OBITUARY 2 - GG LEFT A BETTER EARTH THAN THE ONE HE ACQUIRED!

GG LEFT A BETTER EARTH THAN THE ONE HE ACQUIRED!

By P S SUNDAR

                     

                        “Few times last few days, GG was saying ‘Sundar would come and we can have lunch together’.  Somehow, he was thinking that you would join us for lunch” – when Lakshman and his wife Nalini told my wife and me at Jain Kalyana Mandap, Coonoor, during the ‘Surabhi Sanstha’ Jain ladies’ organisation’s charity gala on Sunday, Oct 20, 2013, we rushed to see him taking rest in his car.   We had a jolly-good chat when I invited him for his favourite breakfast with us listing all possible items on the menu.  But, little did we realise that it would be our last meet as three days later, on Oct 23, 2013, he passed away.

                                                            

Mr G Govindarajulu, GG as he was popularly called, was among those few Chairmen who were an embodiment of rich tradition mixed with modern outlook.  He was the longest serving Chairman-cum-Managing Director of The Devashola (N) Tea Estates Co Ltd having led the company for 28 years until he breathed his last at 89 years.

When he acquired Palaniappa and Sultana estates, these properties lacked infrastructural facilities. Because of his foresightedness to improve them, he has left behind a better property than the one he acquired.   Thanks to his broad outlook, today, Sultana and Palaniappa are among the most sought-after jewels in the Western Ghats.   He used to tell me that these were ‘paradise on earth’.

He had been a symbol of experimentation for progressive change.  This is evidenced by his support for eco-friendly approach through zero-cost farming adopting natural agriculture friendly to the flora and fauna of the region and subsequently, the organic cultivation leading to the creation of vermi-compost unit including Panchakavyam.  The cattle shelter unit is a glorious attempt to save cattle condemned for butchery and has enhanced the spiritual value for the properties.

There had been successful efforts in producing zero-processing tea like silver tips through canvas and shade.

During his tenure, Palaniappa Estate became a meteorological station and this made Colacamby a reliable agro-zone of the Nilgiris.  Meteorological data collected from this station are used by tea industry and meteorological officials

The eco-friendly adventure tours he pioneered has led to Palaniappa and Sultana gaining enhanced value for recognition as the apt rendezvous for energy-boosting corporate teamwork training including rope walking, rock climbing, tent-staying, trekking and nature-study.   Nature-linked lifestyle including using food-grade mud pots for cooking and staying in bunkers was a great hit with youth from India and abroad. Throwing open the 650-acre variety plantation and cottages and labour lines to visitors gave opportunity to the uninitiated to learn about such plantations and appreciate Western Ghats as home to rich flora and fauna.   Many have wholeheartedly thanked GG for this. 

GG had regarded his workers and staff as the greatest assets.  This year, his manpower was happy to receive his blessings when he disbursed the bonus.   The renovation of the temple and conduct of Kumbabishekam there were highly appreciated by his workforce.

He was also Chairman of The Nilgiri Agro Agencies (P) Ltd and Director of The Mysore Fertilisers Co (P) Ltd and Self Savings Scheme (Chit Funds) Pvt Ltd.

On the social front, he had been a member of Rotary Club of Nilgiris in the beginning and later for several decades, a highly respected member of the Lions Club of The Nilgiris of which he was the oldest Past President.

As a strong supporter of cultural activities, GG was a prominent front-row personality at most of the 138 programmes the Nilgiris Cultural Association (NCA) had organised in the last 15 years of its service to the cause of cultural promotion. .  He played major role to promote Tamil culture through lyricist and cine song-writer Vairamuthu.  He was physically lifted sitting on his wheel chair to the auditorium of St Joseph’s Boys’ Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, On Sept 28, 2013, to attend the ‘Life Redefined’ programme of dances on wheelchair organised by NCA. That was the last NCA programme he enjoyed.

“As founder Trustee of Nilgiri Sri Sai Trust, GG had contributed significantly to the construction of Sai Kailash Mandir in Yellanahalli.  We will name after him the new staying facility for devotees”, Nilgiri Sai Organisations’ President Dr Ramu told me.   The organisation staged bhajans in his honour.

Little wonder, therefore, that thousands of people from different walks of life attended the funeral of this renowned industrialist and philanthropist and offered their heartfelt condolences to his sons M Lakshman (wife Nalini), M Balaji Rao (Sharmila), grandsons Ashwin (Aishwarya) and Rohit and granddaughter Seetha (who lives in Hongkong with her husband K Sambasiva Rao and son Siddhartha and daughter Sadhana).  GG’s wife Lakshmi had passed away on April 1, 2010.

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