RAGHUVEERAN- IN A HURRY

TRIBUTES TO PRACTICAL MEN-3

RAGHUVEERAN- IN A HURRY


(Adi Sankara said that – death and birth is a cycle - we are left with little time -use it to sing the glory of Govinda- the path for salvation. But we are human and we use it to uplift ourselves. What we suffer at young age we want to compensate when we start earning and in this process we never set a boundary – the result is loosing the asset itself. Raghuveeran succumbed to this process at very young age of 38.)

When I heard the death of this young man at the age of 38 – I was stunned. It is not fair I cried. A brilliant businessman suddenly put an end to. What a cruel fate for otherwise a very healthy person just making a career in big business.

Raghuveeran’s earlier stint at College was not that success as his father wished to be. As a young boy his mind was restless. He wanted to enjoy all the best things in life. Education and studies did not attract him. His ideas were different. Somehow he finished his B.Com. Thereafter he worked as Medical Representative for sometime. He was always restless and wanted to do something. His aim was to follow his uncle as role model. His uncle was working at that time in Malaysia.

The strict discipline at home was frowned by him and he wanted to come out from this
circle to carve a separate path. The Period from 88 onwards was Computer age. He
wanted to enter this field- not as learning computer language but as Seller of Computer accessories. He started this business in a small way at the house itself-which was in the Bazaar itself. He stocked Computer ribbons, diskettes, Stationary etc and supplied to Banks and Public Sector Undertakings. Initially he was over ambitious – that led to wrong business tactics – later he corrected himself.

The business was growing well and money started coming. Next he wanted to try his hand in interior decoration- a field unknown to him. He was a failure in this job. A
turning point came to him around 1998- When he met one Mr. SM. SM by that time poked his nose in many fields like Cloth Merchant, Whole Sale Merchant etc and finally landed in Coal business. SM is a clever fellow- he will not shed a single pie from his pocket but revolve round other man’s money. Raghuveeran was attracted towards this man because his style of living. He was Impatient and over ambitious to become a rich man in a short period-

Raghuveeran fell to the trap of SM.SM gave rosy picture of Coal business and the luxuries it can buy for him. Importing Coal from Indonesia and sell the same to Paper Mills and Sugar and Cement business – a very simple and effortless way of earning – that in a nutshell the coal business explained SM. He induced RV to arrange bank loan to plunge into this business.

On his advice RV purchased Maruthi Van, accommodated SM into his business, and
reorganized his office. Now Computer business looked very small one for him. Coal
business paid very well for sometime. They enjoyed luxury life for some time. They
never expected the bear period of Indian economy. SM was a cunning businessman. He felt the depression that is coming and left RV leaving him to face the situation alone. RV was also confident that he can handle this business alone and in fact he was successful for short period. Soon his customers failed to pay the bills and the debt started mounting.

For sometime he kept the worry himself but soon it started to work on him. Just one
month before his death he took one insurance policy for Rs.5-lacs for his children – a Pointer of the impending tragedy. I left for US for a 6-month stay. I met him before I left. He was cheerful and promised to look after my interests during my absence. It was the last time I saw him. He used to share with me all his troubles and successes but in this coal business he never consulted me. Had he survived he could have built a good business house. But fate has overtaken him. He was in a hurry to achieve something but hurriedly left us. At times we quarrel with our fate but it is useless because it is not subject to negotiation, change or compromise.
The spirit that he exhibited at a very young age will carry the younger generation forward for a better future.

Analysis:

The logic of business success rests on careful step by step process. There is no short cut to success; it has to be earned in a hard way. If some body achieves otherwise it is only fluke or temporary phenomena or mirage. In Reghuveeran case he did achieve but could not sustain it and fate has overtaken him.

· In 100 experiments even one is success it can bring fortune.
· You should set a limit as to how far you can go in business.
· Measure every step and its limitation.

R.Jagannathan.