T. Namberumal Chetty

Namberumal Chetty was born in Madras (now Chennai) in 1856.[2]He belonged to a Komati Chetty family.[2] Namberumal Chetty started his business as a builder in 1880.[3] During his career, Chetty constructed the buildings of the Government Museum, Chennai,[2] Victoria Technical Institute, YMCA, Madras Law College, Connemara Library, Bank of Madras and the Victoria Memorial Hall.[3] The National Bank of India building that he constructed in 1914 was demolished in the late 20th century.[4] Many of the buildings constructed by Chetty use red brick manufactured in kilns that Chetty owned.[2]

Apart from building activities, Chetty was also a popular merchant and imported timber from Rangoon and Moulmein.[3]He served as the Managing Director of the Trichur Timber and Saw Mills Ltd. which exported timber to Bombay, Calcutta, Colombo, London, Liverpool, Germany, New York and South Africa.[3] He also owned a small tramway line which functioned as a feeder to the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway.[3]

In November 1901, Namberumal Chetty was awarded the title of "Rao Sahib".[3] Later he was awarded a "Rao Bahadur" title and in 1923, a "Diwan Bahadur" title was bestowed upon him.[2] At the opening of the Victoria Students Hostel on 29 January 1900, Sir Arthur Havelock, governor of Madras said:

Mr. Namberumal Chetty will have his name recorded in Madras with many small and beautiful buildings in stone, brick and mortar. It should be a proud remembrance for him and his descendants that he has so much to do with the beautifying of the city[3]

Namberumal Chetty was also the first native Indian in Madras city to own an automobile.[2][5]