M S ( M Subramanian)... My HR Icon is no more

In my twenty plus years of confident strides, I have not been much in awe of many people. MS is one of those few people. I was very saddened when I saw a small obituary declaring that he passed away on November 10, 2009.
I did my very first assignment in Competency with him when he was with Madura Coats . He had the cleanest desk I had ever seen. Yet he could produce any document that he needed within a few minutes almost magically. He was extremely busy and I have had to chase him for appointments. he would give me an appointment four weeks away. And I would not have to confirm it . He would call me if there is any change. I did some designing work and then it did not take off. One fine day I got a call from MS. He asked me to raise an invoice for the work done since the actual workshops were getting delayed. Here was a person who was paying me even before I thought it fit to ask for any money. The workshops did happen and they were really great. It was the best learn while you earn assignment one could ever get. Through sheer association, I was shamed into being a bit more organised.

My association with him continued with work outside Coats under the EFSI banner.
MS was first diagnosed with Cancer more than a decade ago. Like all things, he took it in his stride. Even when the disease raged unabated , he continued his professional association in some form or the other. He was hoping to beat it and attend the graduation ceremony of his daughter Vidya in the US. He could not make it to US because of his ill health. He did grittily fight on to see his daughter married. That fight is now over. The cancer has won a very bitterly fought battle.

MS is well known in HR circles. He deserved to be a far bigger celebrity than what he was. He was extremely intelligent, was rooted and very generous. May his soul rest in peace.