P. AYYA NADAR -SIVAKASI

P. Ayya Nadar (1905-1982) was an Indian enterpreneur from the southern city of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. He is credited for transforming the small village of Sivakasi into a thriving industrial town. He was the founder of Anil brand (Squirrel) matches, which later turned into Ayya Fireworks, and Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College. He travelled to Calcutta and stayed there for 8 months learning about the match industry. Upon his return to Sivakasi, they started a factory together with machines imported from Germany. In 1926, he established a match industry called Anil (squirrel) brand. He was the chairman of Sivakasi municipality between 1955 and 1963. Vaippar-Vembakkotai drinking water scheme with a dam in the north of the city was instituted during his tenure, which helped in the expansion of population and industries in the drought-prone town.