of the countries in Southeast Asia. He also spent a considerable time in England. On his return home, he became the head of the civic body of Kairaikudi, also member of several local organizations and the District Board.
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Career
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In 1916, he transferred from local affairs to the Legislative Council of Madras Presidency, where he sat for 3 years. In 1920 he stood for election to the Council of State, established under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, and was returned for the general constituency (the whole of the Presidency) at the head of polls. He held his seat in the Council for three consecutive terms, always by election and every time at the head of the polls. With his natural bent for finance, he with others founded the Indian Bank. He was also appointed a governor of the Imperial Bank of India at its inception in 1921 and continued as one of its directors almost to the end of his life. Annamalai Chettiar was of the firm view that education was the primary need for the country. He made his mind to found and endow a college at Chidambaram. Sri Meenakshi College was formally opened in 1920. To the Arts College was added the Sanskrit College and a Tamil College in 1927. Soon an Oriental Training College followed by a College of Music was established. With all these institutions forming a splendid nucleus for Annamalai University and it came into existence on 1 January 1929 with the passing of the bill and started functioning from July 1929. In recognition of his unique services to the cause of learning, a Knighthood, and the distinction of a hereditary Rajah of Chettinad was conferred on him. Rajah Annamalai Chettiar was deeply concerned over and made persistent efforts to safeguard the interests of Indians in Burma and French Indo-China. For this purpose he led a deputation to London and Paris in 1935. Even while immersed in other affairs, his thoughts were always with the University at Annamalainagar. Its development and expansion was his master passion. His devotion to music, especially Tamil music was another of his passions. The movement and the impetus that he gave to Tamil music were hailed by all. He died on 15 June 1948. Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a commemorative stamp in his honor.
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Dr.Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar
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Born
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August 5, 1905 Kanadukattan,Sivagangi District, India
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Died
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May 12, 1984
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Political party
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Chairman,Justice Party (India)
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Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar (Tamil:) was a banker, educationist, philanthropist and a short time politician from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was the first Mayor of Chennai. His father Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar was also a famous educationist and along with him he found the Annamalai University in the town of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. He was also the third Nattukottai Chettiar to be knighted, the first two were his nephew and father.Government of Tamil Nadu honoured him with the title Tamil Isai Kavalar.
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Early life
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He was born on August 5, 1905, son of Dr. Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar,The Rajah of Chettinad and a distinguished member of the Nattukkottai Nagarthar community. He studied mostly in Madras, graduating from the Presidency College, Chennai in 1922. He then went to Burma on his family's business, acquiring expertise in banking.
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As a banker
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He became a member of Madras Legislative Council, representing the South Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with which he was associated for 50 years, and was elected its President in 1941. He was appointed member of the Provincial Banking Enquiry Committee (1931). In 1929, he became a member of the Corporation of Madras and was elected Mayor in 1933 and 1934. In 1943, he was elected president of the Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and industry. He was associated with the Imperial Bank of India (now the State Bank of India) and the Indian Bank.
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As an educationist
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Interest in education was part of the family heritage. He was associated with his father in making Sri Minakshi College, Chidambaram the nucleus of Annamalai university. While pursuing his political career as Chief Whip and Legislative Assembly Chairman of the Justice Party, he retained his interest in education. In 1936 he was appointed Minister-in-Charge of education, Public Health and Excise, and was also the pro-Chancellor of Madras University for over a year. He remained on the Board of Management of the Pachaiyappa's Charities for 33 years. He was also on the Syndicate of the Madras University and the Board of Management of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, for some years. In 1948 he became Pro-Chancellor of Annamalai University which expanded to include the faculties of Education, Fine Arts, Culture, Law and Medicine. Two UGC Centres of Advanced Study in Marine Biology and Linguistics came into being. The Engineering and Technology Department developed into a Post-Graduate Centre. The Muthiah Polytechnic, Annamalainagar, and the Annamalai Polytechnic, Chettinad, were established. He was interested in the study of Tamil language and Tamil literature, Tamil music and culture. His services to the cause of Tamil earned him the title of Tamil Isai Kavalar.
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In politics
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He earned the reputation of being a sensitive Parliamentarian, impartial and balanced, as a leader of the opposition in 1939 and when he held charge of Local Administration and Hindu Religious Endowments. He was the first Mayor of Chennai (then called Madras) when the Mayoralty was reinstated for the Corporation of Chennai in 1933. The Mayoralty had been earlier removed in 1792, when the act made Madras as a Municipality. In 1946 he was elected member of the Constituent Assembly at New Delhi.
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Awards and legacy
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He earned the reputation of being a sensitive Parliamentarian, impartial and balanced, as a leader of the opposition in 1939 and when he held charge of Local Administration and Hindu Religious Endowments. He was the first Mayor of Chennai (then called Madras) when the Mayoralty was reinstated for the Corporation of Chennai in 1933. The Mayoralty had been earlier removed in 1792, when the act made Madras as a Municipality. In 1946 he was elected member of the Constituent Assembly at New Delhi. Awards and legacy He was knighted in the 1941 King's Birthday Honours, and was invested by the Viceroy of India on 24 June 1941. He also had the rare honour of hosting a lunch in the Chettinad House for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. While the Government of India bestowed on him Padma Bhushan in 1973, the Tamil Nadu Government honoured him with "Tamil Isai Kavalar" title in 1979. New York World University awarded an honorary doctorate to him in 1982. He died on May 12, 1984 in Madras leaving an impressive record of interests and achievements. Indian government hourned him with a postal stamp issues on him memory on December 21, 1987.
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M.A.M.Ramaswamy
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Born
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30 September 1931
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Marital Status
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Married on 6 February 1952
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Qualifications
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B.A., D. Litt. (Honoris Causa) Educated at Vivekananda College, Chennai; conferred D. Litt. (Honoris Causa) degree by Annamalai University, Chidambaram for outstanding contribution in the field of sports in 1979, Alagappa University, Karaikudi in 1996, Pondicherry Central University in 1997 and Anna University, Chennai in 2001
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Shri M.A.M. Ramaswamy, a politician from Janata Dal (Secular) party, was a Member of the Parliament of India representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. He is also the Pro-Chancellor for Annamalai University.
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Shri Dr. MAM Ramaswamy has been a great living legend in developing the Annamalai University after his father Sir Rajah Muthiah and his grandfather Sir Annamalai Chettiar. With the insight of a skilled entrepreneur, the organisational capability of an executive, the versatility of a venturesome industrialist, and the qualities of leadership and organization, he continued to show the same care and guidance for the growth and development of the University with a sense of devotion and commitment.
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Dr.M.A.M. Ramaswamy was a true sports enthusiast though his energies have been mostly concentrated on racing. He was the President of the Indian Hockey Federation and during his stewardship, India won its first and last World Cup hockey championship. Indian sport is poorer because his obsessive indulgence has not spread to other sports. One thing is sure: Come what may, MAM will never be tired of horse racing. Such is his zeal and passion for this sport, which has seen him earn the unique distinction of winning more than 320 classics, a feat that is unlikely to be bettered in a hurry.
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M.A.M.R. Muthiah Chettiar Chairman
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The most striking quality of this visionary businessman is his ability to lift the spirits of all those around him to higher realms of endeavour. Son of Dr. M.A.M.Ramaswamy and grandson of Rajah Sir M.A.Muthiah Chettiar and great grandson of Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar, he inherited a glorious legacy and took the House of Chettinad to greater heights of excellence. Every single activity of this 3000 Crore Rupees business house bears the stamp of quality, integrity and reliability. As Managing Director of Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd., he made inroads into Concrete Technology and brought about high production with sustained growth. Sri M.A.M.R.Muthiah is also the Managing Director of Chettinad Morimura Semi Conductor Material Private Limited.
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