Ethiraj College for Women, started in 1948 was born out of the dream and vision of Shri. V.L. Ethiraj an eminent lawyer and renowned philanthropist. It was established with a commitment to provide quality education to women with strong emphasis on values and tradition and with the singular mission of empowering women.Shri. V.L. Ethiraj was born on 18th July 1890 , in a very respectable and affluent family. His father Thiru. Lakshmana Swamy Mudaliar, was a well known philanthropist of Thottapalayam village in Vellore District. Shri. V.L. Ethiraj graduated from Presidency College, Chennai. He was tutored by Dr.Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the first President of Republic India. A magnanimous and a wealthy barrister, he took his legal degree from University of Dublin and on his return to India joined The Madras Bar. Within a short period he built up a lucrative practice by his efficiency and was the first Indian to be appointed as Crown Prosecutor by the British Government.He believed in the dictum that educating a man is educating an individual, educating a woman is educating the entire family. True to his belief he donated his life’s earnings - a mammoth sum of Rs.10 lakhs and the title deeds of two bungalows for providing quality education for women.