Pollachi 1921. A tiny village, far removed from the bustling town it is today. But it was here, that P. Nachimuthu Gounder laid the foundation of the Sakthi Group. , It was in this year, P. Nachimuthu Gounder broke away from his traditional business of hiring out bullock carts, into pioneering a passenger transport service. From then on, there was no looking back.
The Anamallais Bus Transport (ABT), the parent organization of the Sakthi Group was founded in 1931 with over 21 buses and a network in stages, to cover almost all of South India. In 1946, P. Nachimuthu Gounder’s only son N. Mahalingam joined the business. This young engineering graduate brought with him fresh thinking, new ideas and innovations, adding more momentum to the growth. He ventured into manufacturing, based on the service industries experience.
Straddling one of the fastest growing business groups in India today, the Sakthi Group is a Rs.1600 Crore industrial conglomerate. Its many successful member companies play a significant role in the agricultural, industrial, financial, service sector and social development of South India. The Sakthi Group has spread its roots into Sugar, Industrial Alcohol, Effluent Treatment Plant, Auto Components, Textiles, Transport, Finance, Beverages, Soya Products, Dairy Products, Synthetic Gems manufacture and Plantations.
In its pursuit of business excellence, the Group has always thought of its social commitment. As a dutiful corporate citizen, the Sakthi Group has set up many educational and charitable institutions, hospitals and religious centres. It has also made significant contributions to rural development with a variety of social welfare activities and by creating employment opportunities through its multi-fold agro-based and other industries.
Dr. N. Mahalingam known as “Arutchelvar” joined his father Shri P. Nachimuthu Gounder in business in 1943. His untiring efforts and able guidance over the past years have made the Sakthi Group what it is today. Dr. N. Mahalingam in many ways is an institution by himself. A scholar, a statesman, his interest in politics, education, economics and religion are reflected in all his endeavours.
Arutchelvar Dr. N. Mahalingam
Founder of NIA
A legendary Gandhian by principle, a patriotic and proud son of the soil, Dr. N.Mahalingam is a man of pious living. His exemplary social contributions in numerous fields of socio-economic spectrum have benefitted scores of institutions and individuals inspired by him during his long career. The Government of India duly recognized his meritorious deeds and honored him with the prestigious Civilian Award – PADMA BHUSHAN in 2007. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to various fields of development, he was awarded the Degree of ‘Doctor of Laws’ by the Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore, and the much honoured ‘Doctor of Sciences’ by the Anna University
An agriculturist by birth he graduated to be an Engineer and Technologist. Through his persistent endeavor he rose to become a genius in planning and execution, eventually to be hailed as an Industrialist and Pioneer of modern sugar industry.
As an Industrialist he has held several important positions and has played major roles fostering the development of agricultural, industrial, human resource and institutional development at the State and National levels.
As a passionate author and a scholar he has rendered notable literary contributions. He has written many books in English and Tamil on the development of industries, education, agriculture, infrastructure and culture, often promoting communal harmony and poising them for enhancing people’s standard of living.
These accolades are mere prelude to the philanthropist he is. His social and humanitarian considerations took his journey beyond the boundaries of industries and scholarly tenets he nurtured.
These accolades are mere prelude to the philanthropist he is. His social and humanitarian considerations took his journey beyond the boundaries of industries and scholarly tenets he nurtured. Right from his young age, N M, as he is affectionately known to all, has been inspired by the life and aspirations of Mahatma Gandhiji and the Gandhian Movement and has been reflecting the ideals of Gandhian Philosophy by thought, word and action. And his social mission, true to his belief in St.Vallalar, had been the pursuit of excellence be it in business or matters of the spirit. He had been instrumental in the revival and spiritual regeneration of Tamil literature.
His work as a politician started in the 1950s, where he gave all his energy to the Congress Party. He worked hard and his achievement as a Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly was remarkable. He served 3 terms as MLA and served the society with sincerity and was remembered with great adulation by the people.
One of his greatest achievements as an ardent Gandhian, has been the republication of the most celebrated works of the Father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhiji in Tamil, which was originally published by Dr T S Avinashilingam, an associate of Mahatma Gandhi and Maulana Azad the first Education Minister of Independent Madras Province, about 50 years ago, in 17 volumes. Dr N M assigned this noble task to his associate Gandhians and with their dedicated contributions brought out the book in 20 volumes, adding three more volumes to the original publication and arranged for its distribution among schools and colleges in Tamilnadu.
Dr N Mahalingam’s Socio-economic and literary contributions are numerous. His way of life, approach and execution are still inspiring our people, our institutions and of many others.
His Social and humanitarian values, his spirit of leadership, and the will to excel, is a trait shared by his family. They closely follow his footsteps, ably running the numerous companies he has set up. With this wealth of experience, and the continued blessings of Goddess Sakthi, the Sakthi Group is poised to take on the future. At present, Dr. M. Manickam, elder son of Arutchelvar, is the Chairman of Sakthi Group of Companies and NIA Educational Institutions.
Guided by the vision of his father, Arutchelvar.Dr. N. Mahalingam founded the Nachimuthu Industrial Association Trust in the year 1956 to provide technical education to aspiring youth. This eventually expanded into offering quality education right from schooling to engineering. Over a span of 59 years NIA has branched out to many streams of education reaching out to even rural students to explore and gain knowledge in the fast-paced world.
