Founder

Mr. S. VISWANATHAN

Mr.S.Viswanathan was born in 1910 in a village called Perunkulam in Alathur, Malabar. His father’s name was Mr.K.Subramania Iyer. Mr.Viswanathan was educated at Madras in the Christian college school and thereafter he joined the Pachaiyappa’s college and graduated from it. He started life as an assistant to Mr.R.Krishnaswamy, Proprietor of Messrs.Rochouse & sons, printers & publishers, Madras. Later, he was associated with Messers.P.R.Rama Iyer & Co., the well-Known booksellers of the last generation. Mr.Viswanathan started the early thirties and lending and circulating library called the Modern Lending Library opposite the High Court, which proved a great boon to the educated public and the student-population of North Madras.

Mr.Viswanathan started as a publisher in the year 1939, with a book on physics, for the Intermediate students by the famous three authors Prof.J.P.Manickam, Prof.P.E.Subramania Iyer and Dr.S.Ramachandra Rao. This publication made history in the college text-books field as the first book on an important subject written by Indian authors and produced locally by a local publisher, which could stand comparison with imported books. His Office was then situated at the junction of Errabalu Chetti Street and Linghi Chetti Street, Madras. Subsequently, he founded the Ananda Book Depot (Anandam being his wife’s name)

Mr.Viswanathan started the Central Art Press, which became a by-word for quality printing under his fostering care. He purchased the unit in 1942 from on Mr.K.Bhoja Rao and during the evacuation period he changed the premises to 14, Singanna Naicken Street, Madras. Gradually he expanded the press and shifted to Acton Lodge, 38, Mc.Nichols Road, Chetput, Chennai – 600 031.

Mr.Viswanathan was the Hony.Secretary of the Madras Printers and Lithographers Association till 1960 and made vice-persident on 26th Jan 1960, the day he died. As a member and office-bearer of these two organizations, he rendered yeoman services to the cause of the printing industry. The success of the Printing Exhibition held at Madras in 1954 was mainly due to his enterprise and indefatigable efforts. He was nominated as member of the Advisory Committee for the Regional School of Printing in Madras, along with Mr.R.Siddique, Ex-Superintendent of the Government Press and Mr.V.M.Philip of the Diocesan Press, Madras in the year 1955.

He was one of the founder-members and the first Secretary of the Publishers Association of South India. It would be difficult to exaggerate his unceasing efforts to safeguard the interests of the publishing profession and strengthen the Association. He was also one of the founder-members of the Book Industry Council of South India. After his death in 1960, the business was a partnership looked after by his wife Mrs.Anandam Viswanathan with his children as Partners. In 1971, a private limited company by name S.Viswanathan (Printers & Publishers), Pvt. Ltd., was incorporated merging all the business of which Mr.V.Subramanian continues as Managing Director.