Jaffna Hindu Ladies' College was established in September 1943 in response to a strong felt need in the community for a Hindu Girls College in Jaffna so that Hindu girls could be educated in the traditional Hindu way of life.
Saint Sri La Sri Arumuga Navalar created the Saiva Paripalana Sabbai Jaffna in 1888 to revive the lost glories of Hindu Tamil Civilisation and Hindu Religion under western rule. Time was also opportune in that the administration of the Jaffna Town High School hitherto under a single management came under the purview of the Saiva Paripalana Sabbai. The school was renamed as Jaffna Hindu College and a managing body known as the Board of Directors Jaffna Hindu College and Affiliated Schools was created to administer the affairs of the school together with that of six other affiliated schools that were subsequently opened.
It was this Board of Directors Jaffna Hindu College that joined hands with the Great Visionary and Philanthropist Late Mrs Visaladchy Sivagurunathar to establish an exclusively Hindu Girls School in Jaffna. The school after it was officially proclaimed was named as Jaffna Hindu Ladies' College and was looked upon as a sister institution to Jaffna Hindu College.
The school initially functioned in temporary accommodations. It was finally located in its present permanent site at Arasady Road Jaffna in 1945 in a land called "Naduththoddam" that was magnanimously donated by Mrs Visaladchy Sivagurunathar who was venerated as the founder of the school. Years later a hall was built in her memory and named after her.
In the formative years there was a dearth of qualified women to be appointed as Principal. So principals were recruited from India and elsewhere. Special mention must be made of Miss Achaya, Mrs Clara Motwani and Mrs Sarojini Rao for their innovative ideas and expertise to steer the school in its challenging years. Special mention must be made of Mrs Gayatri Ganeshan (nee Ponnudurai) the first principal who made a perfect job of her assignment.
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