Warm, affectionate tributes were paid by friends and long-time associates to the memory of KS Narayanan at the memorial function held on 24 November 2012 at Chennai. Here are some excerpts:
I had the good fortune of serving under KSN. Much of what I am today is a result of his guidance and encouragement. He could be a firm person, but he was always encouraging of young people. At Board meetings, he always sported a smile, but was always careful to ensure that we followed the law in letter and spirit.
V Srinivasan, WS Industries
His quick grasp of complex situations was impressive, thanks to his varied commercial/ industrial background. My company benefited a great deal from his leadership.
I was his tennis opponent in games that started at 4.45 am under lights. His constant partner was Dr Biswakumar and mine the late G Ramanathan. Nana competed fiercely on the tennis court, and with the help of Marker Madurai, he ensured Ramanathan’s smashes against him were always called out.
He was not a particularly religious person, but respected people who were against card games and sun-downers both of which he was himself fond of. Nana was truly a man for all seasons.
***
Nana Mama—as he was to my generation—and my family hailed from adjacent villages. My father Anantharamakrishnan and brother Sivasailam had strong bonds with SNN Sankaralinga Iyer’s family. Thanks to the examples of KSN and TS Narayanaswami in setting up and developing India Cements, many potential industries were identified and substantial employment was generated in the region.
A Krishnamoorthy, Amalgamations
The different industrial groups derived happiness from the progress of their counterparts in the region and there was much cooperation among them. KSN and the other pioneers had the faith and ability to stay the course in times characterised by many constraints. He was a generous person and my family was a recipient of that generosity. He had a kind word for everyone and never uttered a negative expression. Nobody was too small for him. His full-throated laughter was infectious.
His well articulated thoughts on India’s economic policy shaped Sankar and Kumar, who both became spokesmen for industry respectively heading Assocham and CII. Nana Mama’s major contributions to The Sanmar Group were the traditional values of ethics and integrity.
***
To Nana, I was like his elder son, perhaps because I was born at Tirunelveli. Both our families also happened to be in the cement business.
VL Dutt, KCP Limited
During the 1960s we met regularly at the Cement Manufacturers Association meetings and had furious debates before and after the meetings. I remember one visit to Bombay for CMA meeting when he, Kumar and I were all at the same hotel and the good times we had in his room.
However, his phone calls to the office leaving messages with the secretary about the meeting being adjourned or scheduled for a certain time were invariably about the Paplu Club activities. In times of trouble during the card games his loud calls to Muruga invariably gave him just the cards he needed.
I was the most boisterous member of his famed Paplu Club, to which he was hesitant to admit a new member. If persuaded to include someone and the new member was found acceptable in every way, he would shower praise on the proposer as well as the new member. Whenever the arguments at the card table grew too loud, he took off his hidden hearing aid and smiled beatifically at us.
His sterling service as Danish Consul from 1975 to 1989 led to his receiving a rare honour from the Denmark government—the Order of the Knight of Dannebrog, the first Indian to be so decorated.
***
Though he travelled and lived abroad long before globalisation, he never lost the common touch in his treatment of the ordinary man. He had a sharp intellect, nuanced approach to international relations and rare humility.
Ajit Singh, Consul General of Singapore in Chennai
As Denmark’s Consul and in his role in the execution of the Danida Project in Tamil Nadu, his contribution was exemplary, resulting in his being knighted by the Danish government. We struck an instant rapport unaffected by the age difference between us. I found his conversation inspirational. He shared with me, several anecdotes while enjoying his favourite brandy. With his network of key political and business connections, he humbled me by his analysis of local and world politics. He never boasted of his many accomplishments.
I knew him as a doting, much adored father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was above all a good human being, caring father and a man of honour. He was an outspoken, intelligent, vibrant friend.
***
I was Collector of Tirunelveli when KSN displayed remarkable concern for an unfortunate victim of circumstances. On 20 January 1968, a police constable was shot dead in a dacoity encounter. The Superintendent of Police handed over a compassionate allowance to the widow and son of the young policeman. Narayanan then announced his intention to build a small house for the widow. “The poor man gave his life for the safety of Tamil Nadu. We must help his family,” he said. I was Collector of the district till 1 May 1969. Before that, I had the satisfaction of seeing the constable’s widow enter the house Narayanan had arranged to build for her.
TV Anthony, IAS Retd. former Chief Secretary, Govt. of TN.
He was 15 years older than me, but he was always smiling, always laughed heartily, enjoyed his drink.
***
Nana Uncle was a dear friend and steadfast well wisher. My father AMM Arunachalam and KSN were very good friends. Sankar and I met on the tennis court. KSN was a morning tennis player. There was more chatter than tennis on the court then. I was in and out of their house when the KSN family lived on CV Raman Road and later on Cathedral Road. When Sankar was very ill, Nana Uncle and Madhuram Auntie looked after him so devotedly that he made a complete recovery. KSN played a key role when India Cements started Chemplast and later when it diversified. Sankar relied heavily on his experience and wisdom. There was mutual devotion between father and sons.
MA Alagappan, Murugappa Group
Both our families were in the forefront of industrialisation soon after independence. The relations they forged with government cannot be repeated. Chief Minister K Kamaraj and Industries Minister R Venkataraman stood shoulder to shoulder with us and even met our JV partners to boost investor confidence. Both families proved that business can be done with ethics.
***
Mr and Mrs Narayanan were very close to my entire family. KSN did not make business his whole life. Family and children came first. He had a remarkable ability to put you at ease.
KM Vinoo Mammen, Chairman & MD, MRF
KSN knew the importance of enjoying life, having some fun. That’s why he and my father were such good friends. They constantly pulled each other’s legs. Both had their offices in Dhun Buildings and shared notes and advice. KSN was a valuable member of the MRF board for decades. Dad and he had intense late night business discussions at home, though I don’t know that they accomplished anything.
The two had many adventures together. My father was no champion of exercise and KSN made him take to cycling. Dad would go to his place and both cycled all over the city together. He was one of the wealthiest men in the city but never cared about what people would say when they saw him cycling.
While they always had fun, they also stood by each other in times of difficulty. Nana Uncle was by my father’s side whenever there were difficulties.
***
“Nana Mama’s major contributions to The Sanmar Group were the traditional values of ethics and integrity”. |
A section of the audience
I joined MCC in 1977 and resumed my tennis after a long break. I was admitted into KSN’s exclusive group which assembled at 4.45 am to play tennis under lights at MCC, with marker Madurai and two of the best ballboys in tow. KSN always chose his opponents. He found that I was an OK backhand player, so he chose me as his backhand court partner. I was his partner for 20 years, a period when I acquired much wisdom. He had a fierce forehand and I had to cover the backhand court. His favourite opponent was G Ramanathan. At first I used to call his on-the-line shots in. KSN gave me a hard look, and said, “Unakku romba teriyuma? (You think you know?)” I quickly learnt that on the line was out, especially if the opponent was leading 5-4.
Dr B Biswakumar, Neurophysician
I was later admitted into the Paplu Club. I was a Sunday player as my medical work did not allow more frequent participation. On the first day, I refused his offer of coffee and he gave me ice cream instead. After that he decided I liked ice cream, and it was always, “Ice cream for Doctor,” even during my professional visits as his doctor.
KSN had a humane attitude. People come and go, but those who see everything beautiful in you are soulmates. Nana was a soulmate.
***
KSN had a humane attitude. People come and go, but those who see everything beautiful in you are soulmates. Nana was a soulmate. |
I met him in 1978. He did something great for Tamil Nadu then. I was the Health Minister for Tamil Nadu and Mr SP Ambrose was the Health Secretary. He resurrected the Danida (Danish International Development Agency) Project for the Salem and South Arcot districts. The Danish government had allotted Rs 15 crore each for Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. Thanks to our excellent bureaucrats we did a great job and Danida was very happy with the results. Denmark’s first Labour Prime Minister visited the state and I met him through the good offices of Narayanan, who was their Consul in the south. We travelled to Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram in a convoy. I was in a car with KSN. The Danish PM was a very simple man and even stopped at ration shops to check if the people were being properly served.
Dr HV Hande, Former Health Minister, Tamil Nadu Government
KSN introduced me to the PM at Mahabalipuram. He had obvious respect for KSN. I had never seen anything like that in my political life. I asked the Prime Minister for Rs. 15 crore more and thanks to his respect for KSN (he didn’t know me from Adam), he immediately instructed the Danish Ambassador to do his best for me. Once I went to Delhi to meet the Ambassador, it all happened at lightning speed, and many thousands of families in the deep south benefited from the additional Rs. 15 crore. With the cooperation of civil servants like Anthony and Ramdas, KSN was able to help the state without much ado.
***
His smile signified a combination of an unsullied conscience and exemplary purpose. It gave us the confidence that in these times of intellectual and civilisational backwardness, we may yet rediscover an era that once belonged to stars like K Kamaraj, C Subramaniam and R Venkataraman. KSN belonged to that constellation of ethics, aesthetics and integrity that seemed meant to work together.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Former Governor of West Bengal
It has been an evening of wonderful memories and warm recollections, which came straight from the heart. Appa was a true people person. Friends and family were most important to him. The more people he met in a day, the happier he was. The Madras Cricket Club, where he played tennis, and his Paplu Club of card games gave him more happiness than business. Kumar and I were blessed to be his sons. He was always content, and never did anything get him down. He was always there for us, as a parent, friend, companion, a shoulder to cry on. I lived all my life with my father, and one of the spinoffs of that was that I felt always young. Now that he’s gone, I feel older. He outlived many of his friends, but that did not make him melancholy. He moved on and made new friends. He had friends of all ages. On his 90th birthday, a lady friend said she hoped to greet him on his 100th birthday. “If you look after your health, I don’t see why not?” Appa shot back. I am sure his friends are waiting for him in the next world, to play a game of rummy or have a drink together. Kumar and I and all of us benefited from his network. Let’s be worthy of it. Thank you for your companionship.
N Sankar & N Kumar