Sakthi Institute of Information and Management Studies
Founder
Arutchelvar Dr. N. Mahalingam, B.Sc., F.I.E., (March 21, 1923 – October 2, 2014), an eminent educationist and industrialist was born on 21st March, 1923 in Somanthurai Chittoor, a village in Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore District. His father, Sri P. Nachimuthu Gounder established Anaimalai Bus Transport (ABT) and operated a fleet of buses and Lorries to cater to the needs of the public. Now, ABT is in its platinum jubilee year. He obtained his B.Sc. Degree in Physics (1942) from Loyola College, Madras and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (1945) from College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai. He became an AMIE in 1951, MIE in 1975 and FIE in 1981. He was the Chairman of the Institution of Engineers from 1964 to 1966.
Arutchelvar Dr N. Mahalingam was the guiding force and instrumental in the establishment of a number of educational institutions which include Nallamuthu Gounder Mahalingam College, Nachimuthu Polytechnic and Dr Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology in Pollachi, Sakthi Institute of Technology at Sakthi Nagar in Erode, Kumaraguru College of Technology in Coimbatore, Palani Gounder Higher Secondary School, Mariammal Girls Higher Secondary School, Rukmaniammal Higher Secondary School, Sri Kuppanda Gounder Elementary School, Mariammal Elementary School and Kasturba Nursery School in Pollachi. Dr. Mahalingam was actively involved in the setting up of Institute of Asian Studies at Madras in 1981. He has also established V.M. Kailasam Hospital in 1983 and VHS Leprosy Hospital in 1988 at Sakthi Nagar.
He was a Member in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for fifteen years and has also served as Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission. He was instrumental in the implementation of Parambikulam Aliyar Irrigation Project – the brain child of Sri V.K.Palanisamy Gounder of Vettaikaranpudur – providing irrigation to more than 4.5 lakh acres. He was Honorary Consul, Government of Mauritius during 1989 – 90. He is an eminent Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow.
Arutchelvar Dr N. Mahalingam – a pioneering industrialist of Tamil Nadu – has established several industrial units. Sakthi Sugars Limited at Sakthi Nagar, Sri Chamundeswari Sugars Limited in Mandya, Karnataka and Sakthi Soyas Limited in Pollachi are some of his notable industrial establishments.
Being a prolific writer, he has authored more than 40 books in English as well as in Tamil on a variety of topics like industrial development, education, agriculture, infrastructure, culture and the like. Apart from this, he has edited several books. He is also the Honorary Editor of the Journal Kisan World and a Tamil monthly, Om Sakthi.
Arutchelvar Dr N. Mahalingam was awarded the degrees of Doctor of Laws (1984) by Bharathiar University. Doctor of Science (1988) by Anna University, Doctor of Science (1999) by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Doctor of Science (2005) by Madurai Kamaraj University in recognition of his meritorious service to the society. He has also been conferred the Indira Gandhi Integration Award and is popularly called Arutchelvar. He was conferred with Padmabushan by the Government of India recognizing his services in the fields of agriculture, industry and education.
President
An aristocrat by birth and a qualified barrister Dr. B. K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar showcases strong business acumen with his strategic management principles and guidelines. An ardent follower of the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, he came under the influence of spiritual masters and statesmen from his early ages and is committed to promote the cultural heritage and spirituality among the youth of India. He upholds peace and harmony among various religions and cultural groups, and in appreciation of his global perspective and secular credentials, Shri Vanavarayar was invited by H. H. Pope John Paul II to attend the “Day of Prayer for Peace in the World’ held at Vatican, Italy, during January 2002. The speech he made there was widely acclaimed by all the representatives world over and the same was published by Vatican Secretariat.
Shri Vanavarayar has rendered yeomen service to the field of education and has held several distinctive positions leading to path-breaking outcomes. As Chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, he pioneered the introduction of a course on Human Values in Bhavan’s Schools, with an aim to Empower the Youth to Enrich the Nation. He was nominated to the Senate and Syndicate of the Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, which he served with distinction. Currently, he is a Member of its Planning Board. He is the President of N.G.M. College, Pollachi and Chairman of Kumaraguru Institutions, Coimbatore and under his mentorship, the institutions are scaling great heights in multiple arenas that include academics, sports, culture and value-based education.
A laudable leader in the Textile sector, Shri Vanavarayar has held distinctive lead roles in the Regional and National levels. As the Chairman of The Indian Cotton Mills’ Federation, New Delhi, the apex body of the Textile Industry, he was instrumental in preparing the vision document for the Indian Textile Industry. Due to his untiring efforts, “The Cotton Technology Mission” meant to increase cotton production was sanctioned by the Govt. of India with a fund allocation of over $150 million.
Shri Vanavarayar has been bestowed with a number of awards and accolades for his impeccable contributions in multiple domains. In appreciation of his social work in line with the Gandhian ideals, he was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) by Sri Avinashilingam University, Coimbatore, in the year 1999. Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Coimbatore in commemoration of their Platinum Jubilee Celebration, awarded him the “Vivekananda National Award for Excellence’ in 2006. Through his inspiring oratorical excellence, he has motivated the youth to emerge as leaders with a strong social orientation. In appreciation of his service, Rotary has honoured him with the “Outstanding Citizen Award” for the year 2001. Rotary Club of Aarch City, Madras, bestowed him with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in June 2007.
A connoisseur of art, music and literature, he is an avid reader, painter and appreciates classical music.
Secretary
Sri M. Balasubramaniam, Secretary of the Parent College since October, 2005.
Mr. M. Balasubramaniam, the second son of Arutchelvar Dr. N. Mahalingam, serves as a Promoter Director within the esteemed Sakthi Group. Displaying dynamic leadership, he occupies significant roles across the group.
In his capacity, Mr. M. Balasubramaniam holds the position of Vice Chairman & Managing Director at Sakthi Finance Ltd, along with serving as the Managing Director of Sakthi Sugars Ltd. Additionally, he acts as the Correspondent for Kumaraguru College of Technology in Coimbatore and serves as the Secretary for Nallamuthu Gounder Mahalingam College of Arts and Science in Pollachi.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Commerce from Madras University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Notre Dame University, USA.
Mr. M. Balasubramaniam has contributed to academia as a past Senate member of Bharathiar University and has also served as the former Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Coimbatore (1998-99). Currently, he holds the elected position of the industrial representative of AICTE.
He is the trustee for Ramanandha Adigalar Foundation.
Treasurer
Sri Sivasubramaniam Sivakumar, the Treasurer of Nallamuthu Gounder Mahalingam College Kalvi Kazhagam, Pollachi, hails from a respectable family known for its entrepreneurial background with a natural learning towards philanthropy.
He did his UG in Industrial Engineering and Management at M.S.Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore, and his Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering at University of Texas at El Paso, USA.
He served as a Project Engineer at Titan Plastics Group, Michigan, USA for 4 years. As a committed Rotarian he involves himself in various social activities and as a natural flair for Quality in Higher Education.
He has chosen the membership of TAPMA to extend his valuable knowledge, rich experience and his expertise in managerial qualities. He is an industrious young entrepreneur and at present he serves as the Managing Director of PLASTECH, Pollachi.
