P R Ramakrishnan 2 times MP, Industrialist and first Indian Alumni of MIT

P R RAMAKRISHNAN, Son of Shri V. Rangaswamy Naidu; born in Peelamedu, Coimbatore on October 11, 1917; educated at Madras University. A post-graduate in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) Mr. Ramakrishnan had worked in the General Electric Company in the U.S. for seven years. P. R. Ramakrishnan was the first Indian Alumni of MIT Sloan School of Management and a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States who founded Madras Aluminum Company, South India Viscose, Coimbatore Institute of Technology and many other textile industries and two time Member of Parliament representing Indian National Congress from Coimbatore for the 3rd Lok Sabha during the 1962 General Elections and Pollachi for the 2nd Lok Sabha during the 1957 General Elections.

He married Rajeswari, daughter of Velagapudi Ramakrishna Ex.ICS officer and Founder of KCP group.

Along with his father V. Rangaswamy Naidu and brother R. Venkataswamy Naidu, Mr. Ramakrishnan started the Coimbatore Institute of Technology in 1956.

He was treasurer of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. He is survived by his wife Rajeshwari and sons R. Prabhu and S.R.K. Prasad.

His son R Prabhu was a five term Member of Parliament, representing the Nilgiris (Ooty) constituency of Tamil Nadu, India 1980,1984,1989,1991 and 2004. He was Union Minister of State, Department of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Ministry of Agriculture, 1987 – 89.

It is interesting to learn that the wise P.R.Ramakrishnan quit active politics at the age of 50 and decided to work for the betterment of industry and education. The time of his quitting coincided with the degradation of public life in our country. Former President Dr.APJ.Abdul Kalam was all praise for Prof.P.R.Ramakrishnan on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of CIT in Coimbatore. If Coimbatore is on the technical education map of the world, it is due to the good work of her great sons like Prof.P.R.Ramakrishnan.

His autobiography "SUBLIME" has been finely crafted by PRR's grand daughter Nanditha Prasad. She calls her dear grandfather as the " Prince of Peelamedu ".