Mr. PT Gnanasironmani

1903 – 1974

Mr P T Gnanasironmani was born in the year 1903 in a small village Nattathi near Tuticorin , after his early schooling and work with a few firms in Tuticorin , he went to Ceylon and learnt the art of tea making. He was married to Kamala and on their return worked with Highforest Mudis, after this he came and settled in Coonoor where he set up a small bought leaf factory near Selas (presently National Tea Factory ) in partnership with a few people. He then branched out on his own and bought the Sogathorai Tea Factory near Karumbalam.

In the year 1950 having sold his interests in Sogathorai, he went on to buy Farm Tea Estate in Kotagiri and subsequently settled in Kotagiri and bought a few properties including our current headquarters Corsley Estate.

 

Mr GT Pandiaraj

1931 – 1971
Mr G T Pandiaraj the eldest son of Mr P. T. Gnanasironmani was born in the year 1931. After his schooling in Coonoor, he went on to study Agriculture at The Allahabad University. On his return, he spearheaded the acquisition and expansion of the company into mainly buying of the tea estates and managing them . He was married to Mrs Lucy and in his short life of 40 years, did amazing things for the tea industry in general and his own tea interests in particular.

 

Mr GT Soundara Pandiaraj

1933 – 2012
Mr GT Soundara Pandiaraj was born in the year 1933. He did his schooling in Coonoor and went on to do his Engineering in the Hopes Engineering College (currently Govt College of Technology), Coimbatore in 1955. On completion of his course in Mechanical engineering, he went on to build the Farm Tea Factory and then joined the Standard Vacuum Oil. Co ( ESSO) as a terminal engineer in Madras in 1952. He then went to England for a one-year training program where he trained and worked in the tea machinery manufacturing firms and foundries. He was married to Mrs. Janaki. He then came back to India and set up the Pandian Engineering Industries to cater to the needs of the Tea industry in South India and also set up the Pandian Tea Industries to craft tea from the surrounding estates.