A man of many parts (1931-2015)
Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy (MAMR) who passed away in Chennai at the age of 84, was a scion of a family with a royal lineage, popularly known in those parts as the ‘Rajah’ family hailing from the small town of Chettinad in Tamilnadu. During his long and eventful journey through life, he wore many hats and was a business magnate, educationist, parliamentarian, philanthropist and a keen sports enthusiast and administrator as well. He was the brain behind the Chettinad group which had diversified interests across several verticals including cement, granite, engineering, logistics, minerals, healthcare and education. His grandfather Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar and his father Rajah Sir M.A. Muthiah Chettiar along with his uncles M.R.M. Ramanathan Chettiar and M.A. Chidambaram Chettiar built the Chettinad group from scratch and M.A.M. Ramaswamy who took over the mantle from them further diversified and expanded its activities, turning it into a multi-million dollar business conglomerate. As the pro-chancellor of Annamalai University, he earned laurels for developing the institution. The University which had just seven departments grew extensively to reach as many as forty eight departments and is today one of the leading institutions in the field of distance learning as well.
Ramaswamy had an abiding interest in sports including hockey, tennis and horse racing. He served as the President of the Indian Hockey Federation and his tenure was hailed as the golden period of Indian hockey when the national team won the World Cup in 1975. Many players who donned the nation’s colours during his stewardship have gone on record to say that MAMR was a highly motivating leader who never hesitated to even utilise his own resources to ensure that the boys never had to forgo anything by way of facilities, allowances etc. But it was as a turf baron that he won laurels galore and also entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first racehorse owner in the country to win a hundred classics. Eventually his horses went on to win over four hundred classics, and that is a record that is certain to stand the test of time. Hailed as the Bard of Racing in turf circles, Ramaswamy who is believed to have owned as many as a thousand thoroughbreds at one point of time was a revered and respected figure at race courses around the country and horses that sported his colours were the favourites of punters. Almost all the major trainers and jockeys worked for him at one point of time or the other and his knowledge of horseflesh was legendary, something that his contemporaries would vouchsafe.
Ramaswamy and his late wife Sigappi achi were well known in social circles for their benevolence and charitable disposition, and several welfare trusts floated by them have rendered yeoman service in the fields of poverty alleviation, ensuring educational facilities for the underprivileged and so on. The couple who were issueless had adopted a son, but after the death of his wife the relationship between the adopted son and the father soured, and events came to such a pass that he disowned his son and appointed his cousin, industrialist A.C. Muthiah as the administrator in charge of the trusts floated by him. MAMR also lost his Directorship in his flagship company and was designated as Chairman Emeritus, a post he held till his death. Although not actively involved in politics Ramaswamy got a ticket to the Rajya Sabha courtesy former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) president Deve Gowda, and served a stint in the Upper House from 2004 to 2009. Among several distinctions and doctorates that were conferred on him, he was also a recipient of the Padma Shri from the Government of India. The last days of the flamboyant business tycoon and racing baron were however spent in combating a series of illnesses culminating in his death. MAMR however has done enough in his lifetime to ensure that his good deeds will outlive him, and that those who benefited from his munificence will keep him enshrined in their memories.