Nachimuthu Mahalingam (April 9, 1923 - October 2, 2014) is an Indian educationalist, notable

philanthropist and was a prominent person in Tamil Nadu. He was the Founder-Chairman of the Sakthi
Group and the Former Chairman of Ethiraj College for Women.

Contents

 1Early life
 2Career
 3Honours and titles
 4Spiritual life
 5References
 6External links

Early life[edit]
Nachimuthu Mahalingam was born on 9 April 1923 into an affluent agricultural family at Somanthurai
Chittoor, Pollachi. He was born to P Nachimuthu, who started the Sakthi Group in 1921 by diversifying his
traditional business of hiring out bullock carts to starting a passenger transport services.[1] He had his
school education at Pollachi. He obtained his B.Sc Degree in Physics at Loyola College, Chennai, in 1943.
[2]
 He joined the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai and obtained his Diploma in Mechanical
Engineering in 1945.[3] Became an AMIE in 1951, MIE in 1975 and FIE in 1981 of the Institution of
Engineers.
He has been decorated with Honorary Doctorate Degrees' by Bharathiar University, Coimbatore; Anna
University; Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and also Madurai Kamaraj University, for his outstanding
contributions to society.[4]

Career[edit]
Since his father Late Thiru P. Nachimuthu was a municipal chairman, Mahalingam was initiated into politics
very early in life. Nachimuthu’s only son Mahalingam joined the Sakthi Group business in 1943 and helped
grew the business to its current level. N.Mahalingam was a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative
Assembly for 15 years — from 1952 to 1967. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as
an Indian National Congress candidate from Pollachi constituency in 1952, 1957 and 1962 elections.[5][6][7]
He counts himself lucky to have started business during the planning era in post-Independence India. After
the banks were nationalised by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, this entrepreneur found it a big boon
to start businesses and expand as more and more banks were ready to lend money easily.
Today, the Sakthi Group is a name to reckon with as it has forayed into sugar, distilling, automobiles,
finance, etc.
He served as the Chairman of Ethiraj College for Women between 1972 and 1980.

Honours and titles[edit]

The 90-year-old industrialist has served on the Board of Directors of several public sector undertakings and
the State Planning Commission in two terms. A well-known philanthropist who donates towards the
development of culture and sports, Mahalingam served as the Chairman of Ethiraj College for Women
between 1972 and 1980. He was involved in the establishment of the Institute of Asian
Studies in Madras (now Chennai) in 1981. He received the Padma Bhushan from the President of India in
2007.[8] Other honours include: *Honorary Consul : 1989-92 from the Government of Mauritius *Indira
Gandhi National Integration Award : 1989 at the All India National Unity Conference, New Delhi *Aram
Valarkkum Annal : 1983 from Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakodi Peedam *Doctor of Laws : 1984 from
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore *Doctor of Science : 1988 from Anna University, Madras *Doctor of
Science : 2000 from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He is founder of many educational
institutes from schools to autonomous institutions. Some of his educational institutions are Kumaraguru
College of Technology-Coimbatore(popularly known as KCT), Nachimuthu Polytechnic college,Mahalingam
college of engineering [popularly known as mcet] etc.
Spiritual life[edit]
Mahalingam had an important association with Sri Swami Satchidananda, the Indian swamiji who
emigrated to the United States of America and founded the Integral Yoga Institutes. Mahalingham was a
devoted follower of the Swamiji and contributed to the moral and financial causes of the Swamiji's works in
the USA, especially to the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) ecumenical temple in Virginia.
Mahalingam was also greatly associated with Vethathiri Maharishi and his teachings. He generously
donated land for Temple of consciousness - Azhiyar.
Mahalingam is ardent follower of Ramalinga Swamigal alias Vallalar.[9]
He died of a heart attack in 2014 while he speaking at a celebration in Chennai.[10]