PR Ramasubrahmaneya Rajha, 82, Chairman of the Ramco Group, passed away at Rajapalayam today. He had been ailing for some time.
He is survived by a son, PR Venketrama Raja, and two daughters R Nalina Ramalakshmi and S Sharada Deepa.
Ramasubramaneya Rajha took over the reins of the Ramco Group in 1962 after the demise of his father PAC Ramasamy Raja and grew the businesses into a $1-billion conglomerate. The group has a diversified presence in cement, spinning mills, IT and education.
Expressing deep regrets over the demise of Rajha, N Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, India Cements, who has known him for over four decades, said: “I am shocked to hear the news of the passing away of Shri Ramasubrahmaneya Rajha. He was one of the pioneers of the cement industry and his contribution has been immense. It is hard to express my feelings when I have known him for over 40 years. I convey my condolences to his son and all family members.”
As much as an industrialist, Rajha was known for his spiritual outlook, philanthropy and as a patron of arts. A graduate in physics from the Loyola College, he started his career in the textile business in mills in Madras, as Chennai was known then, and in Madurai. He was 26 when he took over the management of Rajapalayam Mills, promoted by his father, in 1962.
The flagship cement business under Ramco Cements multiplied from a 200 tonne a day unit to a 16.5-million-tonne a year giant with five integrated cement plants and four grinding units.