PALANIVEL THIAGA RAJAN

Finance Minister, Tamil Nadu.

 

Lineage

Grandson of Sir P.T. Rajan, former Chief Minister, Madras Presidency

Son of PTR Rajan, former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker and Minister

Qualification

B.Tech(Hons) from NIT Trichy

Masters and PhD from State University of New York

Formerly an investment banker at Lehman Brothers and Standard Chartered in New York and Singapore.

 

Attributes his sense of inner stability to two major events – a miraculous escape during 9/11 attacks (his office was in the basement of the twin towers) and his job with Lehman Brothers during the 2008 freefall.

“You realize nothing is permanent”, he says.

In a corporate set up you strive to add to your own value. In public life you have to add value to society.

Inclusive growth – everybody has access to everything within the boundaries of social and economic fairness.

“I do not need to name drop. I am who I am. And, yes, every chance I get, I invoke my ancestors because it is our Tamil culture to pay respect to our forefathers”

“My sons are young at 16 and 11. I am not going to put any pressure on them. I want them to study well, see the world and do what interests them.”

“I am fortunate to have been blessed with a strong partner. Margaret and I met at university. She has adjusted well to life in India. She keeps the sons grounded. Though it hurts, we deny them certain luxuries because we want them to understand that we are instilling certain values.”

“I love to spend time with my family. They are my lifeline and laughter is our medicine. Our pets bind us. The five dogs and a kitten at home are my best stress busters. . 

In a corporate set up you strive to add to your own value. In public life you have to add value to society.

Inclusive growth – everybody has access to everything within the boundaries of social and economic fairness."

“I do not need to name drop. I am who I am. And, yes, every chance I get, I invoke my ancestors because it is our Tamil culture to pay respect to our forefathers”

“My sons are young at 16 and 11. I am not going to put any pressure on them. I want them to study well, see the world and do what interests them.”

(Excerpts from a 40 minute slot seamlessly transcended into a 140 minute off beat conversation with Soma Basu, published in The Hindu Magazine of 10 October 2021)