Jeppiaar, the founder-chancellor of Sathyabama University in Chennai, who set up one of the earliest self-financing engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, died here of old age late on Saturday evening. The Jeppiaar Educational Trust, established by him, runs several well known engineering colleges in and around Chennai. Family members said Mr. Jeppiaar died at the Global Hospitals where he was wheeled in following discomfiture.
Born J. Pangu Raj (JPR), a native of Muttom in Kanyakumari, he started his career as a police constable but later entered politics and quickly earned the trust of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. He was soon appointed as the Government chief whip in the then Tamil Nadu Legislative Council (since abolished) and was later appointed Chairman of the Madras Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metro Water). He also served as the Director of Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation.
Comments