In the 1960s T S Narayanaswamy and K S Narayanan conceived the setting up Chemicals and Plastics India Ltd which later evolved into Chemplast Sanmar. Their respective children, N Srinivasan and N Sankar were equipped with undergrad degrees in chemical technology at the AC College of Technology and later their Masters in Chemical Technology at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.
SIGNIFICANT PRODUCER OF PVC…
The group also acquired Industrial Chemicals and later the reputed Mettur Chemicals and Industrial Corporation that was a significant producer of caustic chemicals. Sanmar specialised in the production of PVC from agricultural raw materials and evolved a significant producer of petrochemicals. Under Sankar’s leadership Sanmar expanded into a number of chemicals and engineering units and also forayed into shipping. He used his contacts in the west and the east in concluding collaborations for economic development with companies in Australia, Egypt, USA… The chemical complexes in Cuddalore and Mettur in Tamil Nadu owe a good deal to the enterprise of Sankar.
SPORTS AFICIONADO
The third generation scion of the Sankaralinga Iyer clan, Sankar had vast interests in cricket and tennis as well. He had good credentials as a tennis and cricket player and supported the Chennai Open annual tennis tournaments in early January ahead of the Australian Open. He was also the President of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and actively supported league cricket.
Sankar devoted time and funded liberally the Madras Management Association and the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I remember his imaginative conduct of monthly lectures by celebrities for the silver jubilee of MMA. He also retained the services of a senior journalist S Swaminathan to assist him in his hectic year of presidentship of ASSOCHAM.
SUPPORT TO SOCIAL CAUSES…
KSN’s family was also supporters of several iconic institutions of Chennai like the Cancer Institute, Sankara Nethralaya, the Child Trust Hospital, Willington Corporate Foundation, the Sankara schools… Sankar’s last shot was a handsome donation of Rs 5 crore to the Cancer Institute. Chairman R Seshasayee referred to the instant response when he mooted the plan to construct a new block at a cost of around Rs 2.5 crore. Sankar instantly committed Rs 5 crore.
SANKAR HELPED MADRAS TO MUSE
There is yet another facet of Sankar, of value to media, when S Muthiah, editor and founder of Madras Musings announced the cessation of this iconic publication on heritage in the editorial. In quick time Sankar mobilised support from a dozen business leaders of the city and ensured the continuance of MM. Over 30 years such support has continued and even helped MM flourish as an iconic publication. Equally Sankar’s support was extended to Sruthi, the magazine on music. (He did try to save Aside from closure but it eventually closed down after being taken over by the Thanthi group).
The post-Covid boom and success of the recent Rs 3580 crore initial public offer of shares to restructure
Sanmar group’s finances that helped consolidate the family’s control, should have been of considerable satisfaction to Sankar in his last days.
In a tribute to Pond’s V Narayanan, Sankar referred to the work-leisure balance of the younger generation of wealthy families: “at 4 pm, with clock-like precision a group of us would assemble at the Madras Cricket Club. The next few hours would be spent on tennis and scotch.” This work-life balance of Sankar should indeed be the envy of many. Sankar died on 17 April.
