M.S. Manickam & Co was founded in 1942. However its legacy dates back to more than 200 years. The 75-year old firm is currently steered by 36-year-old Manoj Rajkumar, a descendant. Interestingly, the youngster is able to effortlessly recall his family legacy including names, dates and events!
"Sathyanatha Pillai, the first known ancestor of my paternal grandmother M.R. Jothi Manikaraj (1929 - 2004) was the Royal physician at the Ramanathapuram Samasthanam in the early 1700s. He received the Sarugani region as a gift for having saved the life of the Queen who was suffering from an incurable disease. His descendant Savarimuthu Pillai was born in 1831 and his descendants were Sanjeeva Pillai (b.1855), Mariasusai Pillai (b.1878), M.S. Manickam Pillai (1906 - 1966) and M.R. Jothi Manikaraj.
M.S. Manickam Pillai (MSM) worked as a salesman at a hardware store in Ceylon. He also worked as the Chief Sales Manager at South India Corporation in Coimbatore Inspired by G.D. Naidu, he founded M.S. Manickam & Co..
M.S.Manickam & Co was a pioneer in the world of hardware in Coimbatore and it even had a number of branches employing more than 100 people. Initially, the firm started off by importing screws, nuts and bolts from Europe and marketing them in India. Soon, they included cement, steel, iron, paints, locks, hinges and aluminium items, ladders, sanitary ware, etc.,
Clients from across Kerala and Karnataka used to flock the Mill Road to purchase goods from M.S. Manickam & Co. Companies like Radhakrishna Mills, Lakshmi Mills and Pioneer Mills were quick to become clients. Branches of the store came up in Madras, Pollachi and Madurai back then and also in Coimbatore.
The students of Avinashilingam institutions used to visit M.S.Manickam & Co and learn the strategies connected with retail trade for years. The hard working visionary MSM founded the Coimbatore District Hardware Association in 1944 and went on to become its President. He was an Honorary Magistrate and also a member of the Telephone Advisory Committee besides being an active Rotarian. He was associated with Forum TOCH, a Christian Welfare Association during his times. He also served as the president of Talbot house, a social and spiritual association which had worked for the welfare of the people. The hardware king emphasised on correct weighments, customer service backed by quality and this won many a heart in the region.
Manoj Rajkumar recalls "My grandmother Jothiamma was the only child of MSM and his Municipal Councillor wife Rathinamanickammal (1909 - 1992). Rathinamanickammal represented the Grey Town area and she used to be called 'Sweet Mummy' for she used to give out chocolates and fresh currency notes from her hand held clutch that was with her at all times. She worked hard to ensure the well being of her constituents. Her husband MSM thatha never misused her status as a Congress Councillor. In fact, she safeguarded the neighbourhood of the Stanes School by stopping a proposed theatre project that was to come up next door. Rathinamanickam Ammal was part of the core committee which conceived the construction of Nehru Stadium at Coimbatore. She had met up with President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Prime Ministers Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Chief Minister K. Kamaraj during her long political innings."
"Eventually my granny Jothiamma married my thatha G. Manikaraj B.E., F.I.E (1927 - 1993) while he was serving as an Executive Engineer at P.W.D. I am happy to share the fact that his ancestor David Pillai was a tutor and minister in the Court of Raja Serfoji in Thanjavur. My thatha's great grandfather Moses Gnanabaranam Pillai (1830 - 1891) steered the famine committee during the debilitating famine that occurred in 1877 (popularly known as the Eswara varudathu panjam) and his son, a former Municipal Chairman, M.G. Arogyaswamy Pillai (1867 - 1929) gave away one of his several properties in order to establish Moses Gnanabaranam Eye Hospital, the first of its kind in our region.
Rao Bahadur M.G. Arogyaswamy Pillai, had in fact attended a session of the Congress party . But he found his moorings with the gentlemen who founded the Justice Party and therefore he was among the founder members of the same. Since Arogyaswamy Pillai died childless the family tradition was carried forward by his sister Rathinamuthu Ammal who was followed by Jeevabaranam Ammal and later Kirubai Ammal. Kirubai Ammal married Sardar Bahadur Captain Gnanamuthu Pillai (1893 - 1965) a recipient of the prestigious OBI (Order of British India) Medal from General Kariappa. My thatha G. Manikaraj was the son of this great soldier who had served in Burma at the time of the first world war. Manikaraj thatha was a consulting architect and engineer besides being a Government Approved Valuer those days. He was also the Managing Trustee and Vice Chairman of Christ The King Institute of Technology while also serving as the Vice Chairman of the Parish Council of Church of Christ The King, Kattoor in Coimbatore. Our residence Jothy Villa at Grey Town was a hub of activity for years," added Manoj Rajkumar who is sure to impress one and all with his statistical data!
M.S. Manickam & Co served the world of commerce in Coimbatore at a time when the city was emerging as a hub for business and industry. The trade and industry in the region were introduced to a number of quality products and services by the smart MSM.