[1] A Gandhian, she participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and served as vice-president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
Ambujammal's maternal grandfather was Sir V. Bhashyam Aiyangar, the first native Indian to be appointed Advocate-General of the Madras Presidency.
As part of the role as Secretary of the Mylapore Ladies Club (a post she held from 1936), she conducted Hindi classes.
She was a significant part of the Women's India Association (WIA), taking the post of Secretary from 1939 to 1942 and that of Treasurer from 1939 to 1947.
A dedicated social worker, she was the President and Treasurer of the Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam from 1948, an institute she founded.
An associate of Vinoba Bhave, Ambujammal toured Tamil Nadu with him to publicize the Bhoodan movement in 1956.
Ambujammal actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement and boycotted foreign goods and clothes — she was even imprisoned twice for six months in 1932.
She set up the Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam in 1948 at Teynampet where free milk, medicines and kanji (gruel) were given to the needy.