Fondly known as MAC among his friends and contemporaries but hailed withgreat respect as chairman by colleagues and business associates, Dr MuthiahAnnamalai Chidambaram Chettiar had chartered the course of industrialdevelopment in Tamil Nadu by setting up a fertiliser firm in 1969 in thevirgin backyard of Tuticorin against open opposition from rivals andunaired doubts by many.

Tuticorin today stands as a crowning example of his efforts with plants ofSouthern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Ltd (Spic), a fertiliser giantwith several subsidiaries and group turnover of over Rs 4500 crore. Havingdiverse business interests, MAC was its chairman and had seen through many abattle with competition as well as politicians to get his rightful placeback in the leadership of the group.

Chidambaram was truly a multi-faceted person. He was the first majorbusinessman from South to venture into the automobile sector by taking overthe Automobile Products of India (API) but government policies then derailedhis plans. But undaunted he ventured into manufacturing scooters and was thefirst in the country to launch the Lambretta scooters, a rage in the 60s,before others entered the arena. For the uninitiated, he was also thefounder chairman of Maruti Udyog Ltd and during his tenure had the vision tocall for the manufacture of an affordable, utilitarian and economicallyviable passenger car to meet the needs of the burgeoning middle class.

Not many now may be aware of the pioneering role he played in encouragingsports. The magnificent cricket stadium at Chepauk in Chennai bears his nameMA Chidambaram stadium and he was instrumental in getting it done during hisstewardship of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. He had also held importantpositions in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as itspresident for a term and had served as honorary treasurer of the Board formany years. His interests in sports too were diverse. He loved tennis andserved as president of the All India Lawn Tennis Association.

MAC has taken the lead to build the Southern India Chamber of Commerce &Industry and was its president from 1951 to 1957. The building housing thechamber too has been built by him.

His commitment to social welfare and his philanthrophy to communitydevelopment are well-known. He has founded many educational institutions andhealthcare centres. A lover of Tamil literature and heritage, he establishedthe Tamil Isai Sangam to popularise the musical arts and give encouragementto Tamil poets and singers.

Son of the late Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar of Chettinad, MAC is survived bywife, son A C Muthiah (renowned industrialist) and daughter SeethaChidambaram.