Ask for ‘Vaththal Thatha,’ even a child in Sellur will take you to where he is. A road in Aruldosspuram is named after his business, ‘Tirupati Vilas.’ Tonnes of papad, vaththal and vadagam leave his factory to several States and outside India every month. At 78, T.P. Rajendran of Ahimsapuram in Sellur is an example of how spirit of entrepreneurship can win over age.
A drop-out in fifth standard, Mr. Rajendran wanted to do something on his own while working in a dhal mill in Virudhunagar for a salary of 10 annas. He came to Sellur in the 1960s with his wife and started a grocery shop by pledging her jewels for Rs. 300. He added vegetables to the shop but the leftovers posed a problem. The ‘vaththal’ made of unsold vegetables was a hit and soon the family of five, including three daughters, started to produce several ‘vaththal’ varieties.
The actual break came in 2005 when he procured a machine from Gujarat to produce papads. Since then, Tirupati Vaththal Company has been producing the accompaniments to daily food in different forms. The range includes 30 varieties made from rice, wheat, corn, ragi, potato, brinjal, onion, chilli and cashew. Most of them are made by hand under his supervision.
Mr. Rajendran starts his day at 4 a.m. by monitoring the wholesale vegetable market at Paravai through his mobile phone. If need be, he goes to the market to select the vegetables and other ingredients.
He reaches his factory by 8 a.m. to experiment new combinations. Every batch of ‘vaththal’ is first tested by him during lunch and production goes in full stream after his nod. His unit provides employment to many women, including his daughters. But the salary for them is on a par with that of others. He takes his employees on a free tour twice a year.
Mr. Rajendran, who provides free training to college students in papad making, firmly believes that hard work, honesty and quality make a successful entrepreneur.
The 78-year-old’s unit employs many women, including his daughters
