M.A.M. Ramaswamy

Shri M.A.M. Ramaswamy, a politician from Janata Dal (Secular) party, is presently a Member of the Parliament of India representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. He is also the Pro-Chancellor for Annamalai University.

External links

* [http://164.100.24.167:8080/members/website/Mainweb.asp?mpcode=1973 Profile on Rajya Sabha website]

Shri Dr. MAM Ramaswamy has been a great living legend in developing the Annamalai University after his father Sir Rajah Muthiah and his grandfather Sir Annamalai Chettiar. He is the current Pro-Chancellor of Annamalai university. The present Pro Chancellor Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy was nominated by the Chancellor to succeed his father as Founder Pro-Chancellor of the University. With the insight of a skilled entrepreneur, the organisational capability of an executive, the versatility of a venturesome industrialist, and the qualities of leadership and organization, he has continued to show the same care and guidance for the growth and development of the University with a sense of devotion and commitment.

Thanks to his guidance and encouragement, several new courses like bio technology, bio informatics and job-oriented courses have been started in various Faculties and Directorate of Distance Education. As a patron of sports, he has paid attention to the growth and development of the Physical Education Department, by adding to it the enviable Tennis Complex, the Gymnasium and Sports Laboratory.

The University which started with only seven departments in 1929 has, over the last 75 years, developed into a mighty institution of higher learning with nearly 48 Departments, in all 9 Faculties. This is one of the very few institutions in India with all the Faculties located in the same campus. The University can be proud of a well equipped Central Library and Laboratories providing very good facilities for taking up research projects, for Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral work. Several Research Projects have been undertaken by various Faculties funded by several agencies including the State and Central Governments. A close interaction has been developed between the institution and the neighbouring industries for promotion of research and training programmes.

Thus the University campus enjoys an atmosphere which exudes a fragrance of sweetness, heightened by enlightenment. As aptly observed by Dr.S.Radhakrishnan when he headed the Indian Universities Grants Commission “the Annamalai University is eminently fitted to be a genuine centre of learning and culture by virtue of its situation and its beautiful campus.” MAM is easily the world’s biggest horse owner. He has nearly 700 horses in training. He also owns a Stud Farm. Thus his commitment to the sport is truly phenomenal. There is hardly any horse owner in the country who plans out as meticulously the racing program of all their wards as he does. It is no mean task for he also has a business empire to take care of. The professionals who have been patronized by him have all reaped a rich harvest for he is a generous patron. His trainers have benefited immensely by his ability to target the horses for specific races, with outstanding success. His keen eye for spotting champions has been the envy of all.

What strikes about MAM is the single-minded pursuit of anything that he wishes to get. Quite strangely, he won every big race in the country as many times as he wished to but he had to wait for more than two decades to win his first Indian Derby. Today, his tally in the mother of all Derbys stands at four and by the look of things, it is sure to swell in the coming years.

Dr.M.A.M. Ramaswamy(herein will be referred as MAM) is a true sports enthusiast though his energies have been mostly concentrated on racing. He was the President of the Indian Hockey Federation and during his stewardship, India won its first and last World Cup hockey championship. Indian sport is poorer because his obsessive indulgence has not spread to other sports. One thing is sure: Come what may, MAM will never be tired of horse racing. Such is his zeal and passion for this sport, which has seen him earn the unique distinction of winning more than 320 classics, a feat that is unlikely to be bettered in a hurry.

MAM is a god-fearing man. " I am god-fearing and highly superstitious. On every big day in racing, I have been wearing the same tie for the last 30 years. I carry the same purse though it has seen better days," says MAM. Till recently, MAM used to wear the same rust colored shirt and the coat, which he had worn for a number of years on all the big occasions because he considered them to be lucky mascots which brought him the desired results. Only of late, he has discarded the coat and the shirt but the tie continues to be the same. MAM is excessively obsessed with winning classics but even this trait does not make him buy horses, which are Asudars (horses which have a mark over their forehead at a particular spot), which is supposed to be unlucky.

MAM loves to dominate. He has kept racing at Chennai going single-handedly. It is difficult to understand why MAM does certain things, which have not gone well with many. He obviously must have a reason but he prefers to keep it to himself. He is unpredictable and it is this trait, which has kept people guessing as to his next move. He loves to spring surprises on people, pull a fast one but he would do anything to ensure that the sport does not suffer. The contradictions of the man are what make him an enigmatic colossus. Race-goers adore him as much as they are wary of him. But one thing is sure: None can take him for granted for his aggressive personality ensures that people do his bidding even before he expresses himself.