Shri A.M..M. Murugappa Chettiar was one of India's pioneering entrepreneurs and a philanthropist, whose role in building up the economic and industrial infrastructure of the country in the post independence era cannot be forgotten.

Son of Dewan Bahadur A.M. Murugappa Chettiar, Shri A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar was born on 22nd January 1902 at Pallathur in Rarnnad District in Tamil Nadu. From a tender age, Shri A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar showed tremendous maturity and business acumen. He realized the importance of promoting light and medium engineering industries in India in those days. This vision resulted in the establishment of the well­ known Tube Investments India Limited in collaboration with the famous British group, Tube Investments Ltd., Birmingham. His T.I. Metal Sections, Wright Saddles of India, T.l. Diamond chain Ltd. and T.I. Miller Ltd. contributed in the production of the world famous brand of Hercules, Phillips and BSA cycles, bicycle components, electric resistance welded tubes, bicycle and industrial chains, dynamo lamps etc. Yet another well-planned industry that was developed by A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar was the Carborundum Universal Ltd.in Chennai, in collaboration with the Carborundum Company Ltd. of U.K. for production of abrasives and grinding stones. He was also instrumental in starting several other industrial ventures like the Coromandal engineering Co. Ltd. etc.

Together these industries have resulted in a business conglomerate actively engaged in such diverse fields as abrasives, Building material, Engineering. Farm Inputs, Food Processing, Financial Services, Marketing Services, Plantation, Sugar, Bio -Products and Chemicals, and provide direct employment to over 28,000 persons.

He was honoured with the Directorship of several industrial, commercial and educational establishments. He became a member of the all India Council for Technical Education, a member of the Senate of the University of Madras, and also President of the Southern India Chamber of Commerce. He was the first Indian elected as the President of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At the same time he retained a firm sense of service to his countrymen and particularly the poor and needy. To further this end he set up a charitable trust called A.M.M. Charities Trust (now A.M.M. Foundation) which has been responsible for establishing and administering various institutions such as the A.M.M. Hospital, Murugappa Chettiar Memorial Polytechnic, Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar Higher Secondary School, Vellayan Chettiar Higl1er Secondary School, Sir Ivan Stedeford Hospital, etc.

Shri A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar passed away in 1965after leaving an indelible imprint on Indian Industry and commerce.

The Department of Post honours  his spirit of entrepreneurship with the issue of a commemorative postage stamp on Shri A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar.

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