The Chamber was ushered into existence by the late Dr.R.K.Shanmugham Chetty who was the first Finance Minister of Independent India. A galaxy of greatmen like Sir A.Ramaswamy Mudaliar, who represented India in the United Nations, the great philanthropist and Educationalist Dr.Al.Rm.Alagappa Chettiar, Rao Sahib Mr.V.Ramaswamy Mudaliar, Mr.Varadappa Chettiar, Rao Bahadur Mr.C.Tadulingam, Tamil Kavalar Mr.K.A.P.Viswanathan and the famous T.K.S.Brothers have played a great role in the activities and development of the Chamber. There have also been many stalwarts like Mr.P.M.Balasubramaniam, Mr.M.Kuppuswamy Naicker, Mr.A.Nagappa Chettiar, Mr.C.S.Loganathan, Mr.P.M. Garudapathi Naicker, Mr.V.S.L.Nathan,Mr.Rawal, Mr.M.Kothandaraman, Mr.A.B.Ananthakrishnan, Mr.G.K.Shankar, Mr.T.G.Krishnamurthy, Dr.Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, Mr.R.K.Varadanarayana, Mr.R.M.Dave, Mr.V.Ramachandran and Mr.C.Ratanchand Savansukha who have headed the Chamber as Presidents and built up the Organisation.