Vadhiyar Vaidyalingam Pillai lived on the western side of Big Bazaar Street during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. He was a dedicated teacher who helped many a student clear his math exam.

The students were like family for this bachelor who lived in a house with a large courtyard. This house was always occupied by many students, and a good number of the poor among them came up in life due to his efforts. Vaidyalingam Pillai was a tireless teacher who kept addressing the queries of his students throughout the day. The kind-hearted teacher offered free education to everyone irrespective of economic status. He used to pay the school tuition fees for a number of poor pupils.

Justice C.N. Kuppuswamy of the Madras High Court was his student. He was one to the several students of Vadhiyar Vaidyalingam Pillai who went on to adorn responsible positions in the Madras Presidency. It is apt to quote the words of S.P. Narasimhalu Naidu, when he unveiled the portrait of Vadhiyar Vaidyalingam Pillai at the Government Arts College, during the early years of the last century, “Needless to say, the great teacher does not need an introduction to the people of our region. Decades ago seven bachelors from Yazhpaanam in Sri Lanka relocated to our country in order to offer their services. If I am not mistaken, Vadhiyar Vaidyalingam Pillai was among the group that included C.M. Damodaram Pillai, Velu Pillai, Viswanatham Pillai, Arumuga Navalar, Kadirver Pillai, and Kanakasabhai Pillai.”

Coimbatore was truly fortunate to have Vaidyalingam Pillai as a teacher, who was like a beacon light during those formative years. Unfortunately this service minded teacher had to quit due to the autocratic attitude of the then European management and this caused a lot of hardship to his pupils. However, he went on teach them from his house.

Kovai Kizhar, C.M. Ramachandran Chettiar (1888-1968), the first great chronicler of Coimbatore showers encomiums on Vadhiyar Vaidyalingam Pillai, when he said, “Every student and parent who knew Vadhiyar Vaidyalingam knew about the sacrifices made by him all his life. He was very frugal. He did not spend anything much on himself, except his food. The rest of his income was given away for the poor students. His house near the Garadi temple was a sanctuary for the students who yearned for quality education and progress.”