S. Anantharamakrishnan

Sivasailam Anantharamakrishnan (1905 – 18 April 1964), affectionately called J, was an Indian industrialist and business tycoon who founded and led the Amalgamations Group of industries from 1945 to 1964.

Anantharamakrishnan was born in Tirunelveli in 1905 and had his education in Tirunelveli and Madras. In 1935, he joined the Simpson Group as a secretary and in 1938, became the first Indian director in the management of Simpson Group. He served as the Chairman of the Group from 1953 till his death in 1964.

Anantharamakrishnan is remembered for his successful business practices, efficient management of the labour unions and for triggering the growth of the automobile industry of Chennai which has earned the city the epithet "Detroit of India". As a result, he himself came to be remembered as the "Henry Ford of South India".

Early life

Anantharamakrishnan was born in Alwarkurichi Village of Ambasamudram Taluk in Tirunelveli District on 11 November 1905. He had his schooling at Government High School, Tirunelveli and graduated from Government College of Commerce in Madras. In 1930, he joined Fraser and Ross Limited as an accountant.

Early years with Simpson and Co

Anantharamakrishnan joined Simpsons Group, a British-owned South Indian business conglomerate as Secretary in 1935. He became one of the three directors and the only Indian director (the other two being European) in the board of Simpsons group Anantharamakrishnan, also called "J", was responsible for the rapid expansion of the Amalgamations group in the 1940s. Anantharamakrishnan took over Amalgamations Group in 1945, though he officially became its Chairman only in 1953. In 1945, Anantharamakrishnan purchased Associated Publishers on behalf of Amalgamations and added the new companies to the group. According to popular Chennai historian S. Muthiah, the successful takeover was the result of an overheard conversation at a Hotel Connemara. India Piston was established in 1949. This company produces pistons, piston rings, piston pins and cylinder liners.

Commemoration and legacy

Anantharamakrishnan is highly regarded for his business acumen and is credited with a large-scale increase in the production of automobiles in Chennai city that have earned Chennai, the epithet "Detroit of India". A former employee, in an interview, recounted that Anantharamakrishnan was strongly against the use of political lobbying in order to secure business interests. Anantharamakrishna is, himself, known to have authored a 6-page publication titled "Industrial disputes — How to prevent them".

A book on Anantharamakrishnan was released during his birth centenary on 12 November 2005 by former Supreme Court of India judge Ratnavel Pandian in the presence of his sons, A. Sivasailam and A. Krishnamoorthy.

The Anantharamakrishan Prize and the Anantharamakrishnan Memorial Lecture have been instituted by the Amalgamations Group in his honor.

Publications