Entrepreneurs from multiple sectors shared their experiences and appealed to the engineering graduates to dream big and become job givers at a meeting organised by the Velammal Educational Trust on Saturday.
Titled – THE CONNECT – with the theme – ‘let us think together. Act together. Achieve success together’ was presided over by Velammal Educational institutions Founder and Chairman M.V. Muthuramalingam.
In his introductory remarks, he said that the meet was planned with the objective to make at least 10% of the outgoing students from the engineering colleges and business schools to become entrepreneurs. Apart from the curricula, the experiences by the entrepreneurs, who have made big in their fields, would impress the youngsters, he said.
Though Madurai stood next to Chennai in terms of population, the city lacked infrastructural facilities in many aspects. He hoped such interaction would kindle the minds of the youngsters to become successful entrepreneurs and take Madurai to the top in the country.
Pon Pure Chemicals Group Managing Director M. Ponnuswami said that after having passed out from a panchayat school in his native Erode district, he went in search of a job in Chennai. After a pause, he decided to start his own business. Since he required money to invest, he looked at some of his friends and relatives and raised a paltry sum. With a maiden turnover of ₹23000, he earned ₹3000 as profit. From there, he worked hard that the company had grown big that it has a chain of branches not only in India, but also in a few overseas countries.
Explaining that hard work and self-confidence kept him move forward, Mr. Ponnuswamy said that his companies paid mandatory duties/taxes to the governments and for which he received awards.
Thus conveyed the message to the students to be honest, sincere and believe in themselves and bury their ego.
In his address, G.R. Ananthapadmanabhan, Managing Director, GRT Jewellers, said that the thought process was essential for the youngsters and should not think of safety alone, which would make them as job seekers.
“Doing business means one is ready to take risks. Ideally, in his business, proper planning and understanding of the customers’ needs help build long lasting relationship,” he said.
He said that with 12,000 employees in their jewellery business alone, the company never missed the opportunity to give back to the society. While stressing that money is important, he also said that only entrepreneurs can give jobs and also make money. Challenges are there in business, but it should be dealt with hard work, patience and professional touch.
Madurai-based Thangamayil Jewellery Joint Managing Director Ba. Ramesh said that brand building was essential for any trade and with technology in hand.
He appealed to the students to think of becoming one. Appreciating the efforts of Mr. Muthuramalingam, he said that such opportunities were not there a few decades back for them and that they learnt the trade only through experiences.
He said that plan, prepare and execute should be the mantra for the neo-entrepreneurs and answered a few questions from the students.
Actor Soori, whose family runs Amman chain of restaurants in Madurai, said that he had come up through hard way.
“Only after two decades of struggle, I got my first chance to stand before a camera for a movie. Many days, he said, he had starved, but remained steadfast with the sole objective of achieving the goal. Born in a family of five, he said that he could not pursue much in formal education in a Corporation school in Madurai.”
He said that the fire within him had made him tall and popular today in an industry, which gives not only money, but fame too. Hence, he appealed to the students to set their goals and work without wasting their time.
Madurai-based Amma Mess Founder S. Senthil Vel said that he started the restaurant in his mother’s name (Amma Thai). Supported by his wife Sumathi and with his mother’s recipe, since inception in 1992, he had never compromised on the quality.
He said that with the unique preparation which others in the food sector could not deliver, he drew customers from far and wide. With this, Amma Mess, which began as a small stall, rose up to a big name that customers visited the restaurant again and again, he said.
Published – December 27, 2025 06:53 pm IST
