The meaning of this kural is : Before entering a profession or deed, a person must learn the required skills, a comprehensive knowledge and be sure that they earn fame through what they venture into. If that’s not possible, it is better not to venture as such.
'தோன்றின் புகழொடு தோன்றுக' set the tone for our first meeting in 2018 on 7th January. Dr.S.Subramanian, renowned Oncologist, Chairman of VS Hospitals Chennai and Father in law of our president Dr.V.Ramakrishnan, addressed our NCC meeting at TSM, Madurai. He was suitably introduced by his beloved grand daughter Ms.Krithikavalli Ramakrishnan who is just completing her MBBS under the able guidance and inspiration of her grandfather.
Dr.SS outlined the traits of Nagarathar's : Though Nagarathar's are often identified / recognized by their unique names, initials, phonetics, food style, hospitality and palatial houses, it is their humbleness, honesty and reliability that sets them apart. நாகரத்தார்கள் நாணயமானவர்கள். The spiritual connect of Nagarathar's motivated them to involve in various charities for the welfare of public - be it construction / maintenance of temples and ponds or educational institutions. Their contribution to the language of Tamil has been lauded by many poets in various literatures. Infact, Nagarathars have become the role model for many in the society.
Though Dr.SS was a medical professional, post his retirement he started off with VS Hosptials at Chennai. Ably managed by his two sons, Dr.SS continues with his passion - Healing Patients.
Here are few tips that Dr.SS gave for the budding entrepreneurs:
•Before venturing into entrepreneurial journey, prepare yourself for HARDWORK.
•Involve WHOLE HEARTEDLY.
•Though Nagarathars are intelligent by birth (thanks to the commerce that is in their blood), it is worth breaking up the factors that can influence success: They are:
Emotional Quotient refers to Emotional Stability / ability to remain neutral.
Spiritual Quotient includes Humanity, Empathy and Chasity.
•Having known for honesty and reliability, it is essential that Nagarathars retain these traits in their business practice and maintains the quality of product / services.
With embedded entrepreneurial qualities and calculated risk taking abilities, Dr.SS encouraged members to explore opportunities and succeed in life. He summed up saying that - "If you need growth - then you need to CHANGE".
Listening to someone of his stature was a huge opportunity. NCC Members were enlightened with his advise. Here is the video of his address to NCCians @ Madurai.
It was HOUSEFULL on 10th Dec 2017. Mrs. Unnamalai Muthu of Aster Apparels, Coimbatore had descended on Madurai to share her entrepreneurial journey with NCC Members. And the best part is close to 50% of the attendees were women and children.
After her schooling at TVS Lakshmi School in Madurai, Mrs. Unnamalai completed her Bachelors in Engineering at Thiagarajar Engineering College before proceeding to do her Masters in Business Administration at XLRI Jamshedpur. Richly qualified, Mrs.Unnamalai feels really lucky to have got married to a wonderful gentleman Mr.Muthu and an enterprising, supportive in-laws family. Having been in textile business for quiet long, her in-laws allowed Mrs. Unnamalai to experiment and establish a new brand ASTER APPARELS.
Mrs.Unnamalai shared her entrepreneurial journey. She made a detailed presentation with a power packed slide show, laced with videos and success mantras.
In Whatsapp, Our member Mr.Venkatesh of Venka Fly Ash Brics commented "Today's speech ( how to start a business ) by mrs.unnamalai muthu was wonderful & excellent . Very brave speech she has drill each and every member mind 👏🏻👏🏻 what an motivating speech 😀😀 power women of nagarathar . I hope every has listened to her speech very clearly ( my humble request please use her formula in your day to day life ) 😀😀"
Mrs.Amudha Ramakrishnan texted “Today 's speech by Mrs. Unnamalai Muthu was a wonderful opportunity for youngsters and aspiring entrepreneurs to hear and absorb various aspects of entrepreneurship. The topic was 'how to start a new business ' but she gave a superbly comprehensive speech on why we should start a business, how to start a business and how to grow and sustain growth as well. The aura of confidence she projects that comes from deserved phenomenal success is in itself an inspiration.
Thank you Mrs. Unnamalai Muthu and NCC Madurai"
Mr. Muthu Subramanian from NCC Chennai commented: “Hope the videos will be uploaded for all the members benefit soon....looking forward....
The Madurai members rocked in Chennai too....
The world is getting smaller 😊”
Succeeding in a competitive world is not easy. That too from a community which has become conservative oflate, Mrs.Unnamalai has proven that right education with suitable ability and attitude are key to success. She ended her address with the message – Enerpreneurship is no doubt challenging. But the sweetness of success is unique and priceless. You need to be an entrepreneur to experience it. Thanks to her energetic, down to ground speech. Now Everyone can dream BIG.
For all those who want to get inspired, here is Mrs.Unnamalai Muthu addressing on "How to Start a Business"
Networking is one of the key ingredients to business success. Many entrepreneurs are really good in their product, technology, finance management and values. But their reluctance to network costs them dearly.
Rtn. A. Alagappan was the District governor of Rotary International District 2980 in the year 1994-1995. Having joined Rotary movement in 1977, he is one of the youngest Rotarian to occupy the office of District Governor of that District.
He has served as President of Thanjavur Chamber of Commerce & Industry, as an Area Commander for Tanjavur District.
Having trained and created hundreds of leaders inside and outside Rotary, Shri Alagappan the Blossom School in Tanjore to provide quality education to young children. No doubt with such a dynamic personality with vast experience in public life, Blossom school has bloomed to be a premier school in Tanjore.
Who else could be a better person than a successful entrepreneur sharing his success journey. NCC Madurai takes great pride in organizing this Powerful talk by Rtn.PDG.Alagappan on "The Power of Networking". Indeed it is a priceless speech worth listening again, again and again...!
Everyone of us love to travel - far and wide. After all the hard work and efforts, people love to enjoy their life by visiting various places - both locally and globally.
And for those of us who are reluctant to travel on our own, holiday tours and travel companies have been a blessings in disguise. These travel and tour service providers take care of the end to end needs of the traveller - right from ticketing, travel itenary, accomodation, local logistics, tour guide etc. Beyond all these services, the person who is in this business has to be a passionate traveller himself.
Our member Mr.AR.Muthuraman is one such passionate globe trotter. Inspite of his solid background and family businesses, his love for travel made him launch 'HOLIDAY HUB' at Madurai. It was pleasure listening to him present his Business in our meeting on 12th Nov 2017.
On 5th October 2017 Thiagarajar School of Management organized a Memorial Meeting at its auditorium for its beloved Chairman Mr.Manikam Ramaswami.
The few of the board of directors of TSM - Mr.Bangera of Hi-Tech Arai, Mr.Bharat of Aparajitha Total Solutions and Mr.Zacharia of Vikaasa School shared their long association, inspirations and admiration towards Mr.Manikam Ramaswamy whose untiring efforts saw TSM rise to 15th in rank of Management institutions across India.
Our President Dr.Ramakrishnan addressed the gathering and shared his experience interacting with the great personality.
Floral tributes were paid to the depart soul along with candle light procession.
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.
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."
"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.
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."
"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" 😔😔😞
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.
