Ayya Nadar
Encyclopedia
P. Ayya Nadar (1905-1982) was an Indian
enterpreneur from the southern city of Sivakasi
in Tamil Nadu
. He along with Shanmuga Nadar
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
.
travelled to Calcutta and stayed there for 8 months learning about the match
industry. Upon their return to Sivakasi, they started a factory together with machines imported from Germany
. In 1926, they separated and established two separate match industries with Ayya Nadar's Anil (squirrel) brand competing with Shanmuga Nadar's kaka (crow) or Standard brand
.
in 1963 offering courses in Arts and Sciences. The college is located in Sivakasi. From its beginning in 1923 till 1984, he headed the institution he founded. His sons, A.Graha Durai and A.Vaira Prakasam have been heading the business ever since. They started Ayyan Nadar Janaki Ammal women's polytechnic in 1990.
Ayya Nadar, along with Shanmuga Nadar, is credited with transforming the small poverty-stricken Sivakasi
village into a bustling industrial town. R. G. Chandramogan
, another entrepreneur and owner of Hatsun Agro, who happened to grow up in this town and witness this transformation said,
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
enterpreneur from the southern city of Sivakasi
Sivakasi
Sivakasi is an active town and a municipality in Virudhunagar District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the capital of India’s firecracker industry with about 8,000 factories, big and small, producing 90 percent of the total fireworks output.It is also known as "kutti japan" meaning "small...
in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. He along with Shanmuga Nadar
Shanmuga Nadar
Shanmuga Nadar was an Indian enterpreneur from the southern city of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. He along with his cousin Ayya Nadar is credited for transforming the small village of Sivakasi into a thriving industrial town. He was the founder of Kakka firework industry. He was the chairman of...
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
Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College
Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College is an autonomous college in Sivakasi in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai regarded as a college with Potential for Excellence with re-accreditation of A+ college rating from NAAC, an autonomous body of University...
.
Personal life
He was born in 1905 in Sivakasi to Palaniappa Nadar and Nagammal. He was married to Janaki Ammal with whom he has four sons and daughters. He died in year 1982.Inception of match business
He along with his cousin Shanmuga NadarShanmuga Nadar
Shanmuga Nadar was an Indian enterpreneur from the southern city of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. He along with his cousin Ayya Nadar is credited for transforming the small village of Sivakasi into a thriving industrial town. He was the founder of Kakka firework industry. He was the chairman of...
travelled to Calcutta and stayed there for 8 months learning about the match
Match
A match is a tool for starting a fire under controlled conditions. A typical modern match is made of a small wooden stick or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by frictional heat generated by striking the match against a suitable surface...
industry. Upon their return to Sivakasi, they started a factory together with machines imported from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1926, they separated and established two separate match industries with Ayya Nadar's Anil (squirrel) brand competing with Shanmuga Nadar's kaka (crow) or Standard brand
Standard fireworks
Standard Fireworks is a former UK-based firework company, now a brand name of Chinese firm Black Cat Fireworks.Standard's history began in 1891, when it was founded by James Greenhalgh in Huddersfield....
.
Business expansion
The company which started with producing matches eventually diversified into other areas including fireworks, yarn, printing and education. Ayya Nadar founded Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal CollegeAyya Nadar Janaki Ammal College
Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College is an autonomous college in Sivakasi in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai regarded as a college with Potential for Excellence with re-accreditation of A+ college rating from NAAC, an autonomous body of University...
in 1963 offering courses in Arts and Sciences. The college is located in Sivakasi. From its beginning in 1923 till 1984, he headed the institution he founded. His sons, A.Graha Durai and A.Vaira Prakasam have been heading the business ever since. They started Ayyan Nadar Janaki Ammal women's polytechnic in 1990.
Ayya Nadar, along with Shanmuga Nadar, is credited with transforming the small poverty-stricken Sivakasi
Sivakasi
Sivakasi is an active town and a municipality in Virudhunagar District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the capital of India’s firecracker industry with about 8,000 factories, big and small, producing 90 percent of the total fireworks output.It is also known as "kutti japan" meaning "small...
village into a bustling industrial town. R. G. Chandramogan
R. G. Chandramogan
R. G. Chandramogan is the Chairman and Managing Director of Hatsun Agro Product Ltd, which is the manufacturer of branded milk and ice cream and the largest private dairy in India. Arun Ice Creams, a popular ice cream brand in south India is owned by Hatsun Agro. Hatsun group is also producing...
, another entrepreneur and owner of Hatsun Agro, who happened to grow up in this town and witness this transformation said,
This revolution was brought to Sivakasi by Shanmuga Nadar and his cousin Iyya Nadar. The people of our village looked up to them as demigods because of the prosperity they brought to us.