In 1939, she led a protest advocating for the entry of Scheduled Caste individuals into the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.
During the Quit India Movement, on October 2, 1942, Sornathammal, along with Lakshmi Bai Ammal, organized a women's march in Madurai.[3][4][5] The march featured the slogan “Vellaiyane Veliyeru” (Quit India).[4][5] The participants were arrested and assaulted by the police. When the women refused to sign an apology letter agreeing to abstain from future protests, they were stripped and abandoned near Alagarkoil during the night.[3] Despite this incident, Sornathammal continued her participation in nationalist activities.[6]
Later in 1942, she participated in Individual Satyagraha and was imprisoned for three months.[4] During her imprisonment, she engaged in spinning khadi, reflecting her commitment to Gandhian principles of self-reliance and nonviolent resistance.[3]