Revi Karunakaran

Revi Karunakaran
Born	22 November 1931 Alleppey, India
Died	25 November 2003 (aged 72) Ernakulam, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Businessman

Revi Karunakaran (22 November 1931 – 25 November 2003) was an Indian businessman and coir exporter from Kerala. He served as a chairman and managing director of the Karan Group of Companies, which became one of the world's largest exporters of coir products. Karunakaran played a key role in modernizing India's coir industry and was a director of the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI). The world-renowned Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum (RKK Museum) in Alappuzha, Kerala, in 2006, houses a collection of artefacts amassed by his family over several generations.

Early life and education

Revi Karunakaran was born in Alleppey (formerly Travancore state) on 22 November 1931 into an aristocratic family. He was the son of K.C. Karunakaran, an industrialist who graduated from Heidelberg University, Germany, and Margret, a German National from wealthy family His grandfather, Krishnan, was the first Indian to establish a handloom factory to export coir products, which had been a monopoly of European companies until then.

Karunakaran completed his early education in Surrey, UK, and later attended high school in Lausanne, Switzerland. He later graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Babson College, MA, USA. Karunakaran was a polyglot and fluent in several languages, including German, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and Malayalam.

After his father's demise in 1952, Karunakaran took over the leadership of the companies at the young age of twenty.

Karunakaran married Betty in 1957, and they have a daughter, Lullu.

Life as entrepreneur

After his father's death in 1952, Karunakaran assumed leadership of the Karan group at the age of 20 He was the chairman of the Karan Group, which includes companies such as Kerala Balers, Alleppey Company, and William Goodacre & Sons, all leading coir export houses.

Karunakaran actively participated in trade delegations and represented India at International forums, including the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO and UNCTAD. He served as a consultant for FAO for three years as a consultant on hard fibers and participated in the Tariff Negotiations with the European Economic Community EEC countries. In 2001, he was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Coir Board, Government of India, for his outstanding services to the coir industry.

Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum

The Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum, established in 2006 by his wife Betty, is located in Alappuzha, Kerala. This is now a renowned, privately owned museum holding one of the world's largest private collections of Swarovski crystals, along with porcelain, jade, ivory, and Tanjore paintings.

The museum spans 28,000 square feet and showcases elements from Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism in its design and displays. The third phase of the museum was inaugurated in 2015 by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former president of Sri Lanka

Other activities and interests

Karunakaran was an active member of Rotary International, becoming the youngest Rotary Club president at age joined Rotary International at the age of 24. He later served as a Rotary Governor was a major donor to the Rotary Foundation. He had also been a Freemason and received the 50-year Gold Jewel.

Apart from his business accomplishments, one of his greatest achievements was the cordial and friendly relationship he maintained with his officers, staff, workers and friends.

Death

Karunakaran died on 25 November 2003 at a hospital in Ernakulam. His body was cremated on the premises of Santhi Bhavan, his home in Alappuzha, on the same day.