Indian Textile Industry Mourns The Loss Of Its Doyen Manikam Ramaswami

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Indian Textile Industry Mourns The Loss Of Its Doyen Manikam Ramaswami

A pioneer in the field of textiles, Manikam Ramaswami, the CMD of Loyal Textile Mills breathed his last on Monday in Chennai. He was 63-years-old.

According to reports received from his close quarters, Ramaswami collapsed soon after anesthesia was was registered on him for carrying out a dental procedure. From there he was shifted to a Adayar-based private hospital where they declared him dead on arrival. Ramaswami who was the spearhead of the Loyal Group also owned P.Orr & Sons. The company was popular for dealing and servicing watches.

Being a pioneer in textiles apart, Ramaswami was very passionate about the field of education. He closely worked and monitored with the Thiagarajar School of Management, Madurai besides Thiagarajar Model Higher Secondary School. In addition, he was also closely linked to the Thiagarajar College of Preceptors in his capacity as a secretary.

His track records in the field of textiles too speak of a brilliant trail. He was the former chairman of TEXPROCIL, the premier Indian agency for export of cotton and cotton related goods. He was also the honorary Consul for Chennai representing the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Ramaswami is known to have closely worked with the government at the centre for implementing the Technology Upgradation Fund scheme. His other achievements that contributed to the textile industry included the modular drawback system and CENVAT route for the textile industry.

Newly elected chairman of Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) bemoaned his death and said, “It’s a big loss to the textile industry.” He recalled Ramaswami’s role in boosting yarn exports as chairman of TEXPROCIL.

Ramaswami joined his family business way back in 1975 when Loyal Textile Mills was a 2.5 crore rupees company. He spearheaded the operations and brought it to the level of a Rs. 200 crore plus company.

Ramaswami is a mechanical engineer from IIT Madras and also the recipient of a gold medal from the Banco Foundation. In his college final year project he received a patent for coming up with a oscillating piston internal combustion engine.

His other illustrious roles included that of chairman of SIMA and being a key player in the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

He is survived by his wife Valli Manikam Ramaswami and daughter Vishala Ramaswami.