Kalaithanthai Karumuttu Thiagarajar Chettiar, son of Thiru. Muthukaruppan Chettiar and Thirumathi. Sivakami achi was born on 16th June 1893 at A.Thekkur in Sivagangai dist. Of Tamil Nadu. He was educated at St.Thomas College, Sri lanka. He edited a newspaper championing the cause of the plantation workers. After his return to India he started Meenakshi Mills, Madurai in 1925 . He took an active part in the struggle for the Indian Independence. He founded 14 textile mills, 19 educational institutions, Bank of Madura, and Madurai Insurance company.He also published for a number of years a daily called 'Tamil Nadu'. He was ardent lover of architecture, music and literature. This great philantrophist used a large part of his wealth for the developement of higher education. Leaving behind a rich legacy, Karumuttu Thiagarajar Chettiar passed away on 29th July 1974.