Dr. V. Krishnamurthy, first Chairman and Managing Director of Maruti Udyog (now Maruti Suzuki) passed away at the age of 97 in Chennai on Sunday. He was appointed in 1981 and was known as the “Father of Public sector undertakings in India”. It was he who made Maruti into an automotive OEM.
For those who aren’t aware, Dr. V. Krishnamurthy had also served as the Chairman and CEO of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL), Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). He was also the chairman of IIT Delhi, IIM Bangalore & Ahmedabad, Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar, TIFAC (Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council), and the Centre for Organization Development, Hyderabad. He has also served as a member of the Planning Commission and Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Industry.
He is among the very few Indians to have received three of the four highest civilian awards of the country: the Padma Shri in 1973, the Padma Bhushan in 1986, and the Padma Vibushan in 2007.
