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 Vibrant Indian Nalli
 Industrialist Nalli Kuppusami Chetti, who runs a successful silk business, was conferred the ‘Vibrant Indian Award’ by Developers India, “an organisation for India’s development progress and amity”, on November 24 in
Chennai.
The award was presented at the celebration of the 537th Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at an inter-faith get-together. The gathering was truly that - an inter-faith meeting:
The award was presented to a Hindu - Nalli Kuppusami Chetti - by a Muslim - Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul ali Azimjah - in the presence of Father Lawrence Fernandas of Sathya Nilayam (Christian) and Dr Giani Swaran Singh (Sikh)
 “Kuppuswami Chetti is a social activiist and a patron of art and culture,” says the citation by Harbhajan Singh, founder-secretary and convenor of Developers India. The award was in recognition of his “corporate accomplishments” and “progressive vission to harmonise society”.
Born into a weavers family as the son of Nalli Narayanaswami Chettiar and Kannamma in 1940, Kuppuswami had to abandon his studies when he lost his father during his schooldays. He took to the family buisness and learnt the art of not just producing silk saress but also marketing them. He is now the proud owner of a vast network of shwrooms in every metro in India and countries like USA (San Jose), Canada (Toronto), England (London) and Singapore.
He can look back with pride on having created a clientele that lays “accent on quality, beauty, equisitie workmanship and fashion”.
 A devout Hindu, Kuppusami is on the trust board of Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam and has been chairman of the Kapaleeswarar Devasthanam in Chennai. He is on the executive committee of the South Zone Cultural Centre, Harmony India and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. A patron of art and culture, he is the president of the Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Krishna Gana Sabha and Nungambakkam Cultural Academy. He is also the vice-president of the Mylapore Fine Arts Club.
Kuppusami, a renowned philanthropist, is on the governing body of the Ramakrishna Mission School, Vivekananda College and on the Senate of the Bharathiar University.
There was recognition for his good work in the form of awards: the Indian government conferred on him the Padma Shree and the Tamil Nadu government, the Kalaimamani award.
 Presenting the Vibrant Indian Award, which included a shawl, the citation and a memento, the Prince of Arcot praised the work of Kuppusami Chetti. He said every relgion believes in one God and no religion preaches bloodshed or violence. Condemning terrorism in the name of any religion, he said those who kill in the name of religion were not martyrs but criminals. He cautioned against listening to politicians, who, he said, were out to divide the country. Coming from a family that created harmony in society, he claimed India belonged to everyone and wondered why there should be conflicts in the name of religion.
An emotional Kuppusami Chetti, thanked the organisers for having singled him out for the award.
Harbhajan Singh presented him with a saropa and a kirpan in true Sikh style.
Developers India treasurer M Sabesan proposed a vote of thanks.
S Chitra
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