Loyola College, Chennai, a Jesuit institution founded in 1925 and affiliated with the University of Madras, has shaped visionary leaders for nearly a century through its rigorous undergraduate programs in arts, sciences, and commerce, emphasizing excellence and service. The Loyola Alumni Association sustains these connections, ensuring the college’s legacy endures globally. Read on to explore the journeys of some distinguished Loyolites.
Viswanathan Anand
| Name | Viswanathan Anand (Vishy) |
| Date of Birth | December 11, 1969 |
| Place of Birth | Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai |
| Known For | – Five-time World Chess Champion(2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012); – First Indian Grandmaster (1988); – Rapid chess expert nicknamed “Lightning Kid”; |
| Awards and Honors | – Arjuna Award (1985); – Padma Shri (1988); – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1991–92, first recipient); – Padma Bhushan (2001); – Padma Vibhushan (2008, first sportsperson); – Six Chess Oscars (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008); – FIDE World Rapid Champion (2003, 2017); |
Mahesh Babu
| Date of Birth | August 9, 1975 |
| Place of Birth | Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India |
| Education | – Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai; – St. Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai |
| Known For | – Telugu cinema superstar and producer; One of India’s highest-paid actors; – Worked in over 25 films including blockbusters like Pokiri (2006), Srimanthudu (2015), and Guntur Kaaram (2024); – Philanthropist co-founding Heal A Child and Mahesh Babu Foundation for children’s health and education |
| Awards and Honors | – Nine Nandi Awards (including Best Male Debut for Rajakumarudu, 1999); – Five Filmfare Awards South (Best Actor for Okkadu, 2003; Pokiri, 2006; others); – Four SIIMA Awards; – IIFA Utsavam Best Actor (2015); – Featured in Forbes India Celebrity 100 (2012–2025); – Three CineMAA Awards |
Joseph Vijay (Thalapathy)
| Date of Birth | June 22, 1974 |
| Place of Birth | Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India |
| Education | Enrolled in Visual Communications at Loyola College, Chennai (dropped out after one year); |
| Known For | – Tamil cinema superstar actor, dancer, playback singer, and philanthropist; – Over 68 films including blockbusters like Ghilli (2004), Master (2021), Beast (2022), and Leo (2023); – One of India’s highest-paid actors; – Founded Vijay Makkal Iyakkam; – Entered politics with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party in 2024 |
| Awards and Honors | – Kalaimaamani Award (1998); – Three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards; Eight Vijay Awards; SIIMA Award; National Film Award UK; – Honorary Doctorate from Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute (2007); – Best International Actor (UK, 2018 for Mersal); – Featured in Forbes India Celebrity 100 (2012–2019, peaked at #26 in 2018); – Edison Awards and Vikatan Awards |
P Chidambaram
| Name | Palaniappan Chidambaram (P. Chidambaram) |
| Date of Birth | September 16, 1945 |
| Place of Birth | Kanadukathan, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Education | – Bachelor’s degrees in Statistics and Law from Presidency College and Madras Law College, Chennai; – Master’s degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai; – MBA from Harvard Business School (1968) |
| Known For | – Senior leader of the Indian National Congress and former Union Minister – Served as Union Finance Minister (1996–1998, 2004–2008, 2012–2014), key architect of economic liberalization and reforms like NREGA – Union Home Minister (2008–2012), overseeing internal security and anti-terror operations – Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha from Sivaganga 1984–2014, Rajya Sabha since 2016); founded Tamil Maanila Congress (1996–2002) – Successful lawyer arguing in Supreme Court and High Courts; author of books on economics and law |
| Awards and Honors | – Best Parliamentarian Award by the President of India (2005) – Finance Minister of the Year by Euromoney and The Banker (2005) |
R. Venkataraman
| Date of Birth | December 4, 1910 |
| Place of Birth | Rajamadam (Rajamadam), Thanjavur District, Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), India |
| Education | – Master’s degree in Economics from Loyola College, Chennai; – LLB from Madras Law College (University of Madras); |
| Known For | – Eighth President of India (1987–1992), serving under four Prime Ministers – Vice President of India (1984–1987) and Chairman of Rajya Sabha – Union Finance Minister (1980–1982) and Defence Minister (1982–1984); – Freedom fighter detained during Quit India Movement (1942–1944); – Member of Provisional Parliament (1950) and Lok Sabha (1952–1957, 1977–1984); – Madras Legislative Council (1957–1967) – President of UN Administrative Tribunal (1968–1979); |
| Awards and Honors | – Tamra Patra for participation in the freedom struggle – Soviet Land Prize for travelogue on K. Kamaraj’s visit to socialist countries – Souvenir from UN Secretary-General for service as UN Administrative Tribunal President – Doctorate of Law (Honoris Causa) from University of Madras and University of Burdwan – Doctor of Social Sciences from University of Roorkee; – Honorary Fellow, Madras Medical College – Title “Sat Seva Ratna” from Sankaracharya of Kancheepuram |
Verghese Kurien
| Date of Birth | November 26, 1921 |
| Place of Birth | Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala, India |
| Education | – Bachelor’s degree in Physics (B.Sc.) from Loyola College, Chennai (University of Madras, 1940); – BE in Mechanical Engineering from College of Engineering, Guindy (1943); – MS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University (1947); |
| Known For | – Architect of the White Revolution, making India the world’s largest milk producer through Operation Flood (1970–1996), increasing milk production from 17 million tonnes to over 100 million tonnes – Founder and Chairman of Amul (Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, 1950) and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB, 1965);- Founder of Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA, 1979); – Chairman of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF, 1973–2006); – Known as “Father of the White Revolution” and “Milkman of India”- Influenced global dairy policies and authored books like “I Too Had a Dream” |
| Awards and Honors | – Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership (1963) – Padma Shri (1965); – Padma Bhushan (1966); – Padma Vibhushan (1999) – World Food Prize (1989); – Wateler Peace Prize (Carnegie Foundation, 1986) – Krishi Ratna Award (1986); – International Person of the Year (World Dairy Expo, 1993); – Order of Agricultural Merit (France, 1997) |
Chiyaan Vikram
| Date of Birth | April 17, 1966 |
| Place of Birth | Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Loyola College, Chennai; |
| Known For | – Predominant Tamil cinema actor and playback singer; breakthrough with Sethu (1999), known for intense, versatile roles in films like Anniyan (2005), Pithamagan (2003), I (2015), and Ponniyin Selvan series (2022–2023) – One of India’s highest-paid actors; – Produced flood relief anthem Spirit of Chennai (2016) – Philanthropist: Youth Envoy for UN-Habitat (2011); – Brand ambassador for Sanjeevani Trust and Vidya Sudha school; – Supports Kasi Eye Care; – Runs Vikram Foundation for social welfare |
| Awards and Honors | – National Film Award for Best Actor (2003, for Pithamagan) – 8 Filmfare Awards South (five for Best Actor, including for Sethu, Pithamagan, Anniyan, Deiva Thirumagal, I) – 4 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Actor; – Kalaimamani Award (2004, Government of Tamil Nadu) – Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Università Popolare degli Studi di Milano (2011) |
Kalanithi Maran
| Date of Birth | July 24, 1964 |
| Place of Birth | Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India |
| Education | – Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai; – MBA from University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA; |
| Known For | – Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of Sun Group, a major media conglomerate with over 30 TV channels (Sun TV Network), newspapers, FM radio stations, DTH services (Sun Direct), and film production (Sun Pictures) – Owner of IPL cricket team Sunrisers Hyderabad; – Briefly held majority stake in SpiceJet airline (2010–2015); – Highest-paid executive in India (₹62 crore salary in 2014) – Richest Tamil person in India with net worth of ~US$3 billion (2023); pioneered Tamil satellite TV and expanded to multiple languages; |
| Awards and Honors | – Young Businessman Award from CNBC and Ernst & Young – Named “Television King of Southern India” by Forbes magazine – Featured in Forbes India’s 40 Richest list (multiple years, e.g., #77 in 2023 with $3 billion net worth) |
Among other top alumni include Daggubati Venkatesh, Anirudh Ravichander, Vetrimaaran, economist Chakravarthi Rangarajan, politician Dayanidhi Maran, journalist N. Ram, management expert C.K. Prahalad, and actors like Jayam Ravi and Vishal Krishna. As Loyola guides future leaders through its alumni association and ethos, it continues to inspire ongoing societal contributions worldwide.
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