Dharmaveera K. Govindaswamy Naidu

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Annur Dharmaveera Namboorar Sri K Govindaswamy Naidu (July 12, 1907 - January 28, 1995), popularly known as KG, was an industrialist and philanthropist from Coimbatore, in Tamil Nadu, in South India.

1 Background
2 Industry
3 Philanthropy
4 External links

[edit] Background

Annur Dharmaveera Namboorar Sri K Govindaswamy Naidu was born to an agricultural family. His formative years were difficult, and he had very little formal education. For a while he worked with his father who was a highway contractor. He started his own business before he was twenty years old, after gaining experience in a grocery shop as an assistant.

[edit] Industry

In 1932, KG started his first ginning factory. Over the next six decades, his industrial ventures were in cotton ginning and spinning, weaving denim fabrics, manufacturing terry towels, castings, motor pumpsets and entertainment with an asset base of Rs.200 crores and sales of Rs.300 crores, of which more than 25% came from exports. He believed in modern technology and set high standards in the business practices and for products manufactured. Revival of sick units was one of his business strategies. To create employment in rural areas, he located all his factories in villages, away from the urban areas. He insisted on employing women wherever possible.

[edit] Philanthropy

KG was a proponent of such ideals as vegetarianism, teetotalism, piety, simple living and punctuality. He was an early riser who believed that hardwork and discipline helped achieve whatever goals you set in business. His favourite deity was Palani Sri Dhandayudapani Swamy, who he believed to be the source of all his achievements.

KG donated generously to a number of causes: religious, educational, medical service, social services, and poverty alleviation. Among his good works are six schools, a hospital with 300 beds, and scores of temples. Annandhanam – serving food - was his favorite act of service. He donated to mosques and churches also. He believed that he was only an instrument in the hands of Lord Muruga in his service to humanity.