The Hindu Business Line : Lakshmi Machine Work's chief passes away

Dr D. Jayavarthanavelu, Chairman and Managing Director of Lakshmi Machine Works, breathed his last after a brief illness in a private hospital in Chennai on Friday. He was 70.

DJ, as he was fondly known, is survived by his wife, two daughters and son Sanjay, who is a Wholetime Director of LMW.

After completing his schooling at Mani High School in Coimbatore, DJ equipped himself in the Faculty of Engineering here before proceeding to the US to complete B.S. (Textiles) at Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. Thereafter he took intensive training in production and management at Reiter Machine Works, Switzerland.

He returned to join LMW, founded by his father Cavalier G. K. Devarajulu and took over the reigns at a very young age.

Leading machinery co

LMW is one of the three leading textile machinery manufacturing companies in the world, engaged in the production of the entire range of textile spinning machinery.

A soft-spoken philanthropist and staunch devotee of Lord Ayyappa, DJ has donated choultries at the pilgrim centre.

He was conferred Doctor of Letters by Pondicherry University in April 1995 and another Doctorate by the Annamalai University, in October, the same year.

He was the Honorary Vice-Consul of Italy with jurisdiction over the State of Tamil Nadu.

Dr Jayavarthanavelu is a Member of the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India and member of the Development Council for Textile Machinery industry constituted by the Centre.

Under his Chairmanship, he took LMW to great heights, expanded operations and set footprints in China.

Fondly remembering DJ, his schoolmate, who preferred anonymity, said, “He may not have been easy to reach, but he was one of those who never said ‘no' to anyone who approached him for help, be it school/college admission, a job or financial support.”

As President of the Past Students Association of Mani High School, DJ raised funds and constructed the Nani Kalaiarangam within the school campus.

He had a passion for photography.

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