Sister R. S. Subbalakshmi (sometimes spelled Subbulakshmi or Subhalakshmi) (18 August 1886 – 20 December 1969), was a social reformer and educationist in India.

Subbalakshmi was born at the remote Thanjavur village of Rishiyur,[1] the other view was Mylapore in Madras[2] as the first daughter of Visalakshi and R. V. Subramania Iyer (a civil engineer.

Subbalakshmi was ranked first in the public examination in the Chingleput District, for the fourth standard of the Madras Presidency at the age of nine.

[7] In 1912, she founded the Sarada Ladies Union to provide a meeting ground and platform for housewives and other ladies to promote consciousness among them regarding social problems and to encourage them to educate themselves and the Sarada Illam or Widow's Home,[7] which rehabilitated and educated child widows in Madras.

[13][14] While she was in government service as Headmistress of the Lady Willingdon Training College and Superintendent of the Ice House Hostel, Subbalakshmi was prohibited from joining the Women's Indian Association.