Kalaithanthai Karumuttu Thiagarajan Chettiar was a great visionary with a noble mission. He was entrusted with the moral and social responsibility of building this institution with the objective of serving society. A staunch nationalist and a remarkable industrialist, he led a life of sacrifice. He was also an exceptional educationalist, with a keen focus on transforming lives through education. As a prominent social reformer, he left an indelible mark on all aspects of social life. A devoted reader, his passion for language was evident in his profound command of Tamil.