‘A Madras Merchant’s Life and Times’, the autobiography of businessman K. R. N. Menon was released by Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, head of the Travancore Royalty, at a function on Willingdon Island here on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that the book spanned a long period in history, from the time India was under British rule to now.
“The well-illustrated book has a character of its own,” he said. Jacob Mathew, executive editor and publisher of Malayala Manorama group who received the first copy, said that the book offered a few lessons in management, industry and sustaining human relations.
Happy read
Most autobiographies are often embedded with seeds of self-destruction. But this is a happy read, bringing out Mr. Menon’s range of experiences and is sprinkled with anecdotes,” he said.
Historically, books by merchants have helped readers broaden their horizons, he noted. In his response speech, Mr. Menon rued that Indians do not seem to have any respect for historical records or the country’s heritage structures.
The life of Kochi some 70 years ago has been wiped off the face of earth, he said, stressing the need to make an effort to record it for posterity. The proceeds from the sale of the book, published by CinnamonTeal Publishing, Goa, will go to heritage building conservation.
