If Senthilkumar's growth as an industrialist amazed people acquainted with him, it caused jealousy and a consequent hostility among other small industrialists like him.
Industrialist Rajasekar told his friend Somasundaram, also an industrialist, while talking to him in the club, in which both were members:
"We have been running our industrial units in this industrial estate, from the time this estate was established by the government. We have been running our factories, facing various impediments like raw material shortage, power cuts, labour problems, competition from larger units in our line, pressure from the banks who have lent us money, harassment from tax authorities etc, which have surfaced at different times. This Senthilkumar came from nowhere, bought a factory that had been running at a loss, at a throwaway price and made it profitable within two years. How did he do it?"
"That's what is puzzling me too. He has been growing fast like Ambani*. It appears that he will devour all of us, if we allow him to continue like this" said Somasundaram.
"I have asked the members of our industry association to watch him closely. I hear that he is going to set up a new factory. He has applied for allotment of land in the new industrial estate, set up by the government. There is a lot of competition among industrialists, to get a plot of land allotted in that industrial estate."
Rajasekar stopped for a while, looked around to check whether anyone was watching them, bent down and spoke, keeping his mouth close to Somasundaram's ears, lest no one should hear him: "Using my political contacts, I am trying to ensure that Senthilkumar doesn't get land allotted in that industrial estate."
Rajasekar then smiled triumphantly, feeling proud of his strategy.
"Only by doing something like that, we can keep Senthilkumar in check" agreed Somasundaram.
After a few days, Rajasekar called Somasundaram over phone and told him excitedly, "My efforts at preventing Senthilkumar from getting a plot allotted in the new industrial estate have succeeded. The government has released the list of people to whom land has been allotted in that industrial estate. Senthilkumar's name is not in that list"
"We have been on the wrong track, Rajasekar. Senthilkumar had misled us into believing that he was trying to buy land in the new industrial estate. When our attention was focused on preventing him from getting land allotted in that estate, he has purchased 'New Era Products,' whose factory is located next to his. I heard this news from a source" said Somasundaram.
"How is it possible? 'New Era Products' is owned by Sundaramurthy. It has been a loss-making unit, alright. But I have told all the members of our industry association not to sell their factories to Senthilkumar. How did Sundaramurthy agree for the sale?" asked Rajasekar, in stunned disbelief.
"'New Era Products' is a private limited company. Senthilkumar has made a smart move ,by buying 60% of the shares of the company. He has told Sundaramurthy, 'You can sit at home relaxed. I will run the factory and make it profitable within two years. After that, you will keep getting 40% of the profits, year after year.' Sundaramurthy found the proposal attractive and agreed to the sale. Senthilkumar's track record of turning around a loss-making company within two years, seems to have weighed with Sundaramurthy, in accepting his proposal. Senthilkumar has sealed the deal quietly, without anyone smelling the move. He had no interest in getting a land allotted in the new industrial estate. His applying for an allotment of land in the new industrial estate was only to divert our attention from observing his move towards acquiring 'New era Industries" said Somasundaram, bitterly.
Rajasekar didn't reply. But Somasundaram could hear his sighs over the phone.
*Ambani - A top industrialist of Inia,whose growth had been phenomenal.
Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 44
Condemnation of Faults
Verse 440 (in Tamil):
kAdhal kAdhal aRiyAmai uykkiRpin
Edhila EdhilAr nUl.
Meaning:
If a person is capable of getting his wishes realized without the knowledge of others, the cunning efforts of his enemies, to sabotage him, will not succeed.
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