My Great Grandfather - A Man ahead of his times...

 5^th April 2025

My Great Grandfather – A Man ahead of his times….

Poondi Chetlur Chakravarthy Iyengar, my great Grandfather was born in Poondi in 1884. My great grandfather was affectionately called “Chittiya” by his elder brother’s son. The name caught on so much that everyone – his partners, extended family, known acquaintances, and his personal friends called him “Chittiya”.

‘Chittiya’ studied electrical technology at The Tata Institute (now Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore) in 1911. He was the first batch of engineers graduating from this Institute.  My mother (grand daughter of ‘Chittiya’) remembers going to the Tata Institute (IISc) around 1953 alongwith her grandfather on the occasion of IISc providing the degree certificate to the first batch of students. ‘Chittiya’ was one among the alumni to receive the degree.

‘Chittiya’ married in 1913 and had three children – eldest was a girl and then two boys. The youngest son, my grandfather, was Shri. P.C.Singarachary. When my grandfather was just two years old, ‘Chittiya’ lost his wife in 1919.

‘Chittiya’ decided to travel abroad after the loss of his wife, leaving his children under the care of his close relatives. ‘Chittiya’ visited Germany and then reached Canada. He did a Masters’ program in Power Engineering at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. On completion of his Masters degree, ‘Chittiya’ worked in GE, Montreal and later at GE, Chicago. ‘Chittiya’ returned to India in 1929. Ten years abroad had changed ‘Chittiya’ in his thoughts, and his outlook to life. He picked up the habit of becoming a Pipe smoker when he was abroad which continued till his end.

‘Chittiya’ started his professional career and founded “Chari & Chari Pvt. Ltd” in Madras alongwith two partners. His other partners were – Mr.Ayyadurai and Mr.Rangachari, who were brothers.

‘Chittiya’ being the professional with knowledge of Power engineering, started agency in early 1940’s for setting up and managing the Power infrastructure in the state of Madras Presidency – extending from Madras to Vizag along the eastern coast passing through Nellore, Guntur, Bezawada. ‘Chittiya’ set up “Guntur Power Lights Ltd” and “Nellore Power Company Limited” for laying the entire power network in the Madras Presidency including the city of Madras. He also set up the electricity division of Katpadi region. He gave opportunities and provided employment to many people including from his relative circle in his company, and other companies which were involved in the power distribution infrastructure.

In 1951, the power company was nationalized and the business was taken over by the government, giving the promoters, including ‘Chittiya’, a compensation of Rs.17,346/- (approximately about Rs.2.2 cr today). (To give a perspective – land in heart of Madras was around Rs.200 per ground (2400 sq.ft) in 1951). ‘Chittiya’ invested in land parcels in Madras, which he had sold later in life, after he had turned 65 years old for his retirement corpus and retired life. He built a big individual house in Pallavaram (those days outskirts of Madras).

In a way, I feel elated that my great grandfather was one of the people instrumental in starting electricity generation to the Madras Presidency.

Chari & Chari Pvt. Ltd also had a business of agency for buying, drying, and selling tobacco to the government.

He was very successful in his corporate life with princely earnings of more than Rs.1200 a month (approximately equivalent of Rs.15 lakhs today!!!) along with dividend and other income.

Despite being among the few wealthy people in Madras from his community in those times, he lived a remarkably humble and unpretentious life.

He owned a red color Moris Minor Car in the early 1950’s, when owing a car was a huge luxury. ‘Chittiya’ would drive to his office at Second Line Beach (the road parallel to Rajaji Salai in Parry’s Corner today). My mother remembers going in the car for any errands in Pallavaram (where they lived in early 1950’s). This car was rented by producer S.S.Vasan (a legendary film maker) for his movie – Three Sons (Moondru Pillaigal) – a Gemini Ganesan movie in 1952.

                                        (Representative Image - Moris Minor 1950's model)

Mr.Rangachary’s brother-in-law was founder of a company, and ‘Chittiya’ was one of the early investor in 1930’s, having invested part of the initial capital for this company. ‘Chittiya’ was a venture capitalist of sorts with this investment!!! He did not capitalize on this small investment, which was his outlook to life – not to look at all transactions as purely commercial. Emotions also play a large role. That company where ‘Chittiya’ invested is one of the large and well-known business groups today.

My mother’s aunt (Papchi chitti) recounts that when she was newly married, she had visited by grandmother (Indira), where ‘Chittiya’ lived his entire life (his youngest son’s house). Papchi chitti had worn a black saree – and ‘Chittiya’ immediately expressed his dislike that black should not be worn by newlyweds, but ‘Chittiya’ was quick to add – “why don’t you do some embroidery or some zari work and then wear it. Then you will also beat the black color and also show your creativity”.. Sharpness of mind at work!!..

In 1930’s, ‘Chittiya’’s daughter’s first marriage sadly ended abruptly and she became a widow. Unlike those times, ‘Chittiya’ accepted her daughter’s re-marriage which was a love marriage. ‘Chittiya’ was very broad-minded and accepted these realities, unheard of in those times, disregarding the societal pressures associated with it.

In the mid-1950’s, he wanted to create a self-contained township, like what he had seen in Germany. He took the initiative, obtained necessary government approval, and created the first self-contained township in Katpadi, which was called “Katpadi Township”. It had well planned colony with straight roads and streets, both boys and girl schools, club for men and a ‘ladies club’ (a rarity those days). This township is known as “Gandhi Nagar” today.  

Because ‘Chittiya’ had left Indian shores and had lived abroad for about a decade, the entire Poondi Iyengar community almost boycotted him from all religious functions at the Poondi village temple (his birth place). ‘Chittiya’ was a very forward looking individual and always felt religion and customs are a matter of faith and very personal to every individual. The community of those times did not accept it. ‘Chittiya’ did not vent out his thoughts but did one thing – he ensured that his grandson – P.C.Singarachary’s son, Ranganathan was named only – S.Ranganathan. Initial of “P” which stood for Poondi was dropped!!

‘Chittiya’ had a passion for music – listening to both Carnatic and Hindustani music on his radio and was a voracious reader. My mother recalls ‘Chittiya’ reading “Illustrated Weekly of India” magazine and “Reader’s Digest” regularly. ‘Chittiya’ used to tell my mother that he was a good cook too. My mother remembers that ‘Chittiya’ was good at preparing tea and used to get tea leaves from Nilgiris and other places. He had a taste for all good things in life.

       (From Left standing - My grandmother, Indira, aunt, Mythili, my mother and father)  / From Left sitting - my grandfather, Singarachary & my great grandfather, 'Chittiya') - 1965

He was a family man who lived on his own terms. He used to visit his daughter in Bangalore, and visited his eldest son in Nungambakkam but lived most of his life after his return to India, with his youngest son, Singarachary, my grandfather.

‘Chittiya’ supported his extended family financially but without the world knowing about it. An altruist by character!

On the eve of Diwali in October 1967, ‘Chittiya’ died at the age of 83, following a short illness.

Truly, a visionary and man ahead of his times…!!

-        Venkatesh

This blog is written based on information gathered through conversations with -

1.     Papchi Chitti (my mother’s aunt) 

2.     P. Jamuna – my mother and grand-daughter of ‘Chittiya’

3.     Bharath Ranganathan – my cousin in Canada who had heard about ‘Chittiya’ from his father, S.Ranganathan (my uncle and grandson of ‘Chittiya’)

and

From Supreme Court Order on the Income-tax case in 1965 (The Commissioner of Income-Tax, Madras vs Chari and Chari Ltd, Madras)