Dr Nachimuthu Mahalingam was born on March 21, 1923 to Sri P. Nachimuthu Gounder and Smt. Rukmani Ammal.

Dr N. Mahalingam’s family roots can be traced to agriculture, but through hard work his father expanded their ventures into business establishments. NM, as Dr N Mahalingam is fondly known to his friends, transformed his family business into a mighty modern enterprise. Life presented to Dr. NM with many opportunities and challenges, and he displayed his awesome ability to transform those opportunities into solid achievements. Amid his many remarkable achievements, Dr. NM remains a man with keen spiritual motivations that underlie his activities. He excelled and gained prominence as an industrialist, a political and social activist, an educationalist and a philanthropist. He was greatly inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharalal Nehru and Rajaji and he lives the life of a true Gandhian. Dr N Mahalingam is credited with scholarly publications on religion, philosophy, ancient civilizations and literature.

Dr N Mahalingam was in Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu for fifteen years. He has also served as Chairman emitters of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission. He is an eminent Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. Dr NM is a worshipper of Jothi and a devotee of Ramalinga Vallalar.

Dr N Mahalingam has been at the forefront of many social reforms. He is an industrialist having unparallel talent and responsibility towards the government and society. He was responsible and instrumental for the implementation of Parambikulam – Aliyar Irrigation Project. He was involved in the establishment of Institute of Asian Studies at Madras in 1981. His commitment to society at large is evident from the generous support he lent to several educational, medical, religious and charitable institutions His Holiness Sri Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakodi Peedam recognized him as “Aram Valarkkum Annal” in 1983 and honoured him with the title “Muththamiz Seva Rathinam” in 2003. He was Honorary Consul, Government of Mauritius in 1989-90.

Dr N Mahalingam has been conferred the "Padma Bhushan Award" by the Honorable President of India, His excellency Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam in the year 2007. He is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India). The Bharathiar University has conferred on him the Degree of Doctor of Laws; the Anna University has awarded the Degree of Doctor of Science. The Tamilnadu Agricultural University has awarded the Degree of Doctor of Science. He has been conferred the Indira Gandhi National Integration Award.