Tribute to Shri Manikam Ramaswami:

Late in the evening on 2nd October 2017, around 10.23PM, whatsapp messages started pouring in grief about the sudden demise of Shri Manikam Ramaswami at Chennai. Almost every member of NCC recollected their pleasant memories they had - interacting with this Tall Personality or listenting to him in various forums including NCC Meetings and IBCN.

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Shri.Manikam Ramaswami, Grandson of Shri.Karumuthu Thiagarajan Chettiar of A.Thekkur, is the Chairman & MD of Loyal Textile mills Ltd.

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He has done B tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT- Chennai where he has Awarded Banco Foundation Gold Medal for securing top Rank. Mr.Ramaswami is also the Vice Chairman at TEXPROCIL. In past he has also been Chairman at the Southern India Mill's Association, and Tamil Nadu State Council-Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Besides this he is a member of the committee of Administration-Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI). And Correspondent of the Thiagarajar School of management and Thiagarajar Model Higher Secondary School, as well as the Secretary at the Thiagarajar College of Preceptors.

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The Textile Industry has lost a captain and a leader of the modern century. His contributions to the Indian Exports of Cotton Textiles remains immeasurable!

Mr.Manikam Ramaswami was gracious to extend all facilities for our NCC Madurai Chapters Meeting at Thiagarajar School of Management at Thiruparankundram in Madurai. He took great interest that he used to enquire about the meetings frequently with our president Dr.Ramakrishnan. He was one among the kind hearts who wanted this community to come back and regain its lost glory. Though it is a big loss to our community and NCC, working towards his vision would be the fitting tribute to this great presonality. 

At NCC Meeting in Chennai.

Video of his Validictory Address at IBCN 2013 in Singapore.

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While tributes are pouring in Whatsapp, here are few which summarizes all:

"Very sad to hear the sudden and unexpected demise of Shri Manickkam Ramaswamy, 

A perfect Gentlemen to the core.

I Still remember the 5 D"s, that he was mentioning during the valedictory speech at IBCN- 2013 at  Singapore and asking all the young entrepreneurs to follow to climb the ladder of success,are the following

1.Desire

2.Determination

3.Discipline 

4.Dedication

5.Divinity 

Such personalities could have stayed little longer to be a mentor and guide to many of our upcoming entrepreneurs including me.

I pray the almighty for his soul to rest in peace."

-- by Mr.Natarajan from NCC Chennai

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"Very large hearted gentleman. Met him with his daughter in Chennai International Central a few months back and planning to do a socioeconomic activity jointly with our Tamil nadu Foundation. He was very forthcoming. Really sad."

-- Mr.V.Nagappan who cracked the news by 10.23PM to me.

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"Shocking ! Sad !

A man of simplicity. Still remember the way he received us when we went to invite him for one of our Monthly meet. He  was overwhelmed during that meet, showed lot of interest and supported us while we launched Madurai Chapter. Like Chona Towers, he offered his well equipped conference hall free for all Madurai meetings. 

He was to play a big role in our IBCN 2019. 

Its a Great Great loss to our community especially to NCC. 

Our sincere prayers for his soul to rest in peace."

-- Innovative Annamalai, NCC - Chennai

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"His Generosity towards our community, NCC and Madurai Chapter could not be summed up in words. As per his wish, all NCC meetings at Madurai were held at Thiagarajar School of Management. RIP Manikam Ramaswami Sir" 😔😔😞 

-- NCC Madurai Chapter

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The Hindu Businessline quoted : Manikam Ramaswami — man with the solidity of old world, enthusiasm of new

A gentleman who always “took the long term view”, “hugely ethical”, one who “never compromised on quality”, “a rare human being”... This is how those who knew Manikam Ramaswami, Chairman and Managing Director, Loyal Textiles Group, describe him.

The death on Monday of the industrialist has left his peers and associates devastated. They were unanimous that his demise was as much a personal loss to each of them, as it was to the business community.

Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, TVS Capital Funds, recalls working with Ramaswami in the CII Tamil Nadu State Council and says, “...I can feel Ramu’s razor-sharp mind, thoughts and speech straight as an arrow, a fearless adherence to duly felt convictions, and an awe inspiring discipline in terms of preparedness.” He said Ramaswami had this never-ending quest to set right public policy issues, especially those relating to the textile industry. An impatience for results and a sense of perfection made him a powerful force at work and public policy matters. Also, Ramaswami had a deep interest in culture, values and art, which made him the “truly quintessential gentleman”, he said.

P Ravichandran, President, Danfoss Industries, and Chairman, CII – Tamil Nadu State Council, who had known Ramaswami over the last several years, described him as a “holistic person with the solidity of the old generation and the enthusiasm of the new,” always willing to innovate. He was also a philanthropist, keen on social causes, particularly education.

As an industry representative and closely associated with the CII, Ramaswami always focussed on measures that would deliver sustainable benefits, he said.

RG Chandramogan, Chairman and Managing Director, Hatsun Agro Product Ltd, said Ramaswami was a “rare human being in business” whose loss will be felt by all. “ Ramaswami was an exemplary businessman to whom values and ethics were at the core. He had a no-nonsense approach to business and never compromised on quality,” Chandramogan said.

CK Ranganathan, Chairman, Cavinkare, felt the industry and the country had lost a person who always kept the cause of general good ahead of individual profit.

A person who when needed spoke out against policies that were adverse to industry, set an example by always passing on the benefit of cost to his customers ,and was “hugely ethical and value-oriented”.

Ramaswami was the third generation of his family at the helm of the Loyal Group. The flagship Loyal Textile Mills is a BSE-listed ₹1,100-crore company with a wide product range spanning yarn, fabric, garments and home textiles. The Loyal Group includes the 168-year-old watch retail company P Orr & Sons. Ramaswami took over the family business in 1976 when the business was about Rs ₹2.5 crore. Today, it is worth about ₹1,500 crore.

“Manikam Ramaswami never hesitated to speak up, no matter who the opposition was,” reminisced Karumuttu T Kannan, his cousin and an industrialist.

Ramaswami worked closely with the State and Central agencies on policies related to textiles, foreign trade and ease of doing business.

Ramaswami’s achievements include removing duty on yarn in the 1990s. He took up the issue with then Finance Minister P Chidambaram to do away with excise duty on yarn. Kannan said, “He was a severe critic of anti-dumping duty on polyester.”

ME Manivannan, Senior Vice-President - Operations, Loyal Textile Mills, says: “He had this huge hunger for technology upgradation and automation. He was always the first to buy a new technology and test it out.”

“For many companies in the technology space, Loyal was a gateway into market,” he said.

TS Balaji, an ex-employee who had been with Loyal Textiles for more than two decades, said that “He was a fair employer and a mentor”

AL Rangarajan, another employee, recounts his time at P.Orr and Sons, where he was in charge of accounts and audit, as one of the best times. “He was sincere, man of perfection and hard working,” Rangarajan said. Ramaswami was the first to lend a helping hand when someone was in need, be it personal or professional.