S. Muthiah

S. Muthiah, educated in Sri Lanka, India and the United States, was a senior journalist in Sri Lanka for 17 years and then was in printing and publishing in India for 22 years. His interest in the historical has led to him being described as the ‘Chronicler of Madras’.

Chronicled in over 35 books are the stories of Madras (Chennai), those of several of its leading institutions as well as of some of its eminent personalities, beside those of two communities he has been part of: The Indo- Lankans and the Nattukottai Chettiars.

A full-time writer and editor since 1990, Muthiah edits Madras Musings, a fortnightly on the city. He is also a columnist for The Hindu, Madras. His best-known books are Madras Rediscovered, Madras—Its Past and its Present, A Madras Miscellany, Getting India on the Move, The Spencer Legend, Looking Back from Moulmein, The Ace of Clubs, The Indo-Lankans and The Chettiar Heritage.

He was awarded the MBE (1992) by the Queen of England for his work on heritage and environmental conservation.