CHENNAI: In the city for a short visit, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated a hall at the Madras Kerala Samaj built in memory of noted city-based entrepreneur, MA Abraham, here on Monday.
Speaking at the function, Chandy detailed the life of Abraham, entrepreneur and founder of Aban foundation, with whom he had enjoyed a long friendship.
“He came up the hard way. He was a very dynamic individual who was a hard worker, and that was the reason behind his success. In our many conversations, not once did he speak about business because he was confident about his ventures,” said Chandy.
“Abraham always spoke with a social conscience. He spoke about the social and economic issues that were plaguing the growth of Kerala. If we judge a person by his deeds, then Abraham was a larger-than-life-personality who was loved by one and all,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Gokulam Gopalan, another noted entrepreneur who made Chennai his base, raised issues related to non-resident Keralites, Chief Minister Chandy said his government never wavered from tending to the interests of the NRKs, and that they were welcome to invest in the key sectors, if it brings development to the state.
“It is important for people to understand that I have to work around limitations. But, whatever can be done, will be done,” Chandy assured.
Later, responding to another comment by Gopalan, Chandy said the Kerala government is working hard to attract investment in key sectors namely education, information technology and tourism.
Meanwhile, recalling the contributions by Abraham, MA Salim, president of the Confederation of Tamil Nadu Malayalee Associations, said that Abraham’s family, consisting his wife and son Reji Abraham, had continued in the path of helping the needy laid out by the man.
Reji, who is the managing director of Aban Offshore Limited, India’s largest off-shore drilling service provider to oil companies, said that his father spent a lifetime working with the office bearers of the Samaj.
“His involvement in the school run by the Samaj is known to all. As his family, we will extend our support to all his goodwill gestures,” said Reji, who was named one of the richest man in India by Forbes magazine.