Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam

Vedaraniam is a village. It is near the sea shore. Salt pans spread far and wide near the sea shore. It is in the south east corner of South India. During the freedom struggle, when Gandhiji defied the ban of taking salt from the sea in Dandi, North India, Vaedaraniam came to light kindled by one of its veterans, a follower of Gandhiji's ideals. He led the people of the village, in the salt satyagraha movement. He is none other than Sardar Vedaratnam Pillai, the founder of this institution.

In the history of freedom struggle he has earned a place and even now, the name of the village is very much identified outside the district and state with his name. After the participation in the salt satyagraha movement, he turned his eyes towards constructive work. He wanted to emancipate women from the shackles of slavery, drudgery, illiteracy and bondage. He dreamt to develop the Institution Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam into an organisation for downtrodden women, girls, widows and destitute. This was named after the illustrious woman of our times, Kasthurba Gandhi, the wife of Gandhiji. The institution was started from a scratch but slowly it was built by donations and gifts. A charitable trust came into being with accredited people as its members. They include the great pilanthropist Sri.Pollachi Dr.N.Mahalingam, well known industrialist, philosopher and educationist and home science expert Dr.Rajammal P.Devadoss(since no more), the present Chancellor of Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College of higher learning and deemed University, Coimbatore.

From 1946, till today the institution has grown up with the munificence of philanthropists and well wishers. Now it has a higher secondary school for girls from Standard I to XII, a school of printing to develop the printing skill to rural women. An electronic production unit to enable women to be self reliant and a cottage industry unit for the production of Agarbathi, Indian incense sticks. The institution is run on Sarvodaya lines. This is a living and learning cooperative community. In the Higher Secondary School, there are 1700 girls out of whom 600 share a community life; In the printing school, the strength is 50, where training is given in the various activities connection with printing. There is long felt need for expansion and modernisation in the press. The electronics training cum production unit has 12 women. Here also expansion is necessary. 20 girls are in the Agarbathi unit (perfume sticks)

Leaves and flowersAppakutti, the heir of Sardar, succeeded him after his demise and served the same cause as his father. Utilising the platform launched by his father the son advanced further and expanded the operations. Appakutti, remarkable in his own right, diversified and modernised the setup. He upgraded the standards by switching to state board syllabus from the Basic Education Plan.On 25th March 1989, the government of India honoured him with the reputable ‘Padma Shri’ award for his selfless service. The Lions Clubs International honoured him with the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellow [MJF].

He was also offered an honorary title by the Ramakrishna Vidyalaya in Chennai. The torch is now being carried by the grandson of Sardar, his namesake A. Vedaratnam Jr., who has now taken the institution to greater heights.

In the long march towards achieving the goals of the originator Sardar Vedaratnam Pillai, the following luminaries have associated themselves with the institution during various periods

• Sri.V.Rajagopalachariar Governor General of India
• Sri Acharya Vinobhabhave the lt. of mahatma gandhi, who has started bhoodhan movement(getting lands donated for the poor landless tillers from landlords
• Sri R.Venkatraman Former President of India
• Sri K.Kamaraj Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
• Sri Swami Satchidanandha Yogaville, VA USA
• Sri Narayana Uchigaki, America Vedanta Society Palo Cedro, CA USA & Nippon Vedanta Society, OSAKA, Japan
• Bharat Ratna Thiru.C.Subramaniam
• Sri Dyuman (Chunni) Bhai MG Trustee Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Our esteemed Trust Members

Dr.N.Mahalingam Chairman Sakthi Groups, Madras.
Dr.Rajammal P.Devadoss (since no more) Chancellor Sri Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women (Deemed University), Coimbatore

Shri.V.Vedaiyan, M.A., Former MLA, Kallikkudi

Sri.J.Chakravarthy Mudaliar Managing Partner Swasthik Tobacco Factory Vedaraniam

Sri A.S.Ganesan Gandhian Social Worker and Paddy & Rice Merchant Alathambadi.

Sri S.Srinivasan Pillai Land Lord, Educationist Kathirpulam

Tmt V.Vedambal Achi S.K.M.S.Salt Merchants Vedaraniam

Tmt.A.Pushpavalli W/o Padmashri V.Appakutti Vedaraniam

Tmt.K.Akilandavalli Achi LandLord, Educationist Kathipulam P.O.

Mrs Jeeva Head Mistress (ex-officio)

We associate

Gandhigram Rural University, Gandhi Niketan Ashram T.Kallupatti

Sri Thayumanavar Vidyalayam

Sri Ramakrishnan Mission Vidyalaya Coimbatore

Gandhi Ashram Tiruchengodu

Gandhi Memorial Fund & Museums

Sri Avinashilingam Home Science University, Coimbatore