Dr. Guruswami Siddhan is a civil engineer and social activist known for his significant contributions to the Devendra Kula Velalar community. Born on 5 May 1941 (official records state 13 August 1942) in Sa. Ganapathi Palayam, Gobichettipalayam Taluk,
Erode District, Tamil Nadu. Grandfather: Periyakarupan Pannadi Father: Guruswami Pannadi Mother: Veeramaal Pannadichi Dr. Siddhan has 5 siblings: Two sisters and Two brothers. Kunjaaya, Chinnammani, Karupannan, Marriappan. Dr. Siddhan's youngest brother, Dr. Marriappan or Dr. Marriappa Mallar is also a tamil research scholar, who has authored various books and has played a pivotal part in the community. Dr. Siddhan holds a B.E. from the Govt. College of Technology, Coimbatore (1964), an M.Sc. (Engg.) from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai (1968), and a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, USA (1976). After two decades of teaching at the Tamilnadu Government College of Engineering, he shifted focus to social work in 1984.
Despite his outstanding qualifications and achievements, he faced discrimination when it came to high-level positions, like being denied the Vice-Chancellor role due to his caste background. He established the Devendra Forum (1989), Devendra Kula Velalar Sangam (1993), and the
Mallar Malar monthly magazine (1995) before founding the
Anaithinthiya Thamizhaga Munnetra Kazhagam political party in October 1995. This party aims to unite and promote political awareness among the Mallar, Kudumbar, and Devendra Kula Velalar communities. Through the Tamil Culture and Social Research Forum, he collaborates with historians and archaeologists to explore the Devendra clan's history, including the Chola and Pandyan Movendras. Dr. Siddhan's publications include
Tamil Ilakkiyathil Pallar (Mallar) Devendra Kula Velalar (1993),
Thamizhar Panpaattu Varalaaru (three volumes), and numerous research articles on Devendra culture. He married Annapoorani Siddhan in 1966, and they have two children: G. S Mallika And G. S Senthilkumar. Dr. Siddhan's political presence deteriorated as he aged. He died in March of 2024, succumbing to age related issues. ==Social Reform works==