Anna University (Tamil: அண்ணா ப‌ல்கலைக்கழகம் ISO 15919:aṇṇā palkalaikkaḻakam) was a premier technical university in Tamil Nadu, India. Anna University was formed on September 4, 1978, as a unitary university that integrated four technical institutions in the city of Chennai (previously known as Madras), including the College of Engineering, Guindy, Alagappa College of Technology, Madras Institute of Technology and the School of Architecture and Planning. It was named after C. N. Annadurai. Originally the university was named Perarignar Anna University of Technology (PAUT). In 1982 the current name of Anna University was adopted, removing the words "Perarignar" and "Technology". In December 2001, it was converted into an affiliating university, with many engineering colleges in the state of Tamil Nadu under its fold and also absorbing all the six government engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu as its constituent colleges. In all, it brought together about 250 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu.