Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest |

Hooked to charity

Photo: S.James

AFFABLE A people’s man

Think hotel and hospitality, food, catering and restaurant, polio and callipers, travel and tourism, art, culture and heritage, competitions and exhibitions, sports and seminars, students and teacher, children, Rotary or charity…the list may be long and mind-boggling. But one name that instantly comes to the mind is that of Dr.G.Vasudevan.

Do you think anybody will disagree? I ask this Ph.D holder in Chemical Engineering from University of Rochester, USA. With his trademark dimpled smile, he returns: “Do you think I really qualify for your ‘Weekend’ interview?”

With all his fingers in multiple pies, there is no way we can ignore this self-effacing 65 years old Director of Hotel Fortune Pandiyan, better known among friends as ‘Vasu’. He describes himself as a ‘perfectionist’ who doesn’t fear rubbing people the wrong way when it comes to professional commitments. He also feels he has not done enough for Madurai and its people.

But I realise it is easy to interview him because he actually has lots to say. His work and achievements run into pages. But it is difficult to write about him because one doesn’t know where to start and where to stop.

So I shoot-off a warm-up: “What is a chemical engineer doing at the helm of a top-end hotel?” Gently he reminds, “I also have an MBA degree from University of Chicago and had to take on where my father left.”

For this boy born in Madurai, brought up in Chennai and who studied and worked abroad for nearly two decades, returning to his native small town in 1986 was a conscious choice. “It was an inner call. Being the eldest son, my father, barely 20, had to take on the responsibility of his large family, thousands of acres of our agricultural lands and other businesses after my grand father’s death. He stoically stood through rough times and always helped others. He is my role model. Besides I wanted my children to be exposed to Indian culture.”

Vasu’s father, P.C.M.Ganapathy, a man of great wisdom and a visionary gave Madurai a star hotel when Congress leader Kamaraj expressed the need for a good hotel in Southern Tamil Nadu. Hotel Pandian was thus born in 1967 with 57 rooms on sprawling six acres.

In those days, it was the only star hotel in the State after Taj Connemara in Chennai. Ironically he died in a plane crash in 1976 just after signing an agreement with the Taj Group of Hotels to run his property under their flagship for 10 years. He took the Mumbai-Chennai flight but never reached Madurai to carry forward the deal. His father’s younger brother, P.C.M.Sundarapandiyan took over as MD and after his death in 2004, the youngest brother, P.C.M.Santham took the seat.

Today Vasu with his uncle holds the cudgel. The hotel entered into a fresh agreement with the ITC group in 2000 and was rechristened ‘Fortune’ Pandiyan. His job as the Director keeps him on toes as his professional arrangement with the Welcome group is that of supervisory role. “You have to constantly motivate and monitor people here,” he makes no bones.

But it is his numerous other social and charitable activities that keep him running all the time. His “inability to say no” if anybody comes seeking help ropes him to multiple activities. His “passion to work with children” saw him start annual swimming contests for Corporation and rural school children in 1987, science talent exhibitions and competitions for school students of Madurai and Theni in 1994. Initially an unwilling Rotarian, he went on to become the President in a year’s time in 1994 and ever since has been holding several District level posts in Rotary every year.

With the Rotary fully involved in polio eradication, Vasu on his own thought of doing something for those already afflicted with polio. From 1994, he started conducting callipers and artificial limb camps for polio and accident victims. “To see a smile on their faces is my most rewarding experience,” says Vasu, who also launched mobile dental camps in villages.

Such is his contribution that many mistake him to be a medical doctor. He is known as a man with a stout heart who goes on working silently. “I can’t sit idle and I can’t tolerate lack of professionalism,” says this e-mail addict.

“I am either writing to my friends or reading online articles to update myself on whats going on in the industry. I am quite a “peoples’ man.” I empathise with my employees. My biggest strength is my hands-on experience and approach. I get angry when people don’t deliver,” he adds.

And if you think Vasu is a total workaholic – which he undoubtedly is even at this age – he surprises by sharing that he has been a soccer coach in the US, a tennis player, president of Badminton Club who converted the floor to wooden courts in MGR Stadium. Essentially a peace loving man who can’t watch misery and suffering either in real life or on the reels and therefore jumps into the fray with as much charity as possible, he is also into yoga and spiritual introspection these days.

And in between, he does find time to take care of a 122 years old family temple on East Marret Street.

“I love to travel and kitchen gardening is my hobby. I love Carnatic music and don’t miss recitals even today. But my latest passion is to study and popularise the history and archaeology of Jain Caves,” says this lover of Italian food and barbecue chicken. “But I love baking Christmas cakes the most,” quips Vasu, who has also been manning the family owned “Mahal Restaurant” famous in the town since 1986.

“The problem with me is either I do something whole-heartedly or don’t do it at all. And I also know, if I don’t do, the work will not get done. Since I have lot of contacts and resources and the Pandiyan hotel’s infrastructure, I always see how I can help others and try to pack in as much as possible,” he says.

But I will find it difficult to pack in so much in a single article, I admit, leaving him waiting for a phone call from his son in the U.S – announcing the arrival of his first grandchild. “It can happen anytime this week,” he smiles not hiding his pride.

FACTFILE

Accomplishments: This Alagappa Chettiar College of Technology graduate went on to do his MS in Chemical Engineering from John Hopkins University, USA. His father wanted him to return after Post Graduation but he was keen on higher studies and stayed on and later worked in the R&D division of Union Carbide in Chicago for a decade before moving on to Mobil Chemical Company in New Jersey for the next six years.

What he is into: Member of Confederation of Indian Industries, Madurai Management Association, Madurai Tourism Promotion Council, Save the Children Club of Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Rotary Club Madurai West. Executive Council member of INTACH, Madurai chapter, TN Chamber of Commerce and Travel Club Madurai, of which he has also been the past president. Advisory Committee member of Cheshire Home for Physically and Mentally Challenged People, the M.S.Chellamuthu Trust and Research Organisation. On the Internal Research Review Board-cum-Ethical Clearance Committee of Madurai Kamraj University. A visiting faculty member in Thiagarajar School of Management.

What he initiated: The Madurai Travel Mart in 2004. First of its kind buyer-seller meet in the State showcasing Madurai and neighbouring cities to domestic and foreign travel agents and travel writers. Organised "Pongal Thiruvizha" for foreigners in 2002. In collaboration with the CII and now INTACH, he started conducting heritage walks for school and college students in 2006. Recommended the restoration of the 1000-pillared mandapam in Meenakshi Temple.

What he enjoys: Reading P.G.Wodehouse novels, Arthur Conon Doyle novels on Sherlock Homes, Autobiography of Lee Iacocca, Dr.Abdul Kalam’s Wings Of Fire, Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, Fish by Stephen Lundin and Others, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma and any business and management related books.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail