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| A success story |
The birth centenary of industrialist S N N Sankaralinga
Iyer falls on January 31, 2001.
A tribute to the pioneer. |
| S N N Sankaralinga Iyer combined many qualities
in himself. He was an explorer in the industrial field at a time when
the South Indian mind was largely property and employment-oriented
and there were practically no industries in South India, except the
textile mills in Coimbatore. Sri Iyer conceived an industrial plan
as early as the 1920s and 30s, the period which witnessed two World
Wars and complete stagnation. |
| Young Sankaralinga Iyer began to realise his dream
by first converting his private banking business into a limited concern.
He established the head-office of the Indo-Commercial Bank at Mayuram
with the help of a group of friends who continued to be his associates
for life. |
| The bank proved to be a major success. But, Sri
Iyer did not stop at that. He made a scientific study of the quality
and quantity of the limestone available and realised that the place
was the apt site for starting a cement industry. At that time ACC
was the only major cement manufacturer. A staunch Swadeshi, he felt
that cement production was the need of the day to support public works
taken up after the Second World War and launched India Cements in
1946. Thus he brought a new industry to the Tirunelveli district,
which cherishes the memory of this visionary who changed its face
and future. |
| With his perseverance, passion and courage,
in 1949 Sankar Cement was in the market and gave a fillip to
the post-war programmes. On the once barren land came up a beautiful
township called Sankarnagar, with trees, garden houses, guest
houses, schools, and other amenities for the staff. India Cements
launched its second plant in the 1960s at Sankaridrug in Salem
district. This plant was a milestone both for the company and
its founder. Sri Iyer continued to take keen interest in further
exploring the mining possibilities in Tamil Nadu. |
| The exploitation of gypsum in Coimbatore and
Tiruchi was his next successful step. He had many plans for
the development of the South. |
| He supported many charitable programmes. For
thousands of workers of the company, he was a friend not a master.
His successors have kept the flag flying high, following his
work and values. |
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| Reproduced with the permission of ‘The Hindu’. |
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