Nawab C. Abdul Hakeem Saheb (1863–1938), one of the respected natives of Melvisharam, Prince among traders and one time Sheriff of Madras.

He set up a tannery in 1907 and emerged as a prosperous businessman serving as President of the Southern Indian Chamber of Commerce.

Like the winds that have no barriers of caste or community, the Nawab’s generosity lighted the lamp of joy and contentment in several poverty-ridden families.

[1] C.Abdul Hakeem was born in North Arcot district of India in 1863 and at age of 21 he moved to the city of Madras in 1884 to join his father Siddique Hussain Sahib.

The best-known of charitable contributions is Siddique Sarai Mosque, the Muslim choultry opposite Central Station.

acquired a site of more than 67 acres, on the eastern outskirts of the town, on the Chennai-Bangalore Trunk road, and constructed imposing buildings to house the College and the Hostel.

Siddique Sarai Mosque is a choultry built in 19th Century for Muslim travelers in Park Town area of Chennai, the capital of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu by C. Abdul Hakeem.

When Abdul Hakim’s ailing father once arrived at Central from Bombay he found that there was no choultry nearby with facilities for Muslim travelers.