Chellammal Women’s College is named after Chellammal, also known as Mylai Chellammal.Born in1867 in Pattipalayam (nowPattipulam) near Thiruporur, she hailed from an ordinary peasant family. Her marriage to Mylai Vadamalai Gramani brought her wealth and comfort .Vadamalai Gramani himself was coerced into forsaking a saintly life at Thirukazhukundram and after his marriage to Chellammal became a successful businessman on account of his hard work. The couple was not blessed with any issue. Vadamalai Gramani passed away on July31, 1911 Inspired by her husband’s model life and principles, Mylai Chellammal decided to donate his hard earned wealth and property wisely and usefully. In November 1913, four wills were made to this effect by her. In her will she donated a part of their earnings to a number of temples-mainly the two temples at Thirukazhudundram, the temple at Thiruporur and Thiruvotrieeswarar Temple at Chennai and Velathamman Temple at Mylapore. After donating a fair share of their earnings to relatives, the greater part of the donation was made to the Pachaiyappa’s Trust which was then doing yeomen service in the field of education. The donation was to ensure essential food, clothing, fees, books and hostel facilities for the socially backward students of Pachaiyappas’s High school and College.