[1] He was a trustee of Pachaiyappa's Charities, and a member of the powerful and accomplished Vembaukum clan of Vadakalai Iyengar Brahmins originating in Vembakkam, which also produced or encompassed such contemporaries as lawyers V. Sadagopacharlu and V. Rajagopalacharlu, and Sir V. Bhashyam Aiyangar; and Mysore Dewan C. V. Rungacharlu.

[citation needed] Ramiengar's father was a clerk and record-keeper in the service of the British East India Company.

During his schooling, Ramiengar developed keen interest in physical science and astronomy and won a scholarship instituted by the Pachaiyappa Charities.

In June 1860, he was appointed to inquire into the outstanding advances of the mirasdars and contractors who had borrowed money from the Madras government as flood relief funds.

Ramiengar performed this task satisfactorily well that he was entrusted with the revenue settlement of the village of Nallatadi in Tanjore district.

[citation needed] Ramiengar was appointed Diwan of Travancore by Maharaja Visakham Thirunal in 1880 on his retirement from the Madras Civil Service[8] and served in the princely state for a period of seven years.

During his tenure, Ramiengar introduced the Indian Penal Code in Travancore and re-organised the police force of the state.

He encouraged indigenous sugar industries and paper and cotton mills and introduced a stamp act in the state.

Ramiengar was fond of reading and he frequently imported books from England and thus, amassed a huge collection which was donated by his wife to the Pachaiyappa College library on his death.

Sir Alexander Arbuthnot, prominent British businessman, administrator and a former Acting-Governor of Madras, was a close friend of Ramiengar and often spoke highly of him.