Honouring A Visionary Entrepreneur

In a fitting tribute to Shri. A M M Murugappa Chettiar, a pioneer whose vision laid the foundation for $1.5 Billion Business conglomerate, Murugappa Group, the Government of India released a commemorative stamp on October 01, 2005 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Mr Dayanidhi Maran released the postage stamp and handed over the albums to Mrs.Valliammai Lakshmanan and Mrs.Annapoorani Veerapan, daughters of Shri A M M Murugappa Chettiar at a function organised in Chennai. Mrs. Vatsala Raghu, Principal Post Master General presided over the function. Shri. Mr M V Murugappan, Chairman, AMM Foundation, a senior member of the family welcomed the gathering. In his speech, Mr. M V Murugappan alluded to his respected uncle as a strict disciplinarian and a benevolent elder of the family. Mr Murugappan brought out the many varied qualities that made his uncle the "Big Daddy".

Mrs. Vatsala Raghu recalled the philanthropist in Shri A M M Murugappa Chettiar and on behalf of the postal department expressed her pleasure in being associated with the Murugappa Group for such a prestigious activity viz. unveiling of the commemorative stamp.

Mr Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology then unveiled the Commemorative Postage Stamp on Shri. A M M Murugappa Chettiar. In his address to the distinguished audience, Mr. Maran said that as a Tamilian, he was honoured to be the one to unveil the commemorative stamp of such a famous Tamilian. He lauded the founder for deciding to manufacture cycles that the common man in India could afford. He praised Murugappa family for standing united for so many generations.

Profile
Shri A M M Murugappa Chettiar (1902 - 1965) was born at Pallathur, on January 22, 1902 in Ramnad District, in the distinguished family of Dewan Bahadur A M Murugappa Chettiar. He was the eldest son of the distinguished Dewan Bahadur A M Murugappa Chettiar, the founder of the Murugappa Group. He was considered to be the leader among the industrialists who enabled the industrial advancement in South India, post 1947.

His vision of a diversified modern enterprise and giving importance to promoting light and medium engineering industries in India resulted in the establishment of the well-known Tube Investments of India Ltd, the leading maker of bicycles, tubes, strips, metal forms and chains.

A M M Murugappa Chettiar established Carborundum Universal Ltd in collaboration with the Carborundum Company Inc. of USA and Universal Grinding Wheel Company Ltd., of the U.K., for production of abrasives and grinding stones. He was also responsible for starting several other industrial ventures such as The Coromandel Engineering Co. Ltd. and other projects for the group.

Shri A M M Murugappa Chettiar was one of the earliest President of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He became the President of the Southern Indian Chamber of Commerce in 1949 and was honoured with the directorship of countless number of industrial establishments. He was a member of the All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi and the Senate of University of Madras.

He was well known to his countrymen for his charitable and philanthropic outlook. His dreams of social commitment to the poor and needy was realised through a charitable trust called A M M Charities Trust (now known as AMM Foundation) which has been responsible for philanthropic activities in the areas of education, public health and environment