Born on 7, October 1911 in a small village, Pannamparai in South Tamilnadu, India, he lost his parents at the age of 11 and had to leave home in search of a life. He survived on the charity from a local temple. Orphaned at the age of 12, Mr. Deivanayagam Pillai, heeding to his relative’s advice, reached Ceylon only with the determination to succeed in his life. He walked barefoot across Sri Lanka in search of work and soon he found work as a shop boy in a grocery store. 

 

He breathed hard work in addition to his sharpness and dedication. However success continued to elude him. He was exploited and abused by few of his employers. This only increased his determination to succeed. After years of hard work, he happened to meet his guru and mentor Mr. Arunachalm Pillai. He joined just as another employee to soon become his best employee. Mr.Arunachalam Pillai taught him everything he knew and the bond between both strengthened over years. Mr. Arunachalam Pillai generously handed over one of his shops to Mr.Deivanayagam Pillai who made it a profitable business. Mr.Deivanayagam Pillai started his day with a prayer of his guru Mr.Arunachalam Pillai. 

 

He soon earned the trust of his customers. He loved and respected each customer and treated them with honesty, the fundamental principle on which the VTV group of companies functions even today. His mantra was “Customer is profit, everything else is overhead in Business”.  His business was built on strong principles of honesty and ethics. 

 

When the Japanese started bombing Colombo during World War II,  many shop owners sold and left the country, but for him, this represented a huge opportunity to acquire his own business. He did not want to leave the country that he now loved. Mr. Deivanayagam Pillai was able to buy a grocery shop at a knockdown price, and from there was able to expand and buy other similar shops.

 

Soon the VTV Deivanayagam Pillai group of companies were born. From then he never looked back. More and more opportunities were knocking on his door and he built on each one of them. He earned the love of his employees as he was there for them all the time. He was amazingly generous in sharing love and kindness to all including his employees, customers and everyone.  He achieved them through determination, hard work, honesty, love, courage, patience and blessings of god. From the very beginning, Mr. Deivanayagam Pillai placed a lot of emphasis on looking after his workers.

 

He was born Hindu and strict vegetarian. He remained humble and down to earth in his entire life.  For him all religions led to one truth, one god. His devotion and religious principles were unshakeable even at the time of struggle and poverty. He believed everyone is here to execute the will of god. In 1963, his eldest son Mr.Eswaran joined his father to start “Eswaran Exports”. With his brothers joining the group expanded to a multi million dollar conglomerate for which Mr.Deivanayagam Pillai became the chairman. 

 

In 1993, the Government of Sri lanka honoured with the prestigious civilian award “Deshabandhu” meaning a patriotic and loving son of the land. 

 

His life is an example of how many of us from any background can make a better life  for ourselves and everyone around us by breaking any obstacles. 

Source: 

This Beacon - Biopic of V T V Deivanayagam Pillai

https://www.eswaran.com/