The founder

We would be failing in our duty if at this point of time we do not acknowledge the great contribution made by the Founder who was essentially responsible for the establishment of the Institute. Mr. Chinnaswamy Rajam (1882 - 1955) who in later years was acknowleged by the late Dr.C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, as a pioneer in the industrial field made a very humble beginning, by trying his hand at various activities like running a grocery shop, canvassing orders for a tannery firm, running a leather goods showroom etc. In 1918 he started the India Company carrying out various activities, started the Kumbakonam Electric Supply Corporation Limited in 1932, Nagapattinam Electric Supply Company Limited in 1933 and India Steel Rolling Mills in 1933. It was during the construction and commissioning of the steel rolling mill that Rajam felt the urgent need to develop indigenous manpower to reduce the high cost of hiring foreign manpower and that set in, the process of establishing an Engineering Institute in the country. In 1944 when he lost his wife he decided to reduce his personal comforts and wated to serve society to the bet of his ability. He sold two of his bungalows which at of that time fetched him rupees Five Lakhs and the entire proceeds were donated for starting of the MIT. Thus was started a Institute thanks to the foresight of a visionary. The only repayment that can be made to him would be in the form of outstanding Alumni who can carry forward his mission by contributing their mite to the country in the form of technological achievements and excellence. The later generations of the Rajam family, have also been associating themselves in all the activities and advancement of the Institute very enthusiastically. The MITAA salutes its founder and remains indebted to him for his contribution.

Mr. Rajam was ably assisted by a number of distinguished friends of his like Sir Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the second president of the Indian Republic, Mr. M Subbaraya Iyer (1885 - 1963), Mr. K. Srinivasan (1887 - 1959) Editor of the The Hindu, Mr. C R Srinivasan (1889 - 1962), Editor of the Swadesamitran, Dewan Bahadur L Venkatakrishna Iyer, Mr. M K Ranganathan, the Founding Director of the Institute and others.