People Studies is a people-building, multi-disciplinary research-based knowledge-action initiative with an unambiguous, uncompromising people focus, guided by the motto ‘studying the people is for the people’.

                        People Studies has its beginnings in the early 1990s in the informal, personal and academic micro research activities of Prof. S. Rajanayagam. After a decade of experimentation and learning, during 2000-01 it launched its first major State-level study in the form of opinion polls. It took a definite organisational form in 2006, by weaving together the multi-directional, creative, technical, developmental, humanitarian and knowledge initiatives and concerns of Rajanayagam, who remains the perennial source of inspiration and challenge. The co-founders of People Studies are Dr.Chitraa Venkatachalam, scholar and teacher par excellence, screenplay-writer cum lyricist, and Mr.Reegan, an IT professional.   

                      People Studies, well-known in Thamizh Nadu and Karnataka for its opinion polls, in fact has, other than opinion polls, a wide colourful range of multi-dimensional activities covering the whole of south India.    

                      Functioning initially from within the campus of Loyola College, Chennai, People Studies now has shifted closer to the people with its urban office in Choolaimedu, Chennai and the field training centre at Paliyankudi, Theni district, on Thamizh Nadu – Kerala border.