My unforgettable life experiences by Dr. Palani G. Periasamy
Dr.
Palani G.Periasamy is a first generation industrialist, an NRI who came back to
India to participate in the growth story of Tamil Nadu by starting several
industries and educational institutions.
In
his evolution as an Industrialist the
former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR had a catalyst role to play. In view
of his close association with him ,
there was an opinion in the world of
business and politics that he was the Front Man whom MGR was using to invest his own money. This led to the
author facing a lot of problems in running his industries after MGR passed away
and a new Government came into power. All through his turbulent but successful
career as an industrialist, Dr. Palani had to face a lot of criticisms from not
only politicians but also from a few friends who had invested money in his
projects, who felt that they were not getting enough returns.
`Periasamy
is really enjoying life. He travels in a Benz Car. Politicians, officials, film
stars and other VIP s are seen around him in celebrations` would be the crux of
the gossips.
`
When relentless criticisms were levelled against me , I could not rebut them as
that would have opened up a war of words. I decided that through this biography
I would tell the world the full and true
story and how I had to fight against all odds to reach the position I have
reached today.`
Out
of the 283 pages of the text in the book over fifty percent are devoted to the
author`s friendship with MGR recalling many interesting experiences with the
`Puratchi Thalaivar`. This may be because the inspiration for the book came
from a series of articles that the
author wrote in Dinamalar titled `I
& MGR`.
Dr.Palani met MGR during his first visit to USA as
chief minister. As he was the President
of Tamil Sangams of three States in USA,
he was requested, by MGR`s friends in India , to coordinate all
activities of MGR during his stay in USA. Watching MGR from close quarters
Dr.Palani`s respect and love for MGR
grew . He was impressed with his keen commitment to develop Tamil Nadu into a
top class state in terms of both industries and education and his humane
approach in dealing with people.
Dr.Palani
quotes the instance when MGR refused his
offer to travel in his big car instead of the small car which the Indian
embassy official had brought to the airport to
take him to the Hotel where he was staying. MGR responded, ‘I have come
at the invitation of the American Government. I will travel by the car sent by
them. Here it is the protocol that is important and not a big car or small car’.
On
another occasion MGR missed a train to New York from Baltimore because he was
busy at the platform talking to a woman who had travelled a long distance with
her child, just to meet him. He
justified his missing the train by telling Dr.Palani, “ Doctor! Rail may come
and go. But if I had not spoken to her
she would have felt hugely disappointed. Just look at the woman. How happy she
was`’
It
seems that MGR too was very impressed with Dr.Palani`s network , sincerity,
frankness and organising skills. Before he left USA, MGR requested Dr.Palani to help start a top
class management institution in Tamil Nadu. The establishment of Anna Institute
of Management in Chennai was the first
initiative in which the author actively helped the TN Government. Thus began
his tryst with Tamilandu and its industrial progress resulting in his starting a number of industries and
educational institutions later.
It
was during MGR `s second trip to USA when he was in the Brooklyn Hospital undergoing treatment after
a Kidney transplant that Dr Palani faced
a major crisis in his life. As a good friend he was actively helping MGR and
his team during their stay in the hospital. Back home it was election time and
the opposition started spreading the rumour that MGR was dead and that his body
was kept in an ice box by Dr.Periasamy.
Not knowing the true facts his family back home was also very upset. The
rumour had the potential of making AIADMK lose the elections. Periasamy, then decided to shoot a video
film, showing MGR in action in the hospital room, depicting him perform his normal activities, establishing that MGR
was recovering well. This video was
widely screened across Tamil Nadu turning the electoral scene in favour of
AIADMK. The Video tape really created
history in Tamil Nadu
Dr.Palani
was born to Palani Gounder and Palaniyammal in 1939 as the first male heir of
the family at Muthugapatti near Namakkal in Tamilnadu. His father was deep into
farming and agriculture oriented industries. Dr.Palani credits his father for inspiring him to help others who are in need
as a credo in his life.
He did his schooling in Sendamangalam High
School , 5kms from his village. He did his first college stint in Alagappa Arts
College in Karaikudi and later at St. Joseph`s college, Trichy where he passed
B A Economics with flying colours. This helped
him get an easy entry into Presidency College, Chennai to do his MA in
Economics. In Presidency college he got involved with the Students Union of the
college where his leadership qualities and organizing skills brought him close
to many politicians of the time including K.Kamaraj, the then Chief minister of
Tamil Nadu.
`As
a student leader I had the good fortune of being associated with several
industrialists, educationists, social workers and other VIPs which proved to be a turning point in my
life. My latter day successes in life was
the result of the rich experience I gained in Human relations as a student leader` says
Dr.Palani.
After
failing in his attempt to join the Indian Administrative Services, though he
had lucrative offers from a few private companies, he decided to join P.S.G.Arts College
in Coimbatore as a teacher as he realized
that teaching was his first love. Later
he joined the Tagore Govt. Arts College in Puducherry, where he rose quickly to become an Asst Professor. He was only 25.
When his efforts to get a doctorate in India failed he decided to go to USA to
pursue his dream. He earned a Phd from
the University of Pittsburg in Economics in 1969 after which he joined the
Washington college as an Asst Professor.
He was to become a very successful educationist during his stint as a popular
Professor between 1969 and 1987. He was also
earning good mone
It
was during his stay in Baltimore that he initiated the `Tamil Nadu Foundation
of USA` of which he became the Founder President. The Foundation encouraged the
NRI Tamils to donate money to the Foundation ` to extend assistance to the
health and education sectors in Tamil Nadu`. His success with the Foundation as
a leader led him to start the Federation
of Tamil Associations in North America ( FETNA). Before returning to India,
motivated by MGR, he had also started a company ` Mid-Atlantic Associates` and
invested in hotels, shopping malls etc. and earned sizable profits not only for
himself but other friends who had invested money in his company. He did not
realize at that time that this experience would lay the solid foundation for his becoming a leading
industrialist in Tamil Nadu, later. His move to Chennai to start industries was
largely because of the incentives offered by MGR.
Dr.Palani
says, `A portion of funds invested in my business was from my own earnings. The
rest was from the Tamils living in America who had faith and trust in me.
Unfortunately, those who did not know the facts spread
rumours that MGR had been my source of funds`
His
first industrial venture was Dharani Cements followed by Dharani Sugars. His
foray into educational field started with
PGP Arts College which was followed by PGP College of Engineering,
PGP Polytechnic College, PGP College of Education , Dharani International
School, Dharani Matriculation High School and PGP International School.
It
was MGR again who goaded him to start a
Star Hotel of International standard in
Chennai. Though the initial idea of starting a joint venture with the
Tamil Nadu Govt. failed because of the
political developments after MGR`s demise, Dr.Palani went ahead and
started the `Le Meredian Hotel in 2000
on his own with support from friends. `Le Meredien` proved to be one of the
very successful ventures of the PGP group leading him to start another `Le Meredien
Hotel` in Coimbatore.
From
Muthugapatti to Washington, from a teacher to a leading industrialist,
Dr.Palani`s life story is both interesting and inspiring.
Published by Vanathi Parhippakam, the original
biography in Tamil was written by Dr.Palani in association with the Tamil writer Rani
Maindan and it has been translated into English by the bi-lingual writer
Charukesi.
