Dr N. Mahalingam awarded Padma Bhushan
COIMBATORE: Dr Nachimuthu Mahalingam, chairman of the Sakthi Group of companies, who has been awarded Padma Bhushan, is a man deeply rooted in spiritualism.He has gained prominence as an industrialist, a political and a social activist, an educationalist and a philanthropist.
Mahalingam, who transformed his family business into a mighty, modern enterprise, was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajaji and lives the life of a true Gandhian.
Mahalingam was a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for 15 years and had also served as the chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission. He was instrumental for the implementation of the Parambikulam-Aliyar irrigation project.
He has been elected chairman of Gandhi museum, Madurai in 2007.
Mahalingam is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India).
The Bharathiar University conferred on him the Degree of Doctor of Laws; the Anna University and the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) awarded him the Degree of Doctor of Science.
He was also conferred the Indira Gandhi National Integration Award.
