S. Meenakshi Ammal (1906-1962) was born in Kottur, Tamil Nadu. Married at eighteen, she was widowed early in her marriage. She moved to Madras in 1945 with her son. Very well-versed in culinary skills, she was constantly besieged with requests for recipes by relatives, which prompted her to write a cookery book. Her books have been in print since then and have been translated into many Indian languages.