Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT), Coimbatore is a private Engineering College started in 1984 under the auspices of Ramanandha Adigalar Foundation, a charitable educational trust of Sakthi Group. Situated in a sprawling 156-acre campus in the IT corridor of Coimbatore, KCT is an autonomous institution affiliated to the Anna University, Chennai and approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). KCT has been accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with Grade ‘A’ and all the eligible UG programs have also been accredited by National Board of Accreditation (NBA).

The able guidance and patronage of Arutselvar Dr. N.Mahalingam, Founder, Sakthi Group along with the efficient administration of Dr.B.K.Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, Chairman, the resourcefulness of Sri. M.Balasubramaniam, Correspondent and the foresightedness of Sri. Shankar Vanavarayar, Joint Correspondent have equipped the college with excellent facilities such as spacious classrooms, seminar halls, well-equipped laboratories, excellent sporting amenities, dedicated high-speed internet connectivity (broadband) and well-qualified faculty.

Arutchelvar Dr. N Mahalingam was the Founder Chairman of Sakthi Group, 6,000 crore industrial conglomerate operating in sugar, automobiles, finance, power and logistics. Dr. N. Mahalingam was a philanthropist, educationalist and a politician. He established a number of educational institutions and is known for his support to various spiritual and cultural organisations.

He was born on 21 March, 1923 in an agriculture family at Pollachi to P.Nachimuthu Gounder, who started the Sakthi Group in 1921 by diversifying his traditional business of hiring out bullock carts to starting passenger transport services. Nachimuthu Gounder’s only son Dr. N.Mahalingam joined the business in 1943 and helped grow the business to its current level. He was the founder of many educational institutions, from schools to colleges. Some of his educational institutions are Kumaraguru College of Technology, Nachimuthu Polytechnic College, Mahalingam College of Engineering, NGM College, Kumaraguru Institute of Agriculture and in his vision started Kumaraguru College of Liberal Arts and Science in 2018.

He held several important positions and played major roles fostering the development of agricultural, industrial, human resource and institutional development at the State and National levels. He served as a Member of Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu from 1952 to 1967 and was on the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission for two terms. His social and humanitarian considerations took his journey beyond the boundaries of industries and scholarly tenets he nurtured.

He received the Padma Bhushan award from the Government of India in 2007 for his contributions to the nation in the field of Trade and Industry. His other honors include Honorary Consul from the Government of Mauritius during 1989 to 1992 and a number of other recognition and awards.

The enigmatic life merged into the light on October 2, 2014, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Until the last moment, Dr. NM was doing what he believed and envisioned talking about Saint Vallalar’s philosophy. Throughout his life Dr. NM carried the twin torches of Gandhian values and Vallalar’s way of life and his life is a pathway to lead a life of consciousness.