"There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up"

---

• Sri “R P” R.P. Sarathy, was born in Salem on 14th November 1931. Founder of Smt. Mahalakshmi Ammal Educational Trust and R P Sarathy Institute of Technology, He developed his early work experiences in many different enterprises like a provision store, cosmetic store, cloth store and had also worked as a booking clerk in a cinema theatre. During this time he also travelled 20 – 30 miles on a bicycle to sell roasted coffee powder. In 1949, he started a coffee shop, “Sarathy Coffee” which had the facility to roast powder and package the raw coffee seeds as filter coffee.
• In 1966, he acquired R P Coffee Company at the age of 35, with a mindset to turn things around in the coffee industry and since then there was no looking back. In a short span of time, the sales increased from 300 – 400 metric tons to 5700 metric tons per year. He simultaneously devel- oped coffee plantations which supplied raw coffee for his own company and was open to sales in the market. In short, under his supervision, coffee was grown, cultivated, roasted, ground, packaged and marketed with high degree of quality control. This could be achieved only because of the dedication, hard work, honesty, business ethics and a good market understanding. Hence, the brand “R P” became popular in the Indian and International markets.
• The business knowledge of Sri “R P” R.P. Sarathy was so vast that the entire coffee industry relied on his suggestions. He served as a Coffee Board Trade member for seven terms (21 years). One of his notable achievements during this tenure was to make coffee into a free market. As an effect of this resolu- tion, the purchase and sales of coffee became competitive and in par with the quality of the product. With his experience in the coffee industry he diversified into various other industries under the brand name “R P”. They are: R P Coffee Company, R P Exports, R P Roller Flour Mills, R P Spinning Mills, R P Sarathy Jewellery, R P Sarathy Institute of Technology, R P Sarathy Industries, Mahalakshmi Oil Refineries, Coffee Estates, Hotels.
• His hard work and honesty received its due recognition when he was awarded the highest and most honest tax payer award – Rashtriya Samman by the Income Tax Department for 5 consequent years.
• He believed that education is the only way to develop a society. So he contributed to various schools and colleges.
• He was the Founder President for Sri Vidya Mandir Schools and intro- duced the CBSE system of educa- tion to Salem. In 2010 when Vidya Mandir Trust laid its foundation for an Arts College he was requested to be the Chairman and the college is successfully functioning at present. He was also the Founder Chairman of Vysya Group of Institution and remained in that post till his demise. He was instrumental in upgrading the Library and establishing the Audio visual Hall in Sri Sarada College for Women, Salem.

---

R P Sarathy Institute of Technology

At the age of 75, he retired from all businesses and after deep thought decided that he had to dedicate his time solely for educational activities and hence chose to start an engineering college. His vision was to provide quality technical education to the deserving students and create employable engineers who are technically competent and ethically strong. Sri “R P” R.P. Sarathy passed away on 4th January 2019.

---