History of Institution

"Visionaries visualise, leaders decide—but visionary leaders create the future.”

 Virudhunagar T.S.M. Manickam Nadar Janaki Ammal School (VMJ) stands tall today as a premier institution under the esteemed management of the Maduraiyil Virudhunagar Hindu Nadar Uravinmurai Trust. 

  Hailing from the hometown of “King‑maker” Kamarajar—Virudhunagar—VMJ carries forward a 50‑year legacy of shaping minds and nurturing leaders. The roots of this remarkable journey trace back to the early 1940s, when traders from Virudhunagar moved to Madurai for business. As their enterprises flourished, they settled here and soon realised the need for quality education for their families. This vision led to the founding of Virudhunagar Hindu Nadar School, a pioneer in academic excellence for decades.

Promoters

  Maduraiyil Virudhunagar Hindu Nadar Uravinmurai, is a century‑old charitable trust synonymous with service to humanity. The Trust was formed by business people originating from Virudhunagar who had settled in Madurai to trade. Seventy years ago their mission of service to humanity through education began with the establishment of Virudhunagar Hindu Nadar School (1949). Today that mission has yielded five major educational institutions in Madurai:

•  Virudhunagar Hindu Nadar Boys’ Higher Secondary School (1961)
•  Virudhunagar T.S.M. Manickam Nadar Janaki Ammal School (1976)
•  Virudhunagar Hindu Nadar Girls’ Higher Secondary School (1994)
•  Idhayam Rajendran School (1999)
•  VHN TMJ Matriculation School (2022)
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 These institutions not only produce outstanding results but also develop excellent students. Their success inspired a greater dream—to offer world‑class learning opportunities to the next generation and the wider community.

 When VMJ was started, families who wanted the best education for their children had to send them to hill stations such as Ooty or Yercaud, which only the affluent could afford. The Trust decided to start a school on par with those hill‑station schools at an affordable cost. The seed sown in 1976 has now grown into a full‑fledged tree bearing fragrant flowers and nutritious fruits. Thus, was born Virudhunagar Hindu Nadar English Medium School. Later the school was renamed as Virudhunagar  T.S.M.Manickam Nadar - Janaki Ammal School in honour of  Thiru.T.S.M. Manickam Nadar and Thirumathi Janaki Ammal, who donated their properties for the welfare of the school.

 The school is affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), New Delhi, the pioneers of ICSE education in Madurai.

Administration

  The administrative responsibility of the school is vested in a managing board elected by the Maduraiyil Virudhunagar Hindu Nadar Uravinmurai Trust. Sixty‑four members are elected from the Uravinmurai to form a board that governs the school for three years. From those board members, five are elected as honorary office‑bearers—President, Vice‑President, Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer—to administer the school for three years. The Secretary is in charge of school administration, guided by the President, Vice‑President, Joint Secretary and Treasurer.

  Today we are not merely counting years; we are celebrating five decades of dedication, discovery and distinction. VMJ has always been more than a school; it is a dream turned into reality—a place where learning meets purpose and education inspires excellence. With the bold decision to pioneer the ICSE curriculum in Madurai, the school began humbly with just 27 students at the primary level. It grew into a high school, and in June 1996 was upgraded to higher‑secondary status. In 2013, VMJ introduced the ISC stream, aligning with evolving academic demands. In line with the NEP recommendation, Pre‑KG programme was introduced in 2021. Today the institution proudly serves 877 students. 

  A unique feature of our institution is a 1:10 teacher‑to‑student ratio; we have three sections with 20 students each.

  The “Aarogya Aaharam” initiative was launched in 2021 with the aim of providing healthy and nourished  food to students from grades III to XII. In addition, healthy and nutritious snacks are served to students from Pre‑KG to II std in the morning session, along with milk, and again during the afternoon break.

  Fifty years ago a group of visionaries imagined a school that would not just teach but transform. They built VMJ not with bricks and mortar alone, but with belief, purpose and vision—a belief in the power of education, a cause to uplift the community, and a vision for future generations. Today we stand as a living proof that their dream endures. We celebrate VMJ not merely for existing for 50 years, but for mattering for 50 years—for nurturing talent, inspiring leadership, and reminding every student that education is not just about marks, but about making a mark.