A man of many parts, Thangal Kunju Musaliar (1897-1966) is remembered for his contributions as an industrialist, educationist and philanthropist.

Hailing from the Kollam District of Kerala, circumstances forced him to travel to Sri Lanka, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia early in life, in search of employment opportunities. After the sojourn that lasted a decade he returned home, rich in experience and bubbling with ideas. He started a small cashewnut processing unit which soon grew into a big industrial enterprise. Within a decade, Musaliar set up twenty six cashew factories and provided  employment to twenty five thousand workers, finding a mention in the Fortune Magazine as the world's biggest single employer. Some of the labour welfare measures introduced by him, like fixed periods of work, wage rate system based on turn over and special incentives during festive occasions were trend setters for private sector enterprises of the country.

A  man  of  remarkable  foresight,  Musaliar was quick to realise the importance of higher education in the emerging society of independent India and also the future role of non-governmental initiatives in the field of education. The Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering was born out of his efforts in 1958. The educational Trust founded by him today man­ages a network of institutions, catering to the aspirations of thousands of students pursuing diverse subjects of study .

Welfare of the poor and the downtrodden was a life-long pre-occupation  for Thangal  Kunju Musaliar. In 1952, he founded the Janakshema Samajam (People's Welfare Society) to translate his concerns into action. The Society helped the poorer sections of the society to help themselves through rural industries.

Musaliar was also a writer of repute, having authored books like, Prayogikadwai tam (the English version of which was titled Man and the World) and Communism, Socialism and Capitalism in the Present Context. He made a successful venture into the world of journalism with the weekly, Prabhatam, which was subsequently conveited into a daily.

The Department of Posts is happy to issue a postage stamp honouring this multi-faceted personality.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India