After the death of Prof Dr. P. Murugesan, founder-chancellor of PRIST Deemed University, Vallam (Tamil Nadu), his son M Ponnaiyah Nageshwaran stepped into his father’s shoes. Nageshwaran was already part of university’s top leadership tem serving as the Pro Chancellor of the University.
Incidentally, the new chancellor aged 31, has become the youngest chancellor of a University, anywhere in the world. Nageshwaran started off as a Management Trainee, and later served as the Finance Secretary of PRIST Deemed University. In 2016, he became the Pro Chancellor, taking care of administrative, operational and management responsibilities.
PRIST Deemed University had a modest beginning in 1985 as the Ram Institute of Computer Science and Technology. In 1988, the institution received affiliation from Bharathidasan University to offer Postgraduate Diploma Programmes in Computer Applications. In 1994, the Institution grew to become a college – known as Ponnaiyah Ramajayam College. In 2008, it obtained the status of a Deemed University.
Accredited by NAAC, PRIST Deemed University offers UG, PG and PhD courses in arts, science, education, engineering, technology, commerce, business management, architecture, agriculture, pharmacy, and law. It has campuses in Chennai, Puducherry, Trichy, Kumbakonam, and Madurai. The School of Law has received the Best Law School Award in India recently.