For smooth Ad free experience
T.V S. Iyengar was a pioneer of the automobile sector in India. He started with a bus company which later expanded into various sectors and became today's TVS group which is the 3rd largest Motor company in India with exports to over 60 countries.
Died on 28th April 1955
Thirukkurungudi Vengaram Sundaram Iyengar. A question that now arises is, how do we pronounce this guy’s name. Well, let’s just say that his name is as big as the brand that he has built. Ever heard of ‘Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh, Mud Mud Ke’ and ‘Badi Bhi, Badhiya Bhi’. If not, then you have missed out on some of the best advertisements f the world-famous brand called TVS.
Yes, today we will be entering the world of TVS Vehicles on a scooter. So, get ready for the fun ride.
A man with a huge white and red tika with dreams as big as his name started his journey from Tamil Nadu. As an obedient son, he always tried to fulfil his father’s wishes but he had no idea that his entire success was written in his name itself. As an effective communicator, he kickstarted his career as a lawyer. Though as a lawyer he was quite successful, it did not stop him from trying out other work fields such as railways and banking.
Iyengar’s passion led him to take one of the most difficult decisions his of life which might have ruined his perfect son image. He took a permanent break from his job and started chasing his dreams.
Sundaram had put his foot on the first step of the success ladder when he built the foundation of his company in 1911. His first initiative was to build a brand which would provide bus service in his hometown. T.V. Sundaram Iyengar and Sons Limited became a renowned name in Tamil Nadu.
As they say, “where there’s a will, there’s a way", Iyengar was a man who paved his own path and made it to the top. His intelligent hands worked diligently day and night and thus, came into being one of the most innovative creation called the TVS Gas Plant. This Gas Plant was a savior during the Second World War in Madras when petrol was as scarce as dinosaurs.
A company built with love and dreams by Iyengar initially started as a bus service company. Nobody ever thought that at some point in future, it would have a whooping turnover of US$8.5 Billion with more than 60,000 employees.
TVS’ dreams did not halt here. He went on to establish a rubber retreading factory which also became quite popular. A single man’s passion soon turned into a family business when he grew two more trees from the grand TVS Company, called Madras Auto Service Limited and Sundaram Motors.
Iyengar was hitched to Lakshmi Ammal and they had a grand family of eight children – five sons and three daughters. All of his sons worked together under the TVS roof and took his legacy to the forefront.
Apart from being one of the most successful business moguls of the 1900s, he was also a great lover of art and culture.
India lost the TVS Man on 28 April, 1955. He took his last breath in his hometown, Kodaikanal at the age of 78.
So, this was the story of a grand man with a grand name, who had a grand dream of building a grand company. Even after his grand death, his grand family continued his grand legacy.
You might be interested in reading more from
