‘Let’s adopt the German system’
May 23 2012, 02:55 IST
MV Subbiah, former chairman of the Chennai-based Murugappa Group, and the current chairman of the National Skill Development Corporation, was awarded the Padma Bhushan earlier this year for distinguished service of high order in the field of ‘Trade and Industry’. The Padma Bhushan and other honours sit lightly on Subbiah’s shoulders. He said after the announcement was made, “I have always felt that such honour though awarded to an individual is recognition of the team’s work. In my case, this is an honour for the great work done by the teams at the Murugappa Group and the National Skill Development Corporation.” This is typical Subbiah, modest and gracious, someone who genuinely does not like to draw attention to himself in spite of his many achievements.
The Murugappa Group was founded by Subbiah’s grandfather AM Murugappa Chettiar in 1934. The group was a pioneer in many ways, such as setting up the first cycle factory in the country. Subbiah entered the business 43 years ago. By the late 60s, things were beginning to slow down, and problems started surfacing. He emerged as a tough leader who could turn around ailing units. In the late 60s, he put group company Corborundum Universal back on the tracks. In the 70s, TI Cycles was beginning to lose out to competition from the West and the North, and was facing a lot of labour troubles that led to a ten-month lockout. Subbiah took a tough stand, was not averse to making unpopular decisions, and finally
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