“Made in India” is the by-word for development today, as we try to emerge as a big manufacturing nation. However, there was a time when India was a leading manufacturing centre and had a double-digit share in global commerce. The handlooms and implements made in India were sought after globally and the more than 100 ports on our long coastline aided our exports.
After the Industrial Revolution in Europe and colonisation of India, our industries suffered and saw a lean patch. But, people such as Sir M. Viswesvaraya worked to put India back on her feet and founded organisations like the All India Manufacturers Association. Several young entrepreneurs joined the effort and Thyasamudram Shivarama Sankara Iyer or TSS (1913-2002) of Coimbatore, became its Secretary.
TSS, a cotton merchant, was a Director of Pioneer Mills in Coimbatore. He forged partnerships with a number of senior entrepreneurs, especially P.S.G. Rangaswamy Naidu and P.S.G. Ganga Naidu with whom he started Chromaton leathers, located in Podanur. TSS’ efforts were complemented by that of his spouse Saraswathi, daughter of Seshadri Iyer, Chairman of Pioneer Mills.
TSS married Saraswathi in 1936 and the couple settled down at Senguptha street in Ramnagar. TSS travelled far and wide for work and, thanks to his association with Sir M.Visvesvaraya, he often went abroad abroad. This exposure ensured that he included his wife and six sons in the pursuit of knowledge.
Saraswathi Sankara Iyer recalls, “I studied at the Udumalpet Board School and got married quite early. However, thanks to the atmosphere in Coimbatore and my quest for skill development, it was possible to learn accounting and I began writing our Income Tax accounts in addition to interacting with the auditors. I took care of all our correspondence. This was possible, as I doubled up as a home-maker and an office-person. The day began by 5.30 a.m. with the drawing of the kolam and the making of naivedyam for the pooja . This was followed by breakfast. We followed the traditional way of life while taking up the good aspects of western education and business practices. Due to my husband’ involvement in public life and business, we established a library, which helped our children to excel. We hosted several important personalities in our house in Ramnagar including Sir M. Visvesvaraya, C. D. Deshmukh, and industrialists like Guntur Narasimha Rao. Today I feel happy and content; I have led a productive life. I call myself Queen Elizabeth.” The couple’s Coimbatore-based sons — T.S. Ramani Sankar and T.S. Mohan Sankar — say, “Our parents were the first couple of business those days and our house was the first to get a telephone in Ramnagar. They were ahead of their times and brought in the best people to equip themselves with the latest technology. Even the horse-drawn cart they used in the early days had the best trappings to make travel comfortable. Both of them considered the library, books and business-related infrastructure at home to be extremely important. Father always said that manufacturing and education were essentials that brought in development.”
T.S. Sankara Iyer was one of those rare catalysts who acted as a bridge between the eminent citizens like Sir M. Viswesvaraya who were keen to usher in manufacturing and the growth-hungry manufacturing entrepreneurs of our region.
Rajesh is passionate about his city and is always looking for ways of documenting its history
