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Gokulam Gopalan
Chairman – Sri Gokulam Group Of Educational Institutions & Sri Gokulam Group of Companies. Gokulam Seek IAS Academy is the brainchild and a dream venture of Shri Gokulam Gopalan.
Shri A.M. Gopalan, B.Sc. known to everyone as “Gokulam Gopalan” is the Chairman of Sree Gokulam Group of Companies and the Managing Director of the Flagship Company, Sree Gokulam Chit & Finance Co. Pvt. Ltd., which has been started more than 5 decades ago and the Company is now doing well with a turnover of more than 8000 Crore rupees. Sree Gokulam Chit & Finance Co. spread all over India with 496 of its branches only through his hard work, selfless and prudent management services.
From a humble beginning, he has grown up by dedication and perseverance. He is involved in Philanthropy and has contributed liberally to many noble causes. His humanitarian views and empathy have brought him success and glory. Through his business he has helped all his customers to attain growth in status and wealth.
He has been conferred with the prestigious “GEM OF INDIA,’96” and UDYOG RATHNA,’97 awards on recognition of his contribution to the society by service through business.
Born in the year 1944, Sri. Ambalathil Meethal Gopalan , who won the hearts of public, affectionately referred to as “Gokulam Gopalan” , the founder of India’s Iconic Brand “Sree Gokulam”. A business doyen and a humanitarian hailing from Vadakara, Kerala.
Sharing his vision for the future he has invested heavily in education and healthcare. Under his abled leadership this vision became a reality in the form of GG Hospital , a quaternary care super specialty hospital in Trivandrum, that housed specialist and superspecialist second to none with ultra-modern facilities and treatment at affordable cost.
Biography
Sri Gokulam Gopalan, Our esteemed chairman, is a magnificent legend of human effort, charioteering several enterprises at regional, national and international level, which have one name and fame not only in India but also abroad. He runs a number of educational institutions including a medical college, research foundation and several of public schools in and out of Kerala.
He reached the present astounding status by sheer hard work, optimism and the readiness to take up every difficulty and adverse hindrance as a challenge.
For achieving social justice, his struggles against the distortion of Sree Narayana Guru’s values is the part of cultural and social renaissance of Kerala History. He paved the way to revival of Guru Dharmas, through his innovation of “Sree Narayana Dharmavedi”.
His concept of giving importance to values rather than money in education is well known. Sree Gokulam Arts & Science College is a primary example for the same, his greater contribution to higher education system.
From a humble beginning, he has grown up by dedication and perseverance. He is involved in Philanthropy and has contributed liberally to many noble causes. His humanitarian views and empathy have brought him success and glory. Through his business he has helped all his customers to attain growth in status and wealth.
He has been conferred with the prestigious “GEM OF INDIA,’96” and UDYOG RATHNA,’97 awards on recognition of his contribution to the society by service through business.
Also, he holds Senior Position in various associations such as: The Vice President in Confederation of Tamilnadu Malayalee Association, Chennai, The Treasurer of All India Marunadan Malayalee Association, Chennai.
Once for all, Our Chairman is a man of humanitarian and dynamic leadership qualities, with an absolute attitude to contribute to the society by service through business.
He is the founder and chairman of the Sree Gokulam Group of Companies, which has diversified interests across multiple sectors:
- Financial Services: Established in 1968, Sree Gokulam Chit & Finance Co. Pvt. Ltd. is the flagship company, offering chit fund and financial services across India.
- Hospitality: The group operates Sree Gokulam Hotels & Resorts, providing accommodations and related services.
- Healthcare: Sree Gokulam Medical College and its sister concern, GG Hospital, offer medical education and healthcare services.
- Education: Gokulam Seek IAS Academy, founded by Gopalan, prepares students for civil services examinations.
- Media and Entertainment: Gopalan has produced several films, including the historical drama "Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja" (2009) and the action thriller "Thoongaa Vanam" (2015).
- Real Estate and Infrastructure: The group has investments in real estate development projects.
Under Gopalan's leadership, the Sree Gokulam Group has grown into a conglomerate with a turnover exceeding ₹8,000 crore, employing over 4,000 staff members.
GOKULAM GOPALAN : THE SOCIALLY COMMITTED BUSINESSMAN
Being a socially committed person is extra-ordinary – especially if you are into business. Not all people have the true courage to dedicate their life for their society. Specifically speaking, the present generation has come down to the level of selfishness. Needless to say, given the aforesaid facts, if there is someone who does not qualify the said assumptions, he deserves to be treated as a noble soul. Fortunately, a search for one such divine soul has culminated with a positive note. In this edition, a business legend, who has shown the world the importance of leading a socially committed life, is covered. That exceptional human is none other than A M Gopalan (popularly known as Gokulam Gopalan), the owner of Gokulam Group of Companies.
There is a saying that ‘there is a small footprint behind every big’. Like what the saying implies, the beginning of this business leader’s career was also humble. Born in a small village near Vadakara in Kerala, Mr. Gopalan was a very sincere student. He secured his graduation in Mathematics from the Kerala University. His interest for acting attracted him to the dream city of Chennai. His initial days in Chennai was extremely challenging. An accidental meeting with a doctor worked as a game changer. That opened a door of opportunities before him. He, with the help of the doctor – who found his educational accomplishments impressive, secured a challenging job opportunity as medical representative.
It is important for a businessman to identify his first spark. It is from that striking realisation he discovers his true potential as a businessman. To Mr. Gopalan, that spark happened when he joined his first job. His job required him to wear a kind of professional attire. At that point of time, because of his not-so-good financial position, he was not able to afford that. He is not a man who simply stares at hurdles helplessly. He found the solution to his problem in a brilliant financial plan. He started a mini chit fund involving not more than ten people with a monthly instalment of Rs. 60 each. Notably, it not only served his purpose but also formed a firm base for his chit business.
Now, his chit fund and finance company, Gokulam Chit Funds and Finance Private Limited, is around half a century old. This five-decade-old company, started in Chennai, has as many as 460 branches across the country. Gokulam Group, which is a very promising business Group, is not limited to this business. It has interests in hospitality, healthcare, education, logistics, food manufacturing, cinema and media entertainment, retail and even realty. It employs not less than 11,000 people. Its annual turnover is over Rs. 7,000 crore.
Gokulam Park (Chennai), Gokulam Park (Coimbatore), Gokulam Park Sabari (OMR, Chennai), Gokulam Park Hotel & Convention Centre (Kochi), Sree Gokulam Nalanda Resorts (Nileswaram), Sree Gokulam Vanamala (Guruvayur), Sree Gokulam Residency (Thrissur), Hotel Gokulam Fort (Thalassery), and MSR Hotel and Spa (Bengaluru) are the backbone of the hospitality arm of the Group.
Mr. Gopalan has trust in the potential of the state’s tourism sector. It is clear form his enthusiasm to increase his investment in the hospitality sector. The Group operates a chain of luxury boats in Alappuzha – the Venice of the East.
This legendary businessman is the one who values education more than anything else in this world. As he knowns very well that an investment in education is an investment in future, his investment in education is huge. He runs several educational institutions – not only in Kerala but also across the world, particularly in the Middle East. Dovecote Green Primary School (Dubai) is one of the Group’s biggest contribution. Sree Gokulam Public School is now a very familiar, as well as respected, name in the state. The Group has more than seven schools and three arts colleges in the state. The educational institutions run by the Group stand out from the rest for the dedicated, as well as humanitarian, way in which they operate. It is silently bringing a revolutionary change in the education sector of the state.
SREE GOKULAM MEDICAL COLLEGE
Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation is an asset to the medical education sector of the state. The college, which the Group runs, offers world class medical education, and is one of the most promising medical colleges in the state. It is also popular for its social service initiatives. In the medial college, there is a separate block for rehabilitating senior citizens. The block primarily serves poor.
One of the fastest growing multi-speciality hospitals in this part of the world, GG Hospital (Trivandrum), is owned by the Gokulam Group.
Since his childhood, Mr. Gopalan is a film enthusiast. He loves acting. He has received huge appreciation for his acting in Clint. His deep interest in acting explains his huge investment in the film and entertainment sector. He is a well-known producer. Some of the films that carries his production company’s name includes Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja and Kayamkulam Kochunni. Notably, Mr. Gopalan was the producer of the first film directed by Tamil Superstar Vijay’s father, Chandrasekhar; it was back in 1976 – a year after he formally registered his chit fund business.
It is proud to note here that Mr. Gopalan, who has left no stone unturned and thoroughly explored every business opportunity that has come before him, is the Chairman and the major state holder of a rapidly growing Malayalam television channel, Flowers TV, and a trustworthy Malayalam news channel, 24. Both these channels have transformed the sectors almost entirely, and are now market leaders.
The contribution of this business leader is not limited to the aforesaid areas. It is far beyond this. It covers almost everything – from hospitality and entertainment to retail and real estate.
His contribution to business is not the only reason he is revered widely. He is not less than an extremely sincere philanthropist. He is one of the few persons who believe in the philosophy that ‘don’t let your left hand known what your right is doing’. For that reason, he bothers less to publicise his philanthropic initiatives.
AWARDS
- FAIMA Award
- Gem of India Rashtriya Udyogarathan – Indian Society for Industry and Industrial Development
- Bharatiya Udyogarathan – India Economic Development and Research Association
- Gem of Vadakara – Jaycee
- For the sake of honour – Rotary Club District 2003
- Millennium Award – Vyaparin Vyavasai Ekopana Samithi
- Red Cross Award 2002
- Excellency Award -Karnataka chit Association 2003
- SATH SEVA PURASKARAM 2003-Minarva Educational Trust
- DHANA SREE AWARD - 2004
- Pravasi Udyog Pathra Award
- P.N Paniker Sevana Samskriti Award
- T.V.R Marar Award.
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