The Hindu : National : M.A. Chidambaram was a `multi-faceted personality'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 30, 2006

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National

M.A. Chidambaram was a `multi-faceted personality'

Special Correspondent

A genuine all-rounder who bowled his heart out for his country, says Pawar

— Photo: V. Ganesan

ALL-ROUND PRAISE: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar releases ``Vision Unlimited-The Outstanding Legacy of M.A. Chidambaram'' in Chennai on Saturday. Supreme Court Judge A.R. Lakshmanan receives the first copy at a function held at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. The former BCCI president, A.C. Muthiah, is at left.

CHENNAI: The different roles played by the late M.A.Chidambaram as cricket administrator, industrialist, philanthropist and patron of Tamil Isai were recalled by speakers at a meeting where his biography, titled Vision Unlimited — The Outstanding Legacy of Dr.M.A.Chidambaram was released by Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar on Saturday.

Mr.Pawar said M.A.Chidambaram, popularly known as MAC, had an unusual combination of business excellence, social commitment and human compassion.

Mr. Pawar, who is also the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), described MAC as a "genuine all-rounder, who bowled his heart out for his country and remained not out till the end of the inning." Though as a multi-faceted personality, MAC could venture into any field and achieve success, he carefully chose those areas that could have positive impact on society at large.

Mr. Pawar recalled MAC's laudable contribution to the development of Indian industry during the formative years. Among them was establishing India's first scooter factory in Mumbai in 1946 that provided the much needed momentum to the middleclass of the country, and later becoming the first chairman of Maruti Udyog, a company formed to manufacture affordable small cars, he said.

With the establishment of the Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation (SPIC), MAC contributed in large measure to the success of Green Revolution with its quality range of fertilizers and other farm inputs, Mr.Pawar said.

On the book released by him, Mr.Pawar said, "The events in the book are so wonderfully placed and described that every moment seems to be coming alive."

Judge of the Supreme Court AR.Lakshmanan, who received the first copy of the book, described MAC as a titan among men.

His legacy to Indian business would be remembered as truly outstanding, he said.

Mr.Lakshmanan paid glowing tributes to MAC for his "epoch-making contributions to promotion of education, Tamil Isai, art and culture."

Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu N.Ram said the biography revealed that MAC had always kept the business affairs and social affairs separate. Referring to the articles written by MAC highlighting the historical and cultural relations between South India and Southeast Asia, he recalled MAC's role in mainstreaming Tamil Isai.

BCCI treasurer N. Srinivasan praised MAC's successful efforts to make his mark in the field of industry despite various regulations imposed during the post-Independence era.

Author of the biography Sujoy Gupta thanked A.C.Muthiah, industrialist, and other members of MAC's family for rendering unstinted, patient help to him for three years through thick and thin to write the book.

Honorary Secretary of Cheshire Home Geetha Viswanathan and Ashwin C.Muthiah spoke.

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