Pachaiyappa’s College

In 1794, a young merchant prince, Pachaiyappa Mudaliar, penned a will that would forever shape the educational landscape of Chennai. This will, written with foresight and generosity, birthed Pachaiyappa’s College. Pachaiyappa’s College stands as a testament to Mudaliar’s vision. It is one of the oldest educational institutions in Chennai. It holds the distinction of being the first solely Indian-funded college in the Madras Presidency. Established in 1842 as Pachaiyappa’s Central Institution at Popham’s Broadway, the college began as a primary school offering free education to Hindus. The architecture of Pachaiyappa’s College reflects a blend of Indo-Saracenic and South Indian styles. The institution thrived. It eventually expanded its offerings, adding high school courses and then, under public pressure, evolving into a first-grade college in 1889. Initially admitting only Hindu students until 1947, Pachaiyappa’s College boasts a unique place in Chennai’s history. For a time, between 1920 and 1921, Charles Leslie Wrenn, a scholar who later succeeded J.R.R. Tolkien as a professor at Oxford University, served as its principal and Professor of English. Pachaiyappa’s College is notably the fourth oldest institution in India, preceded by Madras Christian College and Presidency College. Three of India’s top five oldest institutions reside in South India, showcasing the region’s rich educational history. A unique tradition persists at Pachaiyappa’s College. A mathematics prize is awarded in honor of S.P. Singaravelu Mudaliar. He taught the renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. The college also has a postage stamp dedicated to its founder. The Indian Postal Service released this commemorative stamp in 2010, further cementing Pachaiyappa Mudaliar’s legacy. Pachaiyappa’s College continues to thrive, its halls echoing with the footsteps of generations of students.