D.Dhorrairaaj (D D) is the Past President of the Coimbatore Cosmopolitan Club and the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore. He was also the Regional Grandmaster of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India. DD spoke at length about the past and his quiver of memories seemed to be never ending.
D.Dhorrairaaj (D D) is the Past President of the Coimbatore Cosmopolitan Club and the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore. He was also the Regional Grandmaster of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India. DD spoke at length about the past and his quiver of memories seemed to be never ending.
"My father A.Doraiswamy Naidu (1906 - 1990) was the son of V.Abboi Naidu and Tulasi Amma. Grandfather co - founded Radhakrishna Mills along with his younger brother V.Rangaswamy Naidu and a few others nearly 100 years ago. Father had just done his SSLC but he was very intelligent. He was well read and was good with engineering and medicine. A number of people havebenefited from his medical advice. He used to look after the family lands for many years. His farming activities yielded good returns. Our huge well in the family farm was about three fourths of an acre and a huge 30 horse power oil engine would run non stop for days together. A pipeline was used to take water across Avinashi Road to our extended farms which had been located on the opposite side. He used to share his knowledge with the Agricultural College those days. His interest got him to get a huge tractor made by Hanomag of Germany. He used to have two assistants on his side and run the tractor on our lands. This tractor had big head lights and strong rear lights too. He studied the tractor and understood that this could be modified and used like a battle tank. This understanding prompted him to write a letter to Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of Germany. The letter was intercepted by the British and my father was placed under a house arrest situation for sometime ! I still remember those moments," smiled D.Dhorrairaaj.
A.Doraiswamy Naidu was married to Rajammal, the daughter of Venkatagiri Ammal and Krishnama Naidu (Sri Hari Mills) D. , who were known for their work culture. A. Doraiswamy Naidu and Rajammal were blessed with Dhorrairaaj, D.Balasundaram, Indra Doraiswamy and D.Ramachandran. DD had spent his early days with his maternal grandmother at Puliyampatti.
"Grandmother Venkatagiri Ammal was a hard working lady. She was the sister of ' Rose Bed ' A.G.Guruswamy Naidu and was a hard working person. Her bullock cart was uncovered and she used to carry drinking water in a huge container along with her. Thirsty farm hands working in the cotton fields would be given water. Her work yielded results and she acquired a lot of lands as a result of her work. Grandmother would have a nice and clean knife wrapped in a fresh piece of cloth. This was used by her to deliver kids in the nearby villages," added DD while reminiscing about his elders. Dhorrairraj had done his education at Puliyampatti then at St.Micheals, then at Government Arts College. This was followed by a degree at MCC (Madras Christian College). He went to study more at Purdue and then at the University of Wisconsin (USA). DD married Andal, the daughter of Krishnammal and Venkataswamy Naidu of Lakshmi Mills in 1958. He still remembers the Fiat car numbered 1933, gifted by G.K.Devarajulu of the Lakshmi Group. The couple are blessed with Jayaram and Sharathram. Later, DD went on to establish a few businesses - Madras Machine Tools and Madras Spinners Limited. "It was the license era and the recommendation of G.K.Devarajulu helped me to proceed with the establishing of my unit," added D.Dhorrairaaj.
G.Purushottama Naidu of C.S & W Mills and A.Doraiswamy Naidu were running a ginning factory near Lakshmi Mills for some years. The family was from Peelamedu and A.Doraiswamy Naidu's cousin, Vakkil E.Balakrishna Naidu the author of the famous novel Danaikkan Kottai was the first graduate from the village. They belonged to the Kankallar Kulam and the family deity is Goddess Renuka. The family is also known by the name ' Gaajulu '. An ancestor had worn a big kankanam (bangle worn by men) A.Doraiswamy Naidu lived with his big family at Sesha Nilayam in the Race Course area. His mother and mother in law lived with him. He had a good collection of comics with him.
"My grandfather V.Abboi Naidu and his brother V.Rangaswamy Naidu were enterprising people. Abboi Naidu had an eye for good lands and the family acquired a lot as a result of the same. My great grand mother was from Avarampalayam and my grand mother hails from the same place. She was very fair complexioned and her sons used to have high regards for her. Great grand mother saved up some milk sales money and it was fully in the form of coins. Grandfather was very fond of his younger brother. He used eat jowar and request his mother to let his brother have rice for his meals. Water from the family lands used to be pumped to Radhakrishna Mills as well. Those were times when the Managing Agency system was in place. Radhakrishna Mills Limited was administered by M/S A.G.Guruswamy Naidu & Co those days," stated D.Dhorrairaaj. He still remembers his father purchasing the land for constructing the bungalow Sesha Nilayam from Rao Bahadur A.T.Krishnaswamy Mudaliar. DD used to cycle up to Mudaliar's residence a number of times in this connection.
D.Dhorrairaaj remembers the visits of G.R.Govindarajulu (GRG) and Chandrakanthi Ammal to Sesha Nilayam, "Grandmother was very close to her niece Chandrakanthi Ammal. GRG used to accompany his wife and they used to spend a lot of time chatting happily."
DD added a lot of interesting details over this long conversation, "Dr.R.K.Shanmukham Chetty and T.A.Ramalingam Chettiar helped our families go through formalities connected with the import of textile machinery. In return my grand uncle V.Rangaswamy Naidu used to share technical know how to Coimbatore Murugan Mills founded by T.A.Ramalingam Chettiar. Grand uncle V.Rangaswamy Naidu was greatly devoted to Karivaradraja Perumal in Peelamedu. My grand aunt Chinnammal Rangaswamy Naidu was a hard working lady. She used to often meet me and give me some murukku to eat. Her son R.Venkataswamy Naidu was a brilliant man. I have seen his mark sheets and he had scored very well. It was hundred in a number of papers. A person of his caliber was quite rare."
D.Dhorrairaaj remembers two of his friends very well and they are Auditor Lakshminarayanan, known for his charming personality (from the family of C.M.Padmanabhachar, one of the founders of the Coimbatore Cosmopolitan Club and son of C.P.Hariachar) and G.Ramaswamy of Tirumurthi Mills Limited (Udumalpet).
The senior industrialist turned nostalgic while talking about G.Ramaswamy of Tirumurthi Mills, "He was well known to me and was known as Raju by his near and dear. Raju used to have a big Alsatian dog with him all the time. He lived in his village near Udumalpet and this well trained dog was always with him. The dog would obey him and none else. I used to visit him and he used to tell me that the dog was on the leash and therefore I could enter his room. He had dogs like this all the time. They were kept for his personal safety. Raju was a fine gentleman and he was very refined. He was very fond of English classical music and was an excellent ball room dancer. Raju had a nice convertible and we used to take drives once in a way in the same . He had a level headed and mature approach. Raju used to visit my father in law G.Venkataswamy Naidu of Lakshmi Mills and have long conversations with him. I still remember my mother in law serving coffee to him. His sister Kamalam was married to my uncle RVS (R.Venkataswamy Naidu) and she used to visit our family home often those days. Raju (G.Ramaswamy) had many friends and actor Sivaji Ganesan was quite close to him. He was known to be a reconciliatory person. His dress sense and personality were unique. He was much observed and admired those days. Unfortunately he did not live long. His father R.V.Guruswamy Naidu (RVG) had been a titan in Udumalpet those days."
The quiver of memories from D.Dhorrairaaj are quite interesting.
Auditor Rajesh Lakshminarayanan has this to say, "DD is a leader. He will always come prepared for the meetings. It would be a pleasure to listen to his speeches and witness his role. He is among the few in our region to display this kind of caliber."