List of Iyengars

Main article: Iyengar

Iyengars are a caste of Tamil origin who follow the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya. The existence of the caste dates from the 11th century AD when Ramanuja supposedly lived.

Spiritual leaders

• Agnihotram Ramanuja Tatachariar (1907–2008) - Descendant of Nathamuni - Belonged to a distinguished line of 'Acharya Purushas' and had a large number of followers. He was also a renowned vedic scholar.
• Chinna Jeeyar Swamy
• Manavala Mamuni
• Nathamuni
• Pillai Lokacharya
• Vedanta Desika
• Yamunacharya
• Swami Parthasarathy
• Prativadi Bhayankara Annangaracharya - Sanskrit scholar and composer of the Suprabhatam in 1430 AD. One of the prominent disciples of Manavala Mamuni - Belonged to a distinguished line of "Acharya Purushas" and had a large number of followers. Acharya composed many classical poems, of which the "Suprabhatham" is recited daily at Tirupati Tirumala, and millions of households in India.

Academicians , Scientists , Intellectuals

• Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas, noted sociologist.
• Raghuram Rajan, honorary adviser to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, winner of the Fischer Black Prize, and currently the Eric J. Gleacher Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at The Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.
• A.K. Ramanujan-Folklorist, Essayist, Poet, and Linguist from the University of Chicago.
• R. N. Iyengar-Renowned Civil Engineer of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He was also the Director of the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, India.
• Dr. V.K. Aatre- Former Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister of India (replaced Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Oceanographic scientist, Fmr. Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister of India and Fmr. head of the DRDO.
• Dr. M.O.P. Iyengar - Known as the Father of Algology in India, did pioneering research in fresh water, estuarine and marine algae, their systematics, life-histories, morphology and cytology.
• M.O.T. Iyengar - Zoologist, after whom the species Romanomermis iyengari and the species of musquito Culex iyengari is named.
• P. K. Iyengar - Former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
• H. K. Kesavan - Systems theorist.
• Sir K. S. Krishnan - Physicist, Fellow of the Royal Society, Director of National Physical Laboratory. He along with Sir C.V.Raman discovered the Raman Effect.
• S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar (1871–1947): Dravidologist and head of department of history in the University of Madras.
• Dr.Raja Ramanna - Nuclear Scientist.
• Dr. P.K. Iyengar - Nuclear Scientist who designed trigger for Smiling Buddha
• Krishnaswami Kasturirangan - Former ISRO Chairman.
• Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan - Computer Scientists, Director of Terrascale Computing Facility at Virginia Tech and leader of the team that built the world's cheapest and seventh fastest super computer.
• P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar (1863–1931): Eminent Dravidologist.
• Dr Rangaswamy Srinivasan - Former Scientist, IBM Research Labs, NY and inventor of LASIK laser surgery.
• Dr Thirumalachari Ramasami- Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India, New Delhi.
• Ramanuja Vijayaraghavan (b.1931), Indian physicist specializing in condensed matter physics
• Sheena S. Iyengar - Inaugural S.T. Lee Professor of Business in the Management Division of the Columbia Business School ( In her book however she mentions clearly that she is a Sikh. It remains to be decided the context of having a Tamil Iyengar last name and being a Sikh by birth. )
• Varadaraja V. Raman : Is Emeritus Professor of Physics and Humanities at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
• Prof. V T Ranganathan- Professor of Power Electronics and Drives, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
• Prof. Krishna Vasudevan- Professor of Power Electronics and Drives, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
• Prof. G Narayanan- Professor of Power Electronics and Drives, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
• Prof. Venugopal Varadachari Veeravalli- Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.
• Prof. R. Srikant- Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.
• Kilambi Ramanujachari Ex. Principal of Maharajah's College.
• PVN Acharya - PV Narasimh Acharya (Prativadi Bhayankara Venkat Narasimh Acharya ) conducted groundbreaking work in tuberculosis and was the first scientist to discover that "irreparable DNA damage" is caused by low-dose ionizing radiation, environmental pollutants and the food additives nitrites and nitrates, and that such damage to the DNA is a causal factor in premature aging and cancer.
• S.R. Venugopalan Scientist, Aeronautical Development Agency(Ministry of Defence; Govt. of India)

Mathematics

• A. A. Krishnaswami Ayyangar - Exponent of Vedic Mathematics.
• Professor Mudumbai Seshachalu Narasimhan - Mathematician & Fellow of the Royal Society (1996).
• K.R.Parthasarathy- Professor Emeritus at the Indian Statistical Institute of New Delhi
• Thiruvenkatachari Parthasarathy - Mathematician and fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (1988) and Indian National Science Academy (1995).
• Srinivasacharya Raghavan - Awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology in Mathematical Science.
• Madabusi Santanam Raghunathan - Mathematician & Fellow of the Royal Society (2000).
• Chidambaram Padmanabhan Ramanujam - Mathematician, TIFR.
• Conjeeveram Seshadri - Mathematician & Fellow of the Royal Society (1988).
• Ramaiyengar Sridharan - Awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology in Mathematical Science.
• Srinivasa Iyengar Ramanujan - Mathematician.
• S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan - Abel Prize awardee 2007.
• Tirukkannapuram Vijayaraghavan - Eminent Mathematician.

Music

• Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar (1860–1919), Vocalist and composer of carnatic music.
• Doraiswamy Iyengar- Veena
• Ariyakudi T. Ramanuja Iyengar(1890–1967) - Carnatic music vocalist. Disciple of Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar
• Tiger Varadachariar - Carnatic Music Exponent.
• Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar - Carnatic Musician and disciple of Tiger.
• Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan - Carnatic music maestro.
• Sudha Ragunathan - Carnatic Vocal.
• T.M. Krishna - Carnatic Vocal.
• N. Ravikiran - Carnatic Gottuvadyam player
• N. Sashikiran - Carnatic vocal
• Kiranavali - Carnatic vocal
• Guitar Prasanna - Carnatic Guitar pioneer and Jazz fusion composer.
• Nagai Sriram - Carnatic violin.
• T.N.S. Krishna - Carnatic vocal.
• Mannarkoil J. Balaji - Mridangam.
• S.D. Sridharan - Carnatic Violin.
• Madurai R. Sundar - Carnatic Vocal.
• Srirangam Kannan - Morsing.
• Hyderabad Brothers (D.Seshachari & D.Varadachari) Carnatic Vocal.
• Komanduri Ananthacharyulu - Carnatic Vocal.
• Komanduri Seshadri - Carnatic Vocal.
• Srinivas - Playback Singer

Journalism

• Kasturi Ranga Iyengar (1859–1925), Indian journalist. Managing-director of The Hindu from 1909 to 1925. Ancestor of N. Ram.
• N. Ram - Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu.
• Madhan - Cartoonist.
• Sandilyan - Tamil Novelist
• Indra Soundarrajan - Story Writer - Tamil
• Sujatha Rangarajan (1935–2008), journalist, engineer, writer.
• Randor Guy- journalist, script-writer and film historian. Real name Madabhushi Rangadorai
• Late A.G. Venkatachari- Former Editor of Dinamani
• M. Veeraraghavachariar - owner of The Hindu newspaper in 1898

Industry

• G. R. Gopinath - CEO and Co-Founder of Air Deccan
• Arun Pudur - President and Co-Founder of Celframe, known worldwide for the software product Celframe Office
• Arvind Raghunathan - Managing Director and Head of Global Arbitrage, Deutsche Bank
• T. V. Sundram Iyengar - Founder of T.V.S. group (automobile and finance)
• M.R.Srinivas Prasad - Vice President - IT, Fidelity Investments Ltd
• T. T. Krishnamachari - Founder of TTK&CO.
• Suresh Krishna - CEO, Sundaram Fasteners
• Venu Srinivasan- Chairman,TVS Motor company.
• Sampath Rangarajan - Department Head, Mobile Communications and Networking Research, NEC Labs, Princeton, USA.
• Dr.Ramesh Srinivasan - General Manager, Bloom Energy India Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, India. A pioneer and technology leader in power electronics converters and inverters for high power clean energy generation systems

Diplomats,bureaucrats,Administrators and politicians

• Tatacharyulu : Trusted Mentor of Sri Krishnadevaraya.
• Madabhushi Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, Member of Lok Sabha for Tirupathi from 1952 to 1962 and the first Speaker.
• Prativadi Bhayankara Venkatacharya : Freedom fighter ultimately influenced by Gandhian principles. "Bhayankarachari" was a political prisoner in the Andaman Islands and author of Craik's Paradise: Life in Andamans.
• T. S. S. Rajan (1880–1953), Indian politician and freedom-fighter. Member of the Imperial Legislative Council (1934–1936), Minister of Public Health and Religious Endowments (Madras Presidency) (1937–1939), Minister of Food and Public Health (Madras Presidency) (1946–1951)
• V. P. Raman (1932-1991), Indian lawyer and politician. Advocate-General of Tamil Nadu from 1977 to 1979. One of the architects of the constitution of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
• P. S. Raman (b. 1960), Indian lawyer and legal expert. Presently, Advocate-General of Tamil Nadu. Youngest son of V. P. Raman.
• Mohan V. Ram (b.1956), Tamil stage, T. V. and film actor. Eldest son of V. P. Raman and eldesr brother of P. S. Raman.
• C. S. Venkatachari, Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 6 January 1951 to 2 April 1951.
• Ramiengar, Dewan of Travancore from 1881 to 1887.
• Sir V. Bhashyam Aiyangar (1844–1908) Lawyer and jurist. First Indian Advocate-General of Madras.
• P. Rajagopalachari, Dewan of Cochin from 1897 to 1901 and Travancore from 1904 or 1906 to 1914.
• E. S. L. Narasimhan - Governor of Andhra Pradesh and former director of the Intelligence Bureau
• Shamaiya Iyengar - minister of post and police under Tipu Sultan
• Sir V.T.Krishnamachari - Dewan of Baroda.
• C. Vijayaraghavachariar - The Lion of South India.
• C Rajagopalachari - Bharat Ratna, Freedom fighter, national leader, the first Indian Governor General of Independent India and also the Chief Minister of State of Madras.
• C. V. Rungacharlu (1831–1883), Indian civil servant. Diwan of Mysore kingdom from 1881 to 1883.
• S. Srinivasa Raghavaiyangar (1849–1903), Indian civil servant and administrator. Served as Diwan of Barod from 1896 to 1901. Known for his work Memorandum of Progress of the Madras Presidency during the last forty years of British administration. Brother of Kasturi Ranga Iyengar.
• T.T. Krishnamachari - Industrialist, Minister of Finance for Jawaharlal Nehru.
• H V R Iyengar - (Late) ICS, Home Secretary, RBI Governor, Secretary to the Constituent Assembly etc. among various positions in the administrative services in both pre and post independence India.
• G. Parthasarathy - Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Cyprus and Australia.
• Jairam Ramesh - Member of Parliament
• C. Rangarajan - Former Governor of Reserve Bank of India and governor of Andhra Pradesh, India.
• Gopala Ramanujam - Former Governor of Orrisa.
• K N Govindacharya - RSS Idealogue.
• K. Santhanam- An attorney, Gandhian, 1st Railway Minister in Free India, Governor of Vindhya Pradesh, Chairman of Santhanam Committee on Corruption, authored several books), including a critical edition on the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre.
• N. Gopalaswami, former Chief Election Commissioner of India.
• J. Jayalalitha - Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and head of the political party AIADMK
• Madabhushi sridhar- NALSAR,Hyderabad
• s.venugopal acharyulu- TDP(M.L.A muthol,andhra pradesh)
• T.Hayagreevachary Fighter Against Nizam,AP Congress MP.
• T. V. R. Tatachari Former Chief Justice of Delhi Highcourt.
• V. Raghuraman Iyengar Former Manager, Canara Bank.
• K.V.Ramanachari - Former EO of TTD.
• N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar- politician and leader of Rajya Sabha in 1951

Films and entertainment

• Srinivas - Playback Singer and Music composer
• Malavika - Airtel Super Singer 3 - Top 20 Finalist
• Chinmayyi K. Sripadaa, playback singer and TV-anchor
• T. P. Rajalakshmi (1911–1964), Tamil actress, director and film producer. First woman Tamil film director
• R. Madhavan -- Tamil actor
• P. B. Srinivas -- Prativadi Bhayankara Srinivas is a composer and playback singer (Kannada/Telugu/Tamil and HindiFamous for his songs for Kannada Rajkumar)
• Vyjayantimala Bali - Indian actress
• Hema Malini - Indian actress
• Kavignar Vali - Tamil Lyricist
• Raaghav (b. 1974), Indian television series and film actor
• Meera Vasudevan (b. 1982), Indian model and film actress
• Madhoo: Actress. Heroine in multilingual blockbuster Roja
• Y. G. Mahendran -- Dramatist, film actor and comedian.
• Meenakshi Seshadri - Indian actress.
• B.S.Ranga - Veteran producer and director of Kannada, Telugu and Tamil films with more than 70 movies to his credit, winner of 2 President's Awards, Rajotsava Awardee.
• Crazy Mohan - Scriptwriter and dramatist
• Maadhu Balaji - dramatist
• Acharya Atreya (Kilambi Venkata Narasimhacharyulu) - Telugu lyricist.
• Vasundara Das - Indian actress
• Geetha - Indian actress
• Srikanth - Indian actor
• Major Sundarrajan - Yesteryears Film Personality
• Charuhasan - Indian actor - Brother of Kamal Haasan
• Chandra Hassan - Lawyer and Tamil actor (brother of Kamal Haasan)
• Kamal Haasan - Indian actor, and a staunch atheist and wants nothing to do with being on a list of iyengars
• Suhasini Maniratnam - Indian actress (daughter of Charuhasan)
• Anu Haasan, actress and TV presenter. Host of Coffee with Anu programme on Vijay TV. Niece of Kamal Haasan.
• Shruthi Hassan - Indian actress/singer (daughter of Kamal Haasan)
• Latha Rajinikanth - singer (wife of Indian actor Rajinikanth)
• Kasthuri - Indian actress
• Dasaradhi Krishnamacharyulu- Telugu film lyrycist
• Samudrala Raghavacharya-Telugu lyricist,Director,Producer.
• Samudrala Ramanujacharya-(Samudrala Junior)
• N. C. Karunya- Indian idol finalist,famous singer in Telugu.
• Hemachandra-zee saregamapa finalist,playback singer,music director in Telugu
• Mynampati Sreeram Chandra -Indian Idol winner.
• J. D. Chakravarthy-film actor
• T. S. S. Ranganath - Telugu Film Actor

Sports

• M J Gopalan - Cricket & Hockey Player.
• Krishnamachari Srikanth - Cricketer.
• Krishnan Sasikiran - Chess Grandmaster.
• C. R. Rangachari - Test cricketer
• Sadagopan Ramesh - Former Opening Batsman, Indian Cricket Team.
• M. R. Srinivas Prasad - Former Cricket player, Karnataka.
• S. Venkataraghavan - Cricketer.
• T. E. Srinivasan- Former Test Cricketer
• W. V. Raman - Former Indian cricketer
• Murali Vijay - Indian cricketer - Opener
• Kidambi Sundararajan - Chess.

Army and police

• Gen. Krishnaswamy Sundarji - Former Chief of the Indian Army.
• S. Parthasarathi Ayyangar - Former Commissioner of Police in Madras Presidency.
• V.Vaikunth - Former Director General Of Police, Tamilnadu.
• Late Dr.C.R.Sampath Iyengar - Served as captain(Dr) in Indian Army before and After Independence.
• Major Padmapani Acharya - Paramavira Chakra.

Literature

• A.K. Ramanujan-Kannada and English language poet.
• Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar - Eminent Kannada poet.
• Chikkupadhyaya - Kannada writer, teacher of Sri Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar.
• Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar, Kannada novelist.
• P. T. Narasimhachar, famous Kannada poet
• R. Raghava Iyengar, Tamil and Sanskrit scholar.
• K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar, Professor of English and Vice Chancellor of Andhra University.
• Dasaradhi,patriot, famous poet in Telugu,ASTHNA KAVI for andhra pradesh
• Dr.Dasaradhi Rangacharya,Famous writer in Telugu.
• Mudumbai udaya bhanu, famous Telugu travel writer,2 consecutive years best travel writer awardee of andhra pradesh
• Bellary Raghava - Writer
• Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu - Writer.
• Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu - Poet, Linguist, Scholar
• Sribhashyam Appalacharyulu-Vedic Scholar & Commentator.
• Jwalamukhi-Pen name of Veeravalli Raghavacharyulu famous revulutionary poet in telugu.

Yoga

• Nathamuni Authored Yoga Rahasya
• Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya - Father of modern Yoga, great Yogi and healer who taught B.K.S. Iyengar, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and Indra Devi.
• B.K.S. Iyengar - Yogi and founder of Iyengar Yoga.
• T. K. V. Desikachar Son of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, and Yogi

Guinness World Record Holders

• Girivasan Thirumazhisai Chakravarthy - Guinness World Record and Global World Record holder for typing English Alphabet (A to Z with space between) in fastest time of 4.71 seconds.

People with Iyengar ancestry or heritage

• Anirudha Srikkanth - Indian cricketer, son of Krishnamachari Srikkanth. Member of Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy squad and Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League. Anirudha is of patrilineal Iyengar descent, and of iyer descent on his mother's side.
• Sabrina Setlur - German rapper (Father Iyengar).
• Sreenivasan Jain - Of iyengar heritage and correspondent for NDTV.

References

• Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India Volume I - A and B. Madras: Government Press. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)