Vasudevan TN Ranji Trophy Retirement

UNPRECEDENTED

The most graceful retirement in the State’s cricket history 

We are in the year of the Pandemic, and over the last three months UNPRECEDENTED has been the most oft used word in all walks of life. Way back in March 1988, a Tamil Nadu Ranji cricketer made an UNPRECEDENTED announcement within minutes of lifting the Ranji Trophy. At the presentation ceremony, left arm spinner S Vasudevan announced that he had played his last Ranji Trophy match. He had just picked up seven wickets in the Railways’ innings and had led TN to a Ranji Triumph that had come after three decades. It took everyone by surprise, most did not seem to take it seriously at that time with Doordarshan that telecast the finals editing his retirement comment. Probably, they had a justification. He was just 33 years then and the legendary TN spinners who preceded him had played on for a long time. Exactly a decade ago, VV Kumar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/07/cricket-tales-exclusive-with-vv-kumar.html) then past 40 had heard the news of his non selection in the Ranji Squad from a newspaper report. His state spin partner for almost close to a decade S Venkataraghavan too played for TN till he was close to 40. In the form that he was in and as the Ranji Trophy winning captain, Vasudevan could easily have gone on for at least another 5 years. 

His First and Only year as TN Captain 

His appointment in 1987-88 to the TN captaincy itself came as a surprise to him for he was not even captaining his club side at that time (SPIC was captained by V Sivaramakrishnan). It was his first knock at captaincy. It was a young side that year and jelled well under Vasudevan. Sivaramakrishnan had announced his Ranji retirement at the start of the 87-88 Season but came out of it later that season and played a critical role for TN in the knock outs. Off spinner M Venkataramana (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/venkatramana-m_97.html) had just had a fabulous year in 87-88 that earned him an immediate test cap. The Golden leggie of the decade L Sivaramakrishnan(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/04/l-sivaramakrishnan.html) was trying to make a comeback after having been on top of the world in March 1985 with his performance in WCC and Aashish Kapoor too was knocking on the doors. VB Chadrasekar and Robin Singh had big years with the bat that earned them a national call over the next 12 months.

At the start of that season, Vasudevan did not have any inclination to hang up his boots and not in his wildest dream did he visualize quitting Ranji cricket at the end of the season for he was enjoying his cricket and the responsibility deposed on him by the TNCA to lead and mentor a bunch of young upcoming cricketers the likes of Robin Singh, VB Chandrasekar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/01/vb-chandrasekar.html), PC Prakash, K Arun Kumar, D Girish and Venkatramana was something he looked forward to. 

Cricket had been his passion since the time he started playing at the age of 8 and like all cricketers from that generation the general expectation was that he would continue to play till the time he contributed in good measure to the team's fortunes. 

Into Software at LUCAS TVS 

Exactly ten years ago, he had joined LUCAS TVS, a firm headed at that time by cricket enthusiast R Ratnam. Vasudevan's close friend Crazy Mohan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/08/crazy-mohan.html), who passed away last year had joined Brakes India, another TVS Firm in Padi. As one in his early 20s who had made his Ranji entry just then, he was asked what he wanted to do at the corporate. His childhood friend Raghu (who later became a CEO) had asked him to explore software that was still very much in its infancy in India. When Vasudevan expressed his interest in software, he was put through a rigorous training programme in IBM in 1977 and took up software as a career in the software world. He found the software job both exciting and challenging and he thoroughly enjoyed his corporate stint at Lucas TVS. 

               

Rejects a Stable Bank Job 

During that period, he also received a lucrative offer from former TN Opener V Krishnaswamy (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/08/krishnaswamy-v.html) to join IOB that would have provided him with a stable job for the next four decades but Vasudevan’s interest in Software had gathered steam and he rejected Kicha’s offer. When he joined SPIC in the early 1980s, they bought Main Frame Computers and he continued to pursue software as an area of interest. Through the 1980s, his interest in software moved up alongside his great passion for cricket. 

Winning the Ranji Trophy 

Vasudevan lifted the Prestigious Ranji Trophy in the first and what turned out to be his only year of his state captaincy. It had been a long over three decades wait for TN and Vasudevan played a great role both as a captain and a spinner in TN’s title triumph. He has happy memories from that season ‘Cricket had been my passion for a large part of my life till that point. For any Ranji Cricketer, it is always a great honour to captain the state. It was a great first year as captain for me. I felt contended at the end of the campaign. It was a fulfilling experience. You play for the state to try and win the Ranji Trophy. And I managed to do that in my very first year. I thought it would be good to go out on a high.” 

Rejects teammate’s request 

Among all the cricketers who heard of his decision, SPIC captain and his team mate from the late 1970s V Sivaramakrishnan was the most vocal. Vasudevan remembers that morning when Shiv came to him and tried to persuade him to continue “Shiv himself had come back from his retirement and he was keen that I play for the next couple of years given my rich vein of form in 87-88. He was upset that I stuck to my decision and did not listen to him. He simply could not digest my refusal to accept his request.” 

Venkat’s Order – Play a couple of matches more 

Venkataraghavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/04/venkataraghavan75.html), his state spin partner for over 5 years, was the Secretary of the TNCA that year and he too was not happy with Vasudevan’s decision. Venkataraghavan expressed his displeasure at this unexpected decision when he was in prime form with the ball and at a time when he was playing the role of a mentor for many youngsters in the TN team. In his typical ‘orderly’ direction, Venkataraghavan asked him to play the Irani Trophy and make the trip to Australia with the TN team for the match against Western Australia, hoping that Vasudevan would change his mind as his association with his young team members grew. As per Venkat’s orders, Vasudevan captained the Irani Trophy match and he picked up another 7 wicket haul in the innings endorsing the former captain’s view that he was in great form. Even without the form as a bowler, Vasudevan would have been an automatic choice for at least another two years on the back of him having led the state to the Ranji Trophy. 

Shocks his Father 

Vasudevan’s father Santhanaraman (who passed away in February this year at the age of 90) was a spinner of repute in the local league and also ran a couple of clubs in the city. He had been Vasudevan’s Acharya and his cricket mentor and spent a lot of time at the city grounds watching his son play through his early cricketing career. At their independent house on Sundararajan Street in Abhiramapuram, his father initiated him into cricket guiding him on spin bowling. Thus Vasudevan looked up to this father all through his life. But that day in 1988, Vasudevan sprung a surprise even on his father by announcing his retirement even without consulting /informing him. Angered at this sudden decision, his father shouted at him, one of the very few times that he had argued with his father. Vasudevan did not discuss about his early retirement from state cricket with his wife (Radha) as well.

Makes way for Sunil Subramaniam 

Vasudevan was clear that he wanted to leave cricket on a high and the decision had been made. If Vasudevan had gone on like the legendary VVK or Venkat, it is likely that Sunil Subramanian’s entry into TN cricket would have been delayed by a year or two. Sunil Subramanian held great potential and he spent a good number of hours each day at Vasudevan’s home discussing the art of spin bowling (this writer too bowled alongside Sunil at the SPIC nets. Often the lanky Sunil would ask this writer if he saw (Ravi) Shastri in him. That’s how Sunil saw himself as a left arm spinner). In the long sessions at home, Vasudevan found him to be a good listener and an intelligent bowler and credits him for using the opportunity to become a great bowler for Tamil Nadu. 

Lets go the prospects of a Zonal Debut 

Vasudevan had played 61 matches for Tamil Nadu at that time and in the next few years could have easily played another 20 or so. A phenomenal performance in the Ranji Final and the Irani Trophy should have brought him into contention for the Duleep Trophy the next season even though he was in his 30s at that time (He had played one season of Deodhar but was largely over looked for Duleep in his 20s). He let go that possibility as well. But really he was not a man for the records and neither did the statistical highlights inspire him to play more. Right from his childhood, he played for the love of the game and records and statistics were merely an outcome of that passion. 

In the decades since his retirement from Ranji Cricket, his fortunes have swung to extremes. In the 1990s, SPIC took care of him financially as he made his mark in the Software Arena. . He was a State Selector for a full term in the 1990s. In the mid 2000s, he started his own IT firm and forayed into Oracle ERP that was well received by overseas customers. 

Tragedy Strikes 

Four years after the launch of his firm, he had to enounter the biggest tragedy of his life. His 17 year old son passed away within months of completing his Class XII exam (and after he had secured admission in Venkateswara Engineering College) struck by a sudden illness that sealed his life in a matter of months. 

Just after completing his board exam, his son made a trip with the family to Oppiliappan temple in Kumbakonam where he specifically asked for Nilai Maalai for the Lord. In the two decades since his retirement, Vasudevan had straddled between Cricket and Software, not focusing fully on either of these areas. In those final moments, his son held his father’s hand and took a promise that he would continue to engage with the passion of his life- CRICKET- for the rest of his life. That seemed to have finally given Vasudevan clarity on what he should stick to in the next phase of his life. During the last 24 hours of his life, a big eagle stayed inside his home complex almost as if watching over him. As soon as his life departed, the eagle too died!!! 

Daughter's Inspiration keeps him going

Soon after the passing away of his son, Vasudevan shut down his Oracle firm and has since been coaching at the Gandhi Nagar Sports Club academy (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/02/gandhi-nagar-sports-club-cricket-ground.html). While he went through the process of shutting down his firm, he experienced a downturn financially for a few years earlier this decade. But as per the final wish of his son, he has associated himself solely with cricket over the last ten years focusing his energy on coaching youngsters. A few of them have been making steady progress with a spinner playing for the state last year at  the U16 level.

In the turbulent times following the death of his son, one of his biggest inspirations to continue life cheerfully and to be associated with Cricket has come from his daughter Preethi from faraway US. It is her motivation that has spurred him on to coach at Gandhi Nagar Academy as well as carry out a few other cricketing engagements including being associated with a school on the outskirts of the city.

The role of the wife

Often unspoken, as in the case of Venkataraghavan as well, has been the role of his wife, such a critical element to a cricketer's on the field. As he looks back on his life over the last three decades, he points to the magnetic effect his wife Radha has had on him during his cricketing years, his days in the software world and most importantly during the years after the passing away of their son 'I owe a lot to my wife Radha for being the pillar of strength during the challenging phases in my life and supporting me through the ups and downs. '

A Companion plays a major role in the career especially of successful sportspersons. Vasudevan credits his wife for all his success in life 'I am What I am today because of my better half.'

Late last year, the hat trick man of TN cricket B Kalynasundaram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2011/08/kalli-b-kalyanasundaram.html?m=1) as the Chairman of Cricket Development Committee invited and offered Vasudevan the post of the Talent Hunting Head of Tamil Nadu, a paid engagement that was to have started this new season, one that COVID 19 has ensured would take some more time to fructify. 

Contended with No Regrets in Life 

Just over three decades later, he has no regrets whatsoever on his sudden and surprising decision to retire at the peak of his cricketing career, one that paved the way for Sunil Subramaniam’s entry into Tamil Nadu. Had he played over 75 matches, he would have been eligible for the One Time Financial Benefit and a higher pension as well. Even during the times of financial difficulty that he encountered earlier this decade, he had no second thoughts even in hindsight, on his decision to quit Ranji Cricket. 

He continued to play local league cricket for almost another two decades (this writer umpired the final TNCA league match that Vasudevan played just under 15 years ago). 

UNPRECEDENTED Decision by an UNASSUMING Man

For a man who lifted the Ranji Trophy in 1988, the three decades since have been one of ups and downs as he went back and forth between cricket and software. But unmindful of the challenges, he has led a contended life and without regrets. Finally, this decade, he has decided to let go of his software interest and taken a call to be associated with ‘Cricket’, his first and biggest passion of his life as per his son’s wish. Vasudevan had form, passion and age on his side and these two combined with the Ranji Trophy triumph could have ensured that he continued to play till he was 40. This story is a reminder of the UNPRECEDENTED decision of the unassuming Vasudevan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2011/12/vasudevan-hats-off-to-you.html) quitting cricket on that Ranji Trophy Winning day at the peak of his career and with age still on his side, giving way his space to another left arm spinner, who much to the delight of Vasudevan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/10/s-vasudevan-tn-ranji-winning-captain.html) made a thumping mark on TN cricket over the next decade. 

He took the call when people asked ‘Why now’ when historically in TN players had continued till the time the question of ‘Why not’ was asked of them. To date, his retirement remains as the most graceful in Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy history.

TSR Legendary Entrepreneur

Just into his teens, TSR spotted a business opportunity in the Devotional Space and launched a range of products that soon became a household name                            

TS Rajagopalan Iyengar hailed from Thittai ((https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/02/thittai-navaneetha-krishnan-temple.html), a small hamlet about five kms from the renowned Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/08/thanjai-maa-mani-divya-desam.html) on the outskirts of Thanjavur. Born in 1894, he was a child prodigy. Driven by entrepreneurial instincts, he made his way to Kumbakonam and began his family’s diversification into manufacturing.

The Thanjavur – Kumbakonam belt either side of the Cauvery was home to a large number of temples – Vaishnavite Divya Desams and Saivite Paadal Petra Sthalams. While agriculture was the main occupation, devotion was integral to the daily lives of people in the region. Not a day passed without them invoking the blessings of the Lord. 

Devotional Products

Set against this backdrop of devotion, the enterprising Rajagopalan Iyengar just into his teens began working on products that would cater to this devotional audience. He was just 15 years old when he rolled out his offerings in 1909. He started out in Moorthy Chetty Street and then moved to a shop on Bazaar Street, West of Sarngapani Koil(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/sarangapani-koil-thiru-kudanthai.html). Once the business came to scale, he built a factory on Nageswaran Thirumanjanam Veethi from where a range of products that included Chandan (used for Thirumanjanam and Abhisekam), Panneer, Agarbathi, scented Chunnam, Gulkand and Thailam were manufactured. 

He launched the products under the brand name of TSR & Co and soon TSR, as he came to be lovingly called by the residents of Kumbakonam, became a household name. Everlasting fragrance was a hall mark of his pooja items. He also created the trademark ‘Aalilai Kannan’ logo of child Krishna on plantain leaf.  

Personally, he was deft in making sweet paan and had this special knack of finding the right mix. The customers simply loved it from his hands and they would queue up to pick up the tasty paan. He later sold the betel nuts products business and focused on pooja products. 

87 year old Kalyani Krishnaswamy, a distant relative of TSR who has lived the last 40 years in a remote village near Therazhundur(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/therazhundur-divya-desam.html), stayed in TSR's house in Kumbakonam for a whole year during her childhood. She remembers sandalwood being brought from Mysore, and physically well built workers ground these into Chandan powder by hand. She says that by the 1930s, the products were much sought after by the people in the region. One could sense the fragrance even as one entered the street such was the quality of the product. He always told his workers that the product had to be of the highest class. She also recalls the presence of TSR at her wedding in the mid 1940s “He brought a huge box of TSR products and presented it to me as his gift.” 

Promotion of products at Temple Festivals

In addition to his entrepreneurial skills in creating products, he was also deft at marketing. He promoted the pooja products at the famous Chitrai Festival in Madurai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/07/azhagar-koil-thiru-maliruncholai.html) and would display his range of products at the festival. He also promoted it at the popular Brahmotsavam in Mannargudi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/05/mannargudi-rajagopalaswamy-temple.html).

The Next Big Product – Talcum Powder 

Late VK Rajagopalan (VKR) Iyengar, a Central Bank auditor and first cousin of TSR was to play a part role in the roll out of the next big product. His son 74 year old R Sampath says that the elder of TSR’s two sons TR Kannan was inclined towards expanding the product range and began to do some early experiments and that it was his father VKR Iyengar who gave Kannan the space and freedom in his house on Pachaiappa Street in Kumbakonam and motivated him to carry out the experiments.

“Kannan came to my father’s house to conduct his experiments. Each day, he would sit on the terrace of our house and try out different combinations. It was a very tedious process and required a lot of patience and perseverance but Kannan was relentless in his pursuit” remembers Sampath. 

The elder son Kannan moved to Madras and opened the talcum powder factory in Ramapuram in 1965. And thus TSR & Co diversified into two separate firms – TSR & Co Home Needs manufacturing pooja products in Kumbakonam (headed by his 2nd son TR Raghavan) and TSR & Co Madras ( launched by his 1st son TR Kannan - he passed away in 1970) that is into Gokul Santol talcum powder and soap, among other cosmetic products. 

TSR – A Household Name 

The products had become so popular that there was a time when the demand for agarbathis outshot the supply. There were several 100s of workers at the factory in Gokul Gardens and the business had grown manifold. 84 year old Chartered Accountant G. Kunchithapatham worked in the firm that audited the accounts of TSR & Co and remembers him from his childhood days “TSR & Co had started small but by the time I was growing up in Kumbakonam, TSR had already built a brand. The factory had been mechanized and the shop had become much bigger. TSR was top of mind recall for anyone interested in Panneer, Chandan and other pooja products.”

He says that the big growth of TSR could also be seen from the fact that he and his firm had become big income tax assessees “They had already started exporting the products. TSR would often go to Ceylon on business trips.”

His devotional association with temples 

TSR was also an ardent devotee and would often be seen at the temples in Thiru Kudanthai. He was also the trustee at Sarngapani and Chakrapani  temples. He was also on the board of the renowned Banadurai School in Kumbakonam, one where the famous Tamil Nadu fast bowler B Kalyanasundaram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2011/08/kalli-b-kalyanasundaram.html?m=1) studied in the 1950s. 

81 year old Seshadri Bhattar of Parthanpalli Divya Desam, who spent his entire childhood in Kumbakonam and performed archaka service at Thiru Kudanthai temples for several decades, remembers the mega arrangements made by TSR ahead of Mysore Maharaja’s trip to the Sarngapani Koil. “’Pushpa Pandhal’ - a grand flower decoration was organised along the entire path from Moolavar to Desikar Sannidhi. And the King of Mysore was accorded a grand welcome into the temple.” 

Till his death in 1961, TSR’s ubayam on Desikar Satrumurai at the Sarngapani temple was one that everyone looked forward to as it was one of the biggest festival days at the temple with a vibrant Prabhandham Ghosti. The entire temple wore a grand festive look that day. 

Exquisite Attire 

TSR was also known for his exquisite attire and was always seen in a Panchakacham and a white shirt with a bright Thiruman on his forehead. Everyone at the Sarngapani temple would line up as he made an impressive entry into the temple in his majestic walk on the Desikar Satrumurai day. 

Till his final days, he provided Dasankam, Santhanathi Thailam and other pooja items in sufficient quantities to the Thiru Kudanthai temples. At the Chakrapani temple(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/02/kudanthai-chakrapani-koil.html), his was the Ubayam on the third day of the Brahmotsavam, when the Lord goes around the streets on a Sesha Vahanam, one that continues to this day. 

Significant contribution to temples 

Just prior to his death, he made a significant contribution to the renovation exercise at the Sarngapani temple and was an integral part of the committee that planned the renovation. At the over 1000 years old Varadaraja Perumal temple on the banks of the Cauvery, TSR restored the temple by contributing in big measure. 100 years ago, he began supporting the Navarathri Utsavam at the temple that has continued to this day. He also supported the grand conduct of the Vaikasi Utsavam. 

85 year old V Seshadri, an adyapaka at the Therazhudur Divya Desam for over three decades remembers TSR participating in and supporting the Brahmotsavam at this temple “He would present the temple with large quantities of pooja items that were required for the daily poojas. The entire temple would be transformed with beautiful fragrance emanating from his products. His very presence brought positive energy among the service personnel at the temple.” 

Municipality Chairman and Underground Drainage System 

In light of the background of him having built a trusted brand as well as him having become a well respected personality in Kumbakonam, VK Rajagopalan Iyengar suggested to TSR to contest the election and try for the Municipal Chairman’s post in Kumbakonam. VKR Iyengar was confident that as the Municipal Chairman TSR could do a lot of good to the temple town. Though initially reluctant, TSR heeded to the advice of his cousin brother and became the Municipal Chairman in 1958. In the period that he was at the helm, he created a modern underground drainage system in Kumbakonam. 

89 year old former District Revenue Officer (Thanjavur), K Ramanarayanan has seen TSR from close quarters “From small beginnings, he built a brand that has stood the test of time. A stout man with a tuft, he was one with progressive views. At a time when we were still reeling under the British rule, he brought a name for indigenous products and created a brand that remained entrenched in the minds of the people. TSR Panneer and Agarbathi were unmatched at that time. To him goes the credit for creating an identity for Kumbakonam. He was also a big philanthropist and did a lot for the society.” 

Soon after TSR’s death, it was VKR Iyengar who was instrumental in getting TSR’s second son TR Raghavan to talk to the officials at the Municipality to have the Big Street in Kumbakonam named after the legendary manufacturer and philanthropist. And soon, the street was named as the ‘TSR’ Big Street. 

Since then, his sons, grandsons and now the great grandsons have been taking forward the great legacy of TSR. Over the last six decades, his birthday has been celebrated with the TSR family feeding 2000 people at the factory in Gokul Gardens, Kumbakonam which was also his home till his death. 

Genius at work 

It was a truly pioneering initiative for a young teenager to get into manufacturing by creating a labour pool and to run a business away from the family’s stronghold in agriculture. More interesting was the way he spotted an enterprise opportunity in the devotional space. To roll out pooja products catering to the devotees was out of the box thinking for one not yet 15. 

TSR was truly a child genius who broke away from the shackles of centuries old tradition of being an agricultural family. By the time he passed away at the age of 67, having handed the baton to his two sons, Quality and Trust in Pooja Products had become synonymous with TSR. And he had left behind a great legacy of a remote village boy having built an enduring and a trusted indigenous brand.

Centenarian VR Sivaraman Wheels India

The FIRST non-family Managing Director of a TVS Group Firm 

Sundaram Finance and Wheels India Founder TS Santhanam looked up to his Sethupathi High School classmate to manage Madras Auto Service in the 1940s and later on to drive the growth of Auto Components Firm Wheels India Ltd

World War II had arrived and was taking its toll. With TS Santhanam planning to move to Madurai, he was looking for someone to take care of Madras Auto Service (MAS), the subsidiary of TVS Group. And he went up to his Sethupathi High School classmate of the 1920s and asked him to take up an important accounting role at his Madras Trading firm. The 28year old could not refuse his childhood friend’s offer. The year 1942 marked the beginning of Valliyur Ramakrishnan Sivaraman’s long and fruitful association with the TVS Group. Decades later, Sivaraman’s elder son, a banker, was ‘asked’ to quit his bank job and join the TVS Group, an instruction that he quietly followed!!! 

This writer met Sivaraman (known to friends and colleagues as VRS) at his Parthasarathy Street residence shortly after he turned 100 in March 2014. It had been a long and glorious journey. In the year leading up to his Centenary, his health condition had dipped a bit and he had become a little immobile but his memory, that he was so renowned for during his hey days, still remained razor sharp. He was able to easily recount in a flash events from his childhood days and the pleasant memories of competing with Santhanam at Sethupathi High School in Madurai. 

Santhanam and Sivaraman lived in the same street in Madurai and were close friends. Interestingly, Santhanam’s mother (Lakshmi Ammal) and Sivaraman’s mother were neighbours in Nagercoil until the untimely death of Sivaraman’s mother when he was just nine years old. It was Lakshmi Ammal who provided motherly care to Sivaraman during those pressing times. 

The Numbers Man - Gold Medalist in Maths 

He was a gold medalist in Maths at College (he graduated from the American College, Madurai) and always has had a special liking for numbers. His family does not remember a single occasion when he used a calculator in his life (though one of his life’s regrets is of not doing medicine). Till well into his 90s, he spent time going through Balance Sheet of several of the Madras based companies and would immediately call the CFO with interesting insights. 

In the days of saving phone numbers on the mobile, VRS remembered almost till the very end phone numbers of all his friends and relatives (he never saved the numbers on the mobile!!). 

He moved to Madras in the mid 1930s taking up an accounting and audit role with Indian Postal Audit. During World War II, he shifted briefly to Coimbatore when there was large scale evacuation in Madras. Shortly after his stint in Coimbatore came the call from Santhanam. 

Forging strong relationship with global manufacturers 

Between 1942 and 47, it was Sivaraman who managed Madras Auto Service along with Govindachari and Panchapakesan while Santhanam was away in Madurai (Santhanam would only make fortnightly/monthly trips to Madras to oversee operations). VRS was assigned the important task of ‘cost control’ and managing profitability. 

After Govindachari’s retirement, Sivaraman took over as the GM of Madras Auto Service (Vice President and President in the Indian Corporate world is a very recent phenomenon. For decades after independence GM was the most coveted position - next only to the MD). While Santhanam continued as the MD of the company, Sivaraman independently handled Madras Auto Service during the 1950s when it was a major importer of spare parts from Germany, UK and the US. His stint at MAS helped him forge strong relationships with major component manufacturers. 

Glorious Years at Wheels India 

Later that decade, TVS Group decided to set up a plant to manufacture wheels for Commercial Vehicles (Production commenced in 1962). Wheels India became the first manufacturing company of the TVS Group and marked the move of the group from trading to manufacturing. (Subsequently, TVS Group firms set up several manufacturing plants in the Padi area) 

Sivaraman was the first one to be nominated from the Trading Company of the TVS Group to the manufacturing firm. Santhanam, who had roped him into MAS just under two decades ago, now asked him to join Wheels India to help drive growth in the initial phase. 

S Ram, son of TS Santhanam and the current Chairman of Wheels India Ltd., took over as the MD from Sivaraman in October 1975 reminisces the entry of VRS into Wheels India and his role in that first decade and a half  “Sivaraman had already spent close to two decades at Madras Auto Service and was an integral part of the management team. He had gathered a huge deal of experience in the auto sector during this period. My father called him one day and asked him to move to the new company that was being set up in Padi.'

‘I will find another replacement for you at MAS. You are needed at Wheels India’ Santhanam told VRS.

And thus Sivaraman moved from General Patters Road (his base at MAS) to the Western part of the city to the Padi headquarters of Wheels India. During the first 10years of Wheels India, Sivaraman, as the GM, anchored the acquisition of and building relationship with key customers. 

Ram tracks the growth in customer base during those initial years to Sivarman’s strong customer relationship management ‘It was a very competitive phase. We were new entrants in the area of truck wheels. While we were one of the multiple suppliers to Telco and competing with other big players including European manufacturers, Sivaraman’s customer management skills helped us acquire a sizeable business from the truck major. Very quickly, we were able to improve our market share and Sivaraman had a significant role to play in that.’ 

     VRS seen with S Ram and Japanese Delegates

There was a general reluctance on the part of Germans to try new Indian manufacturers but VRS helped build confidence amongst customers that the company was in for the long haul and that, from our base in Madras, we could compete with the best in the world. ‘He also had good relationship with other component manufacturers from South and North alike. During that initial 15year period, it was VRS who drove Wheels India’s growth.’ 

1st non family MD 

Just over three decades after joining Santhanam at the TVS Group came the big moment of his corporate life. Just a few days short of his 60th birthday, Sivaraman was appointed as the Managing Director of Wheels India in February 1974, thus becoming the FIRST non family Managing Director of a TVS Group company. This was truly a significant achievement for a man who had by then established himself as an authority in the auto component sector. 

By the end of his stint as the MD of Wheels India a year and a half later, the company had clocked a turnover of over Rs. 10 crores and had established a strong long term customer base that include the biggest of names such as Telco, Mahindra, TAFE and Premier Automobiles, among others, and an employee strength of 250. During his association with the TVS Group, he travelled extensively around the world on business to almost all countries except China and Russia. He also served as the president of ACMA (Auto Component Manufacturers Association) and CII (Confederation of Indian Industry). 

He paid a lot of attention to physical and mental fitness. For three decades from the 1970s, Sivaraman walked an hour every day, many times up to Thanithurai Market (on RK Mutt Road) and walked back (with vegetables in hand) to his home on Parthasarathy Street, off Kasturi Rangan Road. 

Interest in IPL even in his 90s

His interest in cricket (he was a left hand opening batsman during his college days) did not recede one bit and he was avid follower of the IPL. He also served as the President of Madras Hockey Association. All his life, he had been a voracious reader with a special liking for fiction especially detective stories. He kept track of the global developments especially in the auto sector and would read six newspapers every morning!!! After his retirement from Wheels India, VRS was involved with a number of start ups in Madras in an advisory role helping them see through the tough initial phase of growth. And he went out of the way to help truly deserving candidates with employment in Madras based companies. 

It was on the strong foundation laid by Sivaraman in the 1960s and early 70s that Wheels India grew into one of the world’s leading steel wheel manufacturers and now finds itself topping revenues of Rs. 2000 crores with a global customer base and multiple plants across the country. 

(Sivaraman passed away in 2015 aged 101)

This story is a version of the Magazine story this writer had written on the occasion of VRS' Centenary in 2014

Santha Narayanan

Inspirational Woman

State Champion then in the 1960s, and Now the TATA Mumbai Marathon Champion at 67                

       

Five decades ago, this teenager brought sporting fame to Stella Maris College as she helped the college grab the Inter Collegiate Athletic Champioship trophy from MCC that had dominated all the events in previous years. This year, just prior to the lockdown, the 67 year old Doctor went all the way to Bombay to participate in the ‘Tata Mumbai Marathon’ and came up trumps leading from start to finish as she picked up the Champion’s Medal. Here’s the story.

The 1960s at St Ebbas School

The Physical Director at St. Ebbas School on Radha Krishnan Salai was a sports enthusiast and groomed and mentored young athletes. She spotted the talent in this young school girl, who was in early teens and focused her attention on her. Starting 1966, under the intense training of the PD, Santha picked up all the trophies on offer in the age group tournaments. And then she joined the Science Group in Stella Maris College for her PU. Dr. AL Mudaliar Inter College Annual Sports meet was an important event in the annual sports calendar and Stella Maris had lagged behind in previous years with MCC sweeping the medals tally. 

Glory to Stella Maris College

In August 1969, led by Santha, Stella Maris clinched the Championship giving the college a famous victory that they had not previously experienced. Santha won all the events she participated in – the 100 and 200 meters, Long and High Jump and the Relay and bagged the Sportsperson of the Year award. So impressed was the Chief Guest with her performance, that Dr. Sarathy, the Dean of the Madras Medical College announced the allocation of a seat for medical seat for her right after the awards ceremony. And her sporting success story continued into her medical college days as well. Santha broke all athletics records during her teenage years. She also captained the University to a national victory, achievements that secured her the prestigious University scholarship for four years.

And then for four decades, Dr. Santha Narayanan continued to RUN, not on the sporting track but behind the family. As with traditional families from the decades gone by, she focused her attention on her husband and her son, in addition to performing her role as a Pediatrician, giving her sporting ambitions a boot.

Back to Sports at 60

It was only in May 2014 that she made a comeback to competitive running, driven by her fitness freak sister, Radha Krishnaswamy, former Indian Women’s World Cup Team's Fitness Trainer and wife of Tamil Nadu Ranji Cricketer V Krishnaswamy (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/08/krishnaswamy-v.html). 

In February 2015, she did her first 10km marathon at Auroville. Since then she has participated in the leading Marathon events in Chennai. Last year, she was the runner up in the Airtel Marathon in Hyderabad and came third in the Chennai Marathon. 

Till the beginning of the lockdown, her daily morning routine starting at 5.15am over the last 5 years comprised of a run from Woodlands on RK Salai to the Madras University and back. To get her accustomed to uphill runs, she also runs up and down on the flyover.

Lockdown not a Dampener

For many, the lockdown has dampened the mood but not for Santha. For the last three months, the 67 year old has been going through a rigorous fitness schedule with a programme devised on ZOOM by her sister Radha. Every morning through the entire period of the lock down, she has been put through a one hour regime that comprises of warm up, high intensity on the spot running, skipping and squats, this with the objective of strengthening the muscles and core improvements. She has also been doing regular breathing exercises that she says will contribute to the expansion of the lungs. She has also been following a meditation and yoga programme. 

As a senior citizen, the body is vulnerable and the immunity tends to be low. She says that following this disciplined fitness programme, she has discovered a never before felt lightness in the body and mind.  Dr. Santha has also been holding medical camps in the remote town of Arasalur, near Thottiyam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/09/navaneetha-krishnan-temple-arasalur.html?m=0), for the last 15 years. She says that if she has to continue to serve the people in that town, she would have to first keep herself fit. And that this fitness regime helps her in that endeavour as well. Last year, she was presented with the Best Doctor Award for her service to the Rural community.

The Mumbai Marathon - One of her Biggest moments

Just a month prior to the lockdown, she enjoyed one of her biggest moments of her life. She won the renowned international standard Tata Marathon in Bombay beating the best of the runners in the country completing the 10 kms run in 74 minutes.

Dr Santha Narayanan runs for fun and not to win the medal. What has been most pleasing to her in recent years has been the fact that youngsters half her age have taken inspiration from her early morning running routine and have begun to practice alongside her. Also, the next gen feeling the stress of the corporate world have found positive energy doing the morning runs alongside her. Early morning, there are now followers on the Beach Road waiting for this Grandma to take the left turn from the RK Salai. Inspired by her, a police officer decided to run the entire Marathon alongside her at the Auroville Marathon.

At 67, Santha is eagerly looking forward to making her debut at the TCS Marathon in Bangalore and the Delhi Marathon once the lock down restrictions are lifted. Till then, she is all set to continue her on the spot running and skipping at home. Truly Inspiring stuff this!!!

Srivathsan Cricket to TVS CFO

After playing in the SS Rajan Trophy against KR Rajagopal and PK Dharmalingam, teenager Srivathsan packed off his cricketing kit under his parents' orders to focus on academics - a move that paid rich dividends for he ended up with a top national rank in the CA Final

The offie made three passionate 'comebacks' in cricket playing till the age of 57 remembering his favourite Erapalli Prasanna each time he came on to bowl

He was just into his teens and it was the time he heard commentary on the radio of the now legendary S Venkataraghavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/04/venkataraghavan75.html) making his Test Debut. But what surprised him the most during the teenage phase was the fact that his home maker mother inspired and initiated him into cricket in Nagercoil. As with boys from remote towns, the cricketing passion was high even though the opportunities were limited. He played in SS Rajan trophy when he was 16 years old and dreamt of going up the ladder in cricket. But soon as was the case in middle class households in those times, his amma who created the cricketing interest in him and bought his first bat and ball asked him to pack off his cricketing kit and focus on academics. The boy went on to become the CFO of a TVS Group firm but his passion for cricket did not die and he went on to play amateur cricket till the time he was 57. Here is the story. 

Cricketing Debut in Nagercoil

S Srivathsan was introduced to cricket at the 40 acre Sethulakshmi Boys High School campus in Nagercoil that boasted of multiple grounds. There were no coaches and no correction to batting or bowling techniques. He made his cricketing debut in the Ratnavel Memorial Trophy playing for Kanniyakumari District. 

Becomes an Opening Bat in Tirunelveli

His father, an officer in the Income Tax Department met with transfer every 3 years and the school boy's next port of call was in Tirunelveli where he schooled at the Sankar Secondary School, one that promoted cricket in a big way even at the late 1960s. With the shortage of opening batsmen at that time (newcomers in early phase typically have a tendency to avoid the new ball), the physical director at the school asked him to register himself as an opening batsman. Characteristically, he was a patient boy and being thrown into the deep end as an opener suited his natural instincts for he displayed his patience and grit in full measure with his dogged defence. While Tamil Nadu’s Venkataraghavan’s was the first big name he heard in cricket, it was Karnataka’s two giants who were to become the young boy’s inspiration – for his off spin he looked up to EAS Prasanna and when it came to batting, GR Viswanath was and has always been his hero.

Bowling to KR Rajagopal in SS Rajan Trophy

Two of his biggest moments in the teenage life came in the early 1970s. While at the Tagore Arts College in Pondicherry (his father had been transferred yet another time), his captain handed him the new ball to bowl off spin (he has a hearty laugh looking back - the concept of off spinner Dipak Patel bowling with the new ball came only in the 1992 World Cup but this teenager had experimented it even in the 1970s). Srivathsan recorded one of his finest moments in cricket with the new ball for Pondicherry against Tirunelveli District in SS Rajan Trophy when he came up against the dashing and much feared KR Rajagopal and PK Dharmalingam. He was given the task of keeping Rajagopal quiet, mind boggling assignment. But much to his surprise, he kept him quiet for 8 overs with the new ball almost giving away nothing and he even received a few confidence boosting words of appreciation from Rajagopal. But soon Srivathsan got a taste of Rajagopal’s belligerence when he came back for his 2nd spell as he was smashed all over the ground conceding over 40 runs in his 2nd spell of 5 overs. The other big memory from that match was getting the wicket of PK Dharmalingam.

In that phase, Srivathsan was also the champion in the Single Wicket tournament organised in Pondicherry, a high point for him at that time to emerge as the top cricketer in the Union Territory. And his cricketing ambition seemed to be building up in those teenage years. 

Wheels India in the Thiruvallur League

There were plans to set up a University team at that time in Pondicherry and Srivathsan garnered hopes of playing University cricket as well. But his hopes were dashed when JIPMER pulled out of the plan 

(the medical college provide a large number of the cricketers in Pondicherry and without their presence, a team could not be formed). 

Meeting Legendary VV Kumar in Pondy

It was in that period at college that he came up against the legendary VV Kumar(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/07/cricket-tales-exclusive-with-vv-kumar.html). The Pondicherry association invited MCC to a match. When the team turned up at the ground on the morning of the match, Srivathsan was delighted to find VV Kumar and JC Patel. And for the first time, he saw the magician leggie at work. The batsmen tried to come down the pitch to meet the ball only to find it hanging in the air, dipping and then turning past them for the keeper to remove the bails. It was a delightful experience of facing the legend’s over that Srivathsan cannot forget almost 50 years later. VV Kumar vividly remembers staying in Ammu Nivasam in Pondicherry while they were there for that match. 

Playing at Chepauk

In a return gesture, the MCC invited Pondicherry cricket association to a match in Madras. And much to their surprise this match was played at Chepauk. For the first of the only two occasions in his life, Srivathsan had the privilege of walking out on to the field as a player at this great stadium and he remembers playing against the Haridas brothers in that match. 

From Cricketer to CA All India Rank Holder

That was the exciting part of his cricketing phase. But soon came a message from his parents, especially his mother that both saddened and angered him. They asked him pack off his cricket kit to a corner of their house in Mandaveli and to bid goodbye to his cricket kit and the whites as they directed him to focus on academics. He was graduating in commerce and his father asked him to take up both Cost Accountancy as well as CA “The message was clear and straight. Cricket will not feed you. There is no money in cricket. Focus on academics and settle down in a job”. It was disappointing and he felt dejected for a while but he respected his parents’ words and did not touch a cricket bat or a ball for a few years. 

Keeping cricketing thoughts aside, he focused on academics and shone. The parents’ advise paid rich dividends for secured the 11th rank nationally in his CA Final. As was the case in those days, big corporate offers came his way especially from the top companies in Bombay. And once again, his parents showcased the typical conservative middle class mindset and asked him to remain ‘local’ in Tamil Nadu and to take up whatever offer that came his way in the state. 

Pallipalayam - A 2nd coming in Cricket

He joined Seshasayee Paper Boards at their Pallipalayam plant near Erode in the mid 1970s where he remained for a decade. While he learnt the accounting processes and system at the firm, cricket came his way a second time. Salem Districts’ wicket keeper Chellamani was the Finance Head at the company. He had seen Srivathsan’s cricketing interest from the profile he had sent and asked him to join the team nets on just the second day of his stint at the company. They were impressed with his all round cricketing skills and became a regular in the company team for many years. When he started out in his teens, he was a dogged opener but with his favourite GRV making waves in the cricketing world especially after that magical knock of 97 Not Out at Chepauk against the West Indies, Srivathsan became a more ‘flamboyant’ batsman in his corporate days at Seshasayee and also remained for life a No. 4 batsman, a position in the batting order that the cricketing legend had made his own. Such was the impact GRV had on this passionate cricket fan that this amateur cricketer moved himself from an opener to a No. 4 batsman!!! 

Marker and Groundsman in the Popular Seshasayee Tourney

Cricket was active during the period of his tenure at Seshasayee and they even organised an annual 30 overs tournament bringing in teams such as the renowned SVPB from Udumalpet(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/06/svpb-udumalpet-soundararajan.html), Ramakrishna Steel and Friends XI, Coimbatore. During the days of this tournament, Srivathsan played the role of a marker and groundsman rolling the pitch, nailing the mat and drawing the creases. While he quit any hopes of development in cricket long ago, Srivathsan was delighted to play against the likes of Ranji Cricketer Peter Fernandez, NP Madhavan(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/05/np-madhavan.html) S Sukumar and PR Ramakrishnan in that tournament. Ramakrishnan remembers scoring a century against SVPB to secure the trophy for Ramakrishna Steels in 1979. SVPB opener Sukumar too has vivid memories of this popular tournament which the Udumalpet team won two years in a row. 

His association with cricket grew even bigger during his stint at Seshasayee. Seeking to increase this passionate association with cricket, he appeared for the umpiring exam and was interview by top notch Indian umpires, Mohd Ghouse and KB Ramaswamy and performed well. But just at that moment, life was to take a different turn for Srivathsan. With his daughters growing up Srivathsan felt the need for a move to Madras. 

TVS Directors' grill him

He had a rigorous interview at the TVS Group’s auto components firm Wheels India Ltd., at Padi being grilled for half hour by brothers and directors, S Ram (current Chairman) and S Viji (current Chairman of Sundaram Finance Ltd.,) and by the then Finance head SV Rajan, who was already touching 60 at that time. It was a tough interview but he did something right to get the nod from the directors. 

He had several lucrative offers coming his way but being in the finance profession, he felt it important to be part of a firm that was renowned for integrity and honesty in its business. And thus he joined Wheels India Ltd., in 1986 and continued with them till his retirement three decades later. 

CFO at 34

As life would have it, Rajan suddenly passed away just a year later. Soon after the board meeting on June 18, 1987, Director S Ram came to Srivathsan, who had a triple professional degree of Cost, CA and Company Secretary, to announce that founder TS Santhanam had nodded to his promotion as the Secretary and Finance Controller (CFO). He was only 34 years old and it was something that Srivathsan had not expected in his wildest dreams - to move up from Deputy Manager to CFO in under 18 months at Wheels India. 

A Third Comeback in Cricket

For almost close to two decades at Wheels India, given his position in the firm and with his children growing up, Srivathsan stayed away from cricket. It was only in 2004, when the TVS firms in Padi decided to play a tournament among the group companies that Srivats Ram, the then young MD of the company and a cricket enthusiast, informed Srivathsan that the company too would be playing in the tournament. It was a third time home coming for Srivathsan in cricket and he delightfully put together a corporate team along with a few other cricketing personnel in the firm. 

At Chepauk under Floodlights

For the second time in his life, he entered Chepauk this time to play the finals against Lucas TVS under the floodlights. He considers playing under the lights at Chepauk a delightful experience. Soon after, with MD Srivats leading the way, Wheels India became part of the Thiruvallur  Cricket League and very quickly the team was promoted to 1st division league after starting out in the 3rd division. Srivathsan continued to play for Wheels India in the Thiruvallur League till the time he was 57 rolling his arm over as he visualized himself as the (Erapalli) ‘Prasanna’ of Wheels India. 

Retires from cricket

Finally, just short of turning 60, he had to hang his cricketing boots for the final time when he received an email from his daughter in the US lovingly ordering him to stay away from the ‘Whites’ and to get away from the ‘teenaged cricketer’ feel that he was continuing to have. Four decades earlier, it was his mother who had put an end to his cricketing dreams and asked him to pack off his cricketing kit to focus on his education. And this time, the young 57 year Srivathsan was packed off from the biggest passion of his life by his elder daughter. 

Not to be undone, Srivathsan has had two memorable and unforgettable cricketing experiences since the time away as a ‘cricketer’. Just over a decade ago, he was sent by Wheels India on an official trip to Australia where he enjoyed the once in a life time opportunity of going around the MCG including making his way to the center wicket. And then a couple of years ago, soon after his retirement from Wheels India having served them for three decades, he made his way through the long room at Lords in the height of the English summer. 

As he came into the final phase of his corporate career, he moved back into Mylapore, a location that has been close to his heart for decades. Into his 60s, Srivathsan is now learning the Vedas. His one big regret in life has been of not being initiated into Sanskrit during the school days.

It has been a remarkable journey for this 67 year old former CFO of Wheels India. From nurturing cricketing ambitions to locking horns with VV Kumar and KR Rajagopal as a teenager, from rejecting lucrative job offers to donning the role of a marker and groundsman, from experiencing Chepauk as a cricketer to visiting the Home of Cricket, Srivathsan has had a passionate association with cricket. For the moment, he spends his lockdown days with a cricketing memorabilia, the Red Cherry from Lords that he picks up in his right hand relishing the memory from the early 1970s when the off spinner opened the bowling attack. With Srivathsan, one never knows. 

If he has Mohinder Amarnath as one of his favourites, one cannot discount him making a fourth comeback onto the cricket field. 

Sankapani Cricketer Turned Businessman

Cricket to Cement - After decades of uncertainty, the once famous opening partner of K Srikkanth is now making a ‘Dashing Comeback’ in his second innings                        Sanku has plans to foray into Cement Dealership as well as Ready Mix Concrete Business

Last month, this section featured a story on a first division cricketer from the 1990s, Promodh Sharma(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/05/promodh-sharma-cricketer-turned.html), who quit cricket at 20 and built an 80 million dollar business by the time he was 40. That story also briefly highlighted cricketers who continued in the first division well into their 20s only to end with financial challenges later in life. This story looks at one such cricketer who was a big local star and belonged to the latter category. 

Matching Cheeka shot for shot 

For a period in the 80s, VV Sankapani (Sanku in the cricketing circles) was spoken of in the same vein as Srikkanth for his dashing style of play. At the peak of his career, he had offers from leading organisations including MRF, Indian Bank, RBI and the Income Tax. However, he rejected each of those tempting offers preferring the partnership with his long time friend and Indian cricketing legend K Srikkanth and played for several years for TVS Alwarpet opening alongside Cheeka. Huge crowd gathered wherever Alwarpet played just to watch the two of them bat together with discussions centered on who would outshine the other that day. On many occasions, Sankapani won that battle. He scored 10 centuries for Alwarpet and an equal number of 90s. He always sported a smile and was a happy go lucky cricketer and one of the big entertainers in the city league cricket in the 80s. 

A Blistering Century at 40

Two decades later, I umpired a lower division league match at Vivekananda College where Sankapani scored a typically blistering century. After many years for Alwarpet in the shadow of Srikkanth, Sanku moved in the direction of many of the cricketers who belonged to the second category – he played through the early 20s hoping for the big break. He was on the verge of a Buchi Babu Tourney debut before losing that to Alwarpet teammate K Ravishankar. While he remained a crowd favourite, he could not break through to the state level (the grandmas of Mylapore did not like him though for he consistently broke the window panes of the apartments near the PS School ground with pulls and swipes that went well past the tall Western wall of the ground). !!! 

Delayed entry into the Corporate World 

By the time he realized that he would not be able to make it to the state team, he was already well into his 20s and past his prime. During his period of his success at Alwarpet as a professional cricketer, he received a great offer for the role of ‘Inspector’ at Income Tax but he continued his cricketing stint with Alwarpet (where he was paid a ‘cricketing fee’) choosing Srikkanth’s partnership as far more valuable than a Government posting. 

Later for a brief period, he looked like having settled down at Oriental Insurance but an office job did not seem to captured his imagination. Half a mind was on cricket and the other half questioned the need for financial security in life with a family behind him. And he quit the insurance firm to make a foray into the share market, with the hope of making it big but that decision did not go off well, financially. 

A Cricket Star in the Making

He had been one of the most consistent batsmen for South Zone in the inaugural edition of this inter Zonal U15 tourney in the late 1970s. In a rare move, he signed up with first division team Globe Trotters as his first league team before he was 15 years. The string of big scores that included a belligerent 73 against Central Zone helped him get into the National U19 summer camp. But as luck would have it the U19 tour of Sri Lanka was called off due to the ethnic problem. That was the closest Sanku came to National Selection. 

For a high quality cricketer from his teenage days, he spent a decade in financial insecurity. The IPL like it has done for many cricketers in the city provided him a ray of hope with a cricketing managerial opportunity that came his way. For a year, he was in a powerful post as the Operations Head of SRH (the Hyderabad team) coming into close contact with the biggest stars of World Cricket. But for an entertainer that he was, this engagement proved far too taxing for Sanku, both physically and mentally. And he chose not to take it up after the first year. 

When the TNPL was launched, he donned the role of the COO of Karaikudi Kaalai, a team owned by Chettinad Cements. He had known MAMR Muthiah for many years and he accepted this role. It seemed that he was once again in a top position before Chettinad decided to sell off the franchise leaving Sankapani almost jobless once again. During this period, he also took on the 'honorary' role of managing a lower division league team as the President of the club and he continues in that role to this day. Life after IPL and TNPL once again became a struggle as he lived on meager income. 

Into the Cements Business

And that’s when he got yet another fresh lease of life. MAMR Muthiah, his God Father now in the Cements business, offered him the cements agency business. In the last three years, he has once again been on the ground (not the cricket ground) understanding the nuances of the cement business and building a strong customer relationship. He has spent the time meeting hundreds of builders, contractors and masons and striking cement deals with them. He is now hoping to make a difference to the Small and Medium Builders and Contractors. He is personally involved in creating a Personalised Structured Plan for each one of them based on their requirement and cash flow, thereby creating value for them. That understanding of the customer is his biggest strength and that’s the value addition he has brought to the customer. As he moved into the cement agency business, two big groups straight away supported Sankapani signing up with his firm for the entire project. 

Just when things were looking up, Covid 19 hit his business hard. While April was really bad with the complete lockdown, there was a semblance of business coming back end of May. But this fortnight in June, he has something to really cheer about. Builders, contractors and masons, especially the small and medium ones, have all got back to work and this has reflected in the rise in enquiries for Sanku. While the enquiries are cheering him up, he feels it will be at least another quarter before he can be more confident about the way forward for his business. 

Big Business Plans 

Into the future, he is looking to take cement dealership as well as foraying into the Ready Mix Concrete business, both of which will be capital intensive. One of his big challenges has been the lack of funding from financial institutions. He is hopeful that they will begin to finance the working capital requirements of the sector that he believes will help kick start the business again in the post lock down scenario. 

Cricket to Cement

Like his batting at the top of the order, Sankapani has always flattered to deceive. Every now and then, he has given the hope of having found something to his liking but has pulled out just when one thought he had settled down. From a riveting teenage phase when he was a much feared opening batsman to losing out to his Alwarpet teammate in the Buchi Babu tourney, Sankapani experienced the highs and lows in cricket in the 1980s and early 90s. The decades after his cricketing phase has been a lot more challenging as Sankapani in the last two decades and more moved from a stable insurance job to the volatile share market, made his re-entry into cricket with IPL and TNPL and  has finally seemed to have found his place in the business world. 

With the three year experience in the Cement Sector, Sankapani now seems to be enjoying life more than ever before and is confident about his prospects. He has created a website for his firm and has even begun making power point presentations to his customers. For this great cricket entertainer from the 1980s, the cements business may yet become his biggest success story. One will have to wait and watch as to how things unfold over the next few years.