The Hindu : National : TVS & Sons Chairman R. Ramachandran dead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 25, 2004

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National

TVS & Sons Chairman R. Ramachandran dead

By Our Special Correspondent

MADURAI, DEC. 24. R. Ramachandran, the unassuming Chairman of T.V. Sundaram Iyengar and Sons Limited, died at his residence here today. He was 74.

Born in Srirangam on November 17, 1930, Mr. Ramachandran made a mark for himself in the 1960s by providing a human face to the company. His emphasis on human relations and work culture earned a remarkable reputation for TVS as a forerunner in the introduction of welfare measures for employees, which distinguished it from other institutions. Mr. Ramachandran, an alumnus of the American College, had his training in Dealership Management at the General Motors Institute, Flint, Michigan, U.S., in 1956-57. His rich knowledge of the automobile industry earned him a name and standing in the industry.

A perfectionist by temperament, Mr. Ramachandran was an affable and humane person. He was a philanthropist and a lover of music and had a deep concern for problems of the community. The provision of medical help to the poor and the needy was one of his outstanding contributions. He was responsible for establishing the T.S. Rajam Auditorium, which is utilised for community and cultural events, and the Sathguru Sangeetha Samajam, Madurai's premier music sabha.

Mr. Ramachandran was also interested in the development of Madurai as a modern city and emphasised the need to keep it clean. He was involved in efforts to educate road users and pedestrians on road safety. An active Rotarian for several years, Mr. Ramachandran was also a patron of sports and a keen photographer.

He was on the board of many TVS companies, including Sundaram Industries, Singer TVS and Sundaram Finance, besides being a director of the parent company.

He was also Chairman of Lakshmi Vidya Sangam, which runs educational institutions in Madurai, and president of TVS Charities.

The son of T.S. Rajam and grandson of T.V. Sundaram Iyengar, the founder of TVS and Sons Limited, Mr. Ramachandran is survived by his wife, Indu Ramachandran, daughter, Shobana Ramachandran, and sons, Haresh, Naresh and Dinesh.

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