S. Subramania Iyer - Early Life and Education

Early Life and Education

Subramania Iyer was born in Madura in the Madras Presidency, on 1 October 1842. His father Sooravally Subbier Aiyer (1794–1844) was the legal agent of the Raja of Ramnad's zamindari, but died when Subramania Iyer was barely two years old. He had his early education at the English Mission School, Madura, joining the Zilla School, Madura, in 1856, from which institution he completed his schooling.

As his mother was not willing to send him to Madras for a higher education, Subramania Iyer decided to join the administrative service. He served as a clerk in the Deputy Collector's Office, Madura, Deputy Collector's Office, Ramnad, and the Collector's Office, Madura. While working in the Collector's Office, he studied privately for the Pleader's Examination and stood first among the successful candidates.

Though unable to secure a 'Sanad' to practise, he was appointed the Public Prosecutor, when the Criminal Penal Code came into force, in 1862. Desiring to practise as a lawyer, he studied privately for the Matriculation Examination and passed the same in 1865, followed by the First Arts (F.A.) examination in 1866. Two years later, in 1868, he passed the B.L. examination from Presidency College, Madras, standing first (in the Second Class) among all successful candidates. He served as an apprentice under J. C. Mill, Barrister-at-Law, and thus qualified himself to practise as a Vakil.