Our Legacy
A Century of Educational Excellence
MRCAS stands on the shoulders of visionary leaders who transformed industries, championed workers’ rights, and built institutions that shaped modern India. Our founders didn’t just create businesses—they created futures.
Sri. Karumuttu Thiagarajan Chettiar
The Visionary Founder
A journalist who became an industrialist. An entrepreneur who championed social justice. Starting as an editor at Ceylon’s “Morning Leader,” he advocated fearlessly for Tamil laborers’ rights, compelling government reforms that improved thousands of lives. In 1921, he founded Meenakshi Mills in Madurai—the first of 18 textile mills that would establish his industrial legacy.
But his vision extended far beyond textiles. He pioneered banking with Bank of Madura (now ICICI Bank), insurance with Madura Insurance, and journalism with the newspaper “Tamil Nadu.” And he established several educational institutions that continue nurturing leaders and professionals a century later.
His philosophy: Success means nothing if it doesn’t uplift society.
The Institution Builder
Continuing the family’s commitment to excellence, Sri. Manickavasagam Chettiar created an educational ecosystem that transformed Tamil Nadu.
His institutions include:
* Thiagarajar College of Engineering
* Thiagarajar School of Management
* Thiagarajar College of Preceptors
* Thiagarajar Polytechnic, Salem
A prolific Tamil author and editor of “Tamil Nadu” daily, he served on the panel that appointed Madurai Kamaraj University’s first Vice Chancellor. His contributions bridged industry, education,and culture—proving that true leadership serves multiple dimensions of society.
The Innovator
An IIT Madras Gold Medalist in Mechanical Engineering, Sri. Manikam Ramaswami brought global innovation to Indian textiles. As CMD of Loyal Textiles and Thiagarajar School of Management, he introduced air jet weaving to India—revolutionizing the industry. Under his leadership, Loyal Group became a global player while he shaped textile policies at state and central levels. His genius lay in seeing technology not just as tools, but as bridges to economic empowerment for workers and farmers.
Beyond business, his passion was education. He believed that cutting-edge learning transforms not just individuals, but entire communities.
The Modern Architects
MRCAS is their answer to a simple question: What does 21st-century education look like?
Mrs. Valli Ramaswami brings compassion and cultural depth. An active patron of Indian arts and culture, she envisions education that nurtures knowledge, creativity, and athleticism equally. Her leadership style combines warmth with unwavering commitment to student excellence.
Ms. Vishala Ramswami brings a global perspective and proven innovation. Having graduated from London School of Economics and worked with Ernst & Young and Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower, she founded a girls’ school in rural Tamil Nadu at age 24. She is passionate about education as a tool for eliminating poverty and gender inequality.
Together, they’ve built MRCAS on three principles:
Technology-First Learning — Modern tools for modern careers
Experiential Education — Real projects, real impact
Holistic Development — Arts, sports, culture, character
Plan a visit to our college to experience it first hand.
We inherit a legacy of disrupting the status quo to serve a greater purpose. From labor rights to air jet looms to experiential education—every generation of our founding family asked the same question: “How do we prepare people not just for jobs, but for meaningful lives?”
That question drives everything we do at MRCAS. It’s why our curriculum integrates cutting-edge technology. It’s why we prioritize hands-on learning. It’s why we offer SPAA and EDGE programs. It’s why we measure success not just in placements, but in the leaders and change-makers we graduate.
This is our legacy. This is your launchpad.
