Padmavathy Asher was born in 1905 to Paramanatha Sampath in Gujarat, a follower of Gandhiji. Wherever Gandhiji visited Tirupur, he stayed at the Asher house, for Padmavathy was a genial host. According to Viduthalai Velviyil Tamizhagam, during his first visit to Tirupur in 1925, Gandhiji invited Padmavathy to join the Congress. Thus began her journey with the Freedom Movement. She went on to become an All India Congress Committee member and the treasurer of the All India Mahila Congress. Padmavathy first courted arrest in 1930 for participating in the Salt Satyagraha Movement. She was later jailed for a year for taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Padmavathy fought against untouchability and alcoholism and spread Gandhiji’s message and helped propagate the Khadi movement among the people of Tirupur. She passed away on 4 June 1991.