G. Viswanathan

G. Viswanathan
Chancellor, Vellore Institute of Technology
Incumbent
Assumed office 1984
Preceded by	Position established
Department of Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection, Government of Tamil Nadu
In office November 1991 – May 1993
Chief Minister	J. Jayalalithaa
Governor	Bhishma Narain Singh
Cabinet	First Jayalalithaa ministry
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 1967–1977
Preceded by	A. Jayarama Mudaliar
Succeeded by	Venugopal Gounder
Constituency	Vandavasi Lok Sabha constituency
Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office 1991–1996
Preceded by	T. R . Ganapathy
Succeeded by	P. N. Subramani
Constituency	Arcot Assembly constituency
Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office 1980–1984
Preceded by	R. Margabandhu
Succeeded by	V. R. Krishnasamy
Constituency	Anaicut Assembly constituency
Personal details
Born	(1938-12-08) 8 December 1938 (age 86) Kottakuppam, Vellore district, Madras State, British India
Spouse	Rajeswari (deceased)
Children	4
Residence	Vellore
Alma mater	Voorhees College, Vellore Loyola College, Chennai Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai (Madras University)
Occupation	Founder and chancellor, VIT University
Website	https://bschool.vit.ac.in/dr-g-viswanathan/

Govindasamy Viswanathan (born 8 December 1938) is an Indian politician and the founder and chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology in India.^[1][2]

Political career

He served as a member of parliament from the Vandavasi Lok Sabha constituency for two terms after getting elected as a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate in 1967 and 1971. He was elected twice to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as an Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from Anaicut constituency in the 1980 election^[3] and from Arcot constituency in 1991 election.^[4]

Early life and education

Viswanathan was born in a family near Gudiyattam. He obtained a master's degree in economics from Loyola College and completed law from Madras University. His leadership skills were noticed by C. N. Annadurai and the DMK party chose him to contest the elections in 1967.

Career

Currently, Dr. G Viswanathan holds these offices:

• Chancellor, VIT University, Vellore
• Chancellor, VIT University, Chennai
• Chancellor, VIT-AP University, Amaravati
• Chancellor, VIT Bhopal University, Bhopal
• Chairman and Managing Trustee, North Arcot Educational and Charitable Trust, Vellore
• President, Friends of United States^[5]
• Executive President, The Centenarian Trust, Chennai
• Vice President, Thiru Vi Ka – Dr. Mu. Va. Educational Trust, Chennai
• President, Universal Higher Education Trust, Vellore (NGO)
• President, Indian Economic Association (IEA)
• President, Education Promotion Society of India (EPSI) [https://epsiindia.org/]
• President, North Arcot District Tuluva Vellala Association.

References

1. "Vellore Institute of Technology founder gets lifetime achievement award from Society for Data Science". The Hindu. 20 January 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
2. Service, Express News (11 November 2023). "VIT Chennai marks anniverseries of Vishwanatham, Ilakkuvanar". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
3. 1980 Tamil Nadu Election Results, Election Commission of India
4. 1991 Tamil Nadu Election Results, Election Commission of India
5. "Friend of United States". friendsofus.com. Retrieved 10 June 2021.