Thangam E. Philip was Principal Emeritus of the Institute of Management, Catering and Applied Nutrition, Bombay and acknowledged as Indian Hospitality industry’s most eminent doyenne and teacher par excellence. She was recognized as one of the 38 distinguished women of the world and, in 1975, was awarded the FAO’s Ceres Medal, for her outstanding work in nutrition. In 1976, she was honoured with the Padmashree in tribute to her service to the development of hotel and catering education.