Forced into marriage at 16, Perambalur woman now runs free coaching academy
Perambalur: Priya Natarajan, 29, had her education stopped at age 16 when she was forced to marry while in Class 10. Today, she is the founder of Avvaiyar IAS Academy, which provides coaching for TNPSC and other competitive exams.
Started in 2022, the academy offers free coaching to orphans, single-parent children, widows, abandoned women, persons with disabilities, and transgender aspirants. Students from farming families get a 25% concession, while others pay a nominal Rs 5,000. With her husband’s support, Priya completed her education through distance learning and cleared government exams. Instead of taking a government job, she started the academy with 73 students. It has now grown to over 8,000 enrollments, with nearly 3,000 students securing government jobs.
Beyond coaching, Priya donated land for a new public library in Padalur in 2025, adopted 100 underprivileged students, gave Rs 2 lakh to her alma mater, and distributed 97 sewing machines to widows and needy women.
Her biggest pride, she says, is the change at home. Her parents, who once married her off early, now urge other families in the village not to marry girls before 18 and to support girls’ education.
