A Key TVS Figure, H Lakshmanan, Died

After battling age-related illnesses, H Lakshmanan, the former Executive Director of Sundaram-Clayton (now TVS Holdings Ltd), passed away at the age of 91. For almost 70 years, he played a pivotal role in the TVS Group, greatly influencing its expansion and prosperity. Lakshmanan, who began his career as a typist, became a trusted confidant of the TVS family and was renowned for his outstanding managerial abilities, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to the business.

Important Contributions and Legacy

Early Career and Ascent

• At the age of 20, Lakshmanan started working as a typist and eventually rose to become an essential member of the TVS Group.

• The late TVS patriarch T S Srinivasan and his son Venu Srinivasan, the Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company, trusted him.

Important Functions in Development

• Contributed significantly to the creation of the Padi manufacturing facility in the 1960s.

• During his tenure from 1960 to 2015, he made a substantial contribution to the company's growth and strategic direction.

Joint ventures and strategic alliances

• Playing a key role in establishing joint venture contracts with international partners, Dunlop (for wheels)

• (For air brakes) Clayton

• Girling (for India's Brakes)

• Lucas (for TVS Lucas)

• Important negotiator in high-stakes agreements like the BMW TVS Motor licensing deal and the Suzuki joint venture.

Human Resources and Labor Realities

• Played a vital part in labor talks, settling union conflicts and creating a peaceful workplace.

• Resolved important labor disputes in Hosur in the late 1980s and Chennai in the 1970s.

• Gained respect for his composed, unwavering approach to banking and HR issues.

Appreciation and Deference

• Venu Srinivasan has referred to him as the "Chanakya" of the TVS industrial empire because of his exceptional business sense and growth-promoting contributions.

• Known as the “Bhishma Pitamaha” of TVS, he was acknowledged by union leaders, including INTUC leader R Kuppusamy, who praised his efforts to improve the lives of workers and settle disputes.

A Tradition of Honesty and Commitment

• Lakshmanan left behind a legacy of devotion, integrity, trust, and superior management.

  He made a lasting impression on the TVS Group by establishing a benchmark for morals and leadership.