In the pre-Independence era, when most industries were British run and there were few opportunities for Indians, there was one man from Madras who decided to break away from his previous employers and set up his own automobile service business. Soon, his company grew from strength to strength and he went on to add more portfolios to his already impressive repertoire. After his untimely demise in 1956, it was his son, and later his grandson, who took forward his vision and built the Rayala Corporation into the Rs. 600 crore empire that it is now.

The incredible story of M. Rajagopala Naidu, a man with humble beginnings who founded one of the most successful industries in Chennai, is documented in the book The Rayala Story. Penned by Sriram V., the book, which tells the tale of one of the oldest business families in the city, was launched in a ceremony that was filled with nostalgia with several of the city’s elite in attendance. The book was released by L. Lakshman, chairman of the Rane Group, and the first copy of the book was handed to Karumuttu Kannan, chairman and MD of Thiagarajar Mills, both long standing associates of the Rayala group.

The memoir, which was the brainchild of Ranjit Pratap, Rajagopala Naidu’s grandson, chronicles the latter’s journey from being the foreman at Addison Co to the patriarch of a respected business house, and the company’s evolution over the years. “I’ve wanted to have this book published for many years now and I am glad that it has finally happened. My grandfather passed away when I was three, but I’ve heard so much about him from his associates. He was a man with great foresight and was a compassionate philanthropist. It is only right that his story be told,” said Ranjit.

The book, incidentally, was released on the 92nd birthday of M.R. Pratap, who decided to consolidate the company after his father’s death and turned his focus on the company’s typewriter business. Author Sriram V. said, “He has such vivid memories of his father and the company’s journey over the years. We would meet him for an hour for research for this book and he would surprise us each time with his impeccable notes and recollection of all that we had discussed in the previous meetings. I’d say we had a hard time keeping pace with him.”

Shyamala Badsha, Rajagopala’s daughter, threw light on the kind of man her father was outside of work. Known for his punctuality and business acumen, he also encouraged the women of the family to strive for the best. “He would insist that we study well, got our exercise, ate our greens and kept our rooms tidy. He taught us the importance of hard work. He was the sort of man who would be the picture of sartorial elegance at the office and at home be equally comfortable spending time with his grandchildren in his dhoti,” she said. The Rayala Story chronicles the story of not just M. Rajagopala Naidu, but also the people behind the corporation and its ties with other Chennai-based business entities.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> MetroPlus / by Ranjani Rajendra / July 21st, 2015