Kulasekarapattinam, a coastal town near Thoothukudi, is known for its Mutharamman Temple and a proposed rocket launchpad. However, its journey to fame began 120 years ago with the establishment of a girls’ school in 1904 by Chettikulam Deivanayagam, known as CD Nayagam. A pioneer in women’s education and a close friend of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, Nayagam’s school, named after his wife Thayammal, adopted unique teaching methods that drew attention from the British government and the Indian Social Reformer. Nayagam’s commitment to empowering women from oppressed classes led him to introduce free meals, a residential school, and communal reservation in admissions. In 1947, he established a teachers’ training institute, Valliammaiar Hindu Teachers’ Training Institute, which empowered generations of women. Despite facing challenges from the proliferation of English medium schools, the schools continue to serve the community, offering Tamil medium education and meals to students from weaker sections.