Dr. G. Viswanathan (GV), the founder – chancellor of VIT University, India, was born on June 14, 1940, in a remote village in the south Indian state of TamilNadu. GV’s journey has influenced generations of people who came across him at every stage of his life.
DR. GV completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School as late as 2003. This is a pointer to his urge to be an eternal student and learn. He excelled in academics right through childhood and went on to obtain Bachelors, Masters Degree in Economics from the prestigious Loyola College, and completed Law from Madras University.
His leadership skills were instantly noticed and his party chose him to contest the elections in 1967. He entered the Indian Parliament carrying the hopes and aspirations of around 500,000 people of his constituency. A student leader in his twenties entering the Indian Parliament and they, in turn, reposed faith in the leader who fulfilled their expectations.
They re-elect-ed him by a bigger margin in the next election for another five years term. He traveled to different parts of the word as a member of parliamentary delegations and appreciated issues from a global perspective.
Dr.G Viswanathan wanted to play a bigger in provincial politics so that he can make a direct contribution in bettering the lives of the people in the region. He was elected to Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for ten years. During this period, he served as a Minister for two years.