The Hindu : National : T.T. Vasu passes away

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Thursday, May 12, 2005

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National

T.T. Vasu passes away

Special Correspondent

T.T. Vasu

CHENNAI: The industrialist T.T. Vasu, who passed away on Tuesday a few weeks after his 76th birthday, has been lauded as a versatile personality, one who excelled not only in promoting business and industry but also art and culture.

Born on April 24, 1929, the last of the four sons of T.T. Krishnamachari, who served as Union Minister of Industries and Commerce and Finance, Mr. Vasu grew up to inherit his father's capacity and interest in several fields, funding and sponsoring projects that marked his space in the realm of business, philanthropy and classical arts. He also contributed in large measure to the promotion of health care, travel and communications.

After his college education, Mr.Vasu had a stint in journalism, and served briefly as a sub-editor in the Indian Express, Delhi. Other little known facts about this giant were that he ran a fan club for Errol Flynn and was involved in distributing Hollywood films, according to R. Ramachandran, secretary, Hamsadhwani.

Key role

Taking business as his prime vocation, he led the TTK Group in several expansion ventures in the 1950s and 1960s. He was instrumental in setting up several of its factories in Bangalore and Chennai.

Even those who may be unaware of Mr. Vasu's many talents and interests will be familiar with his contribution to the art and culture scene of Tamil Nadu. A lover of Carnatic music, he held the reins of the Music Academy, Chennai's premier cultural institution, from 1983. He revitalised the organisation that was founded, among others, by his father.

He was at the helm of affairs at the Music Academy for over two decades. He took over at a time of transition for it and raised it to the status of a significant cultural institution. T.V. Gopalakrishnan, the musician, said of him: " He was a real bridge between musicians and [the] Music Academy." Senior vocalist T.N. Seshagopalan said that for the world of Carnatic music, Mr.Vasu's death was a great loss.

As a philanthropist, Mr.Vasu funded and encouraged several health care and social support projects, including the Public Health Centre in West Mambalam and the Hindu Mission Hospital in Tambaram. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman of TVS Motors, said the T.S. Srinivasan Endowment Lecture (held in memory of his father) was made possible thanks to help provided by Mr. Vasu. "He had extraordinary wit and intelligence,'' Mr. Venu Srinivasan said of his friend.

Mr. Vasu patronised Bala Mandir and the Madras Voluntary Blood Bank. According to J.S. Srinivasan, chief executive of the TTK LIG group of companies, Mr. Vasu was a great humanist. "His concern for society and downtrodden people was phenomenal.''

Award

He was a member and office-bearer of a number of Chambers of Commerce, representing the country in the international arena. Mr. Vasu served as president of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Chennai, and later, as a member of the Chamber's executive council as well. He was conferred the Ambassador's Award for distinguished service from the United States Embassy in New Delhi. He was the chairman of the Southern Regional Council of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Vasu was chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations, a director of the Central Bank of India and a member of the Tirumala-Tirupathi Devasthanams Trust Board, Tirupati, the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in New Delhi, the South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur and the Governing Council of the Central University, Pondicherry. He has held the position of chairman of the ITC Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chennai, Bhimas Residency Hotel, Tirupati and the Indo-Japan Centre.

Mr. Vasu is survived by his wife Stina, sons Arvind and Arun, and daughter Anasuya.

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