S. N. N. Sankaralinga Iyer

S.N.N.Sankaralinga Iyer (b.January 311901) was an Indian industrialist, philantrophist and business magnate. He founded India Cements in 1946 and became its first Managing-Director. The corporation later diversified its activities leading to the formation of the Sanmar group.

Early life

Sankaralinga Iyer was born on January 31, 1901 in Thanjavur district. In 1918, at the age of seventeen, he married Pichumal who gave birth to his eldest son, K.S.Narayanan at Kallidaikurichi in Tirunelveli District in 1919. In 1937, K.S.Narayanan started of as an agent of the Palghat branch of the Indo-Commercial Bank started by his father and would later, on his father's death, become the Chairman of India Cements and the Sanmar group.

Since his early days, Sankaralinga Iyer desired to promote the industrialization of South India whose economy was largely agricultural at that time. However, his first venture was financial as he established the Indo-Commercial Bank with its head-office at Mayuram in Tirunelveli District with the help of a group of friends. The bank was a success and Sankaralinga Iyer made a fortune. However, greater successes lay in store for him. He began to examine the quantity of limestone available at the site and was well impressed. This resulted in the founding of India Cements in 1946.

Birth of India Cements

The first plant was established in the year 1949. This gave a big boost to the post-war Indian economy. A new township called Sankarnagar was established for the sake of the workers in the plant. India Cements launched its second plant in the 1960s at Sankaridrug in Salem district. This plant was a milestone both for the company and its founder. S.N.N. continued to take keen interest in further exploring the mining possibilities in Tamil Nadu.

ee also

* List of Iyers

Sources

# [http://www.sanmargroup.com/Newsmain/Pressclips/success.htm A tribute to S.N.N.Sankaralinga Iyer on his birth centenary]

External links

* [http://www.sanmargroup.com/ Website of the Sanmar Group]