Andal Venkatasubba Rao

Andal Venkatasubba Rao (1894–1969), popularly known as Aandaalamma, was an Indian social worker, educationist and the co-founder of Madras Seva Sadan, a Chennai-based charitable organization working for the welfare of women and children. Born in 1894 in Chennai, the capital city of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, she did her early schooling at Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School and the Presidency Girls' High School, Madras. The turning point in her life came with her marriage in 1928 to M. Venkatasubba Rao, a judge at Madras High Court who would later be knighted by the British Queen, and the couple founded Madras Seva Sadan, a charitable organization, the same year. The organization which was started with a capital of ₹ 10,000 and with 8 orphan girls, have, over the years, grown to a large welfare organization attending to the needs of around 10,000 women and children. Besides, the Sadan runs a higher secondary school, Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao Matriculation Higher Secondary School, and a concert hall by name, Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall. The Government of India awarded her the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan, in 1957, for her contributions to society. She died in 1969, at the age of 75.