The Visionary Farmer-Turned-Industrialist Who Built a Textile Empire
Name: K. P. Ramasamy, often referred to as KPR
Born: Kalliampudur village, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, into an agricultural family
Education: High‑school level; dropped college due to financial hardship
Titles: Founder & Chairman of KPR Group
Age: Approx. 74 years (Forbes India Richest List 2023)
K.P. Ramasamy, fondly known as KPR, is a name that resonates with inspiration, resilience, and visionary leadership. Hailing from a humble agricultural family in Kalliampudur village near Erode, Tamil Nadu, KPR’s journey from tilling soil to shaping a ₹30,000-crore textile conglomerate is nothing short of extraordinary.
Born with limited means, KPR had to drop out of college due to financial constraints. However, his spirit was unshaken. In 1971, with just ₹8,000 borrowed from a relative, he started his entrepreneurial journey by setting up a small power-loom business. What began as a modest operation soon evolved into KPR Mill Limited, co-founded with his brothers in 1984.
Under his leadership, KPR Mill transformed into a vertically integrated textile powerhouse, manufacturing everything from yarn to finished garments. Today, the company exports over 140 million garments annually to global giants such as H&M, Walmart, and Marks & Spencer, operating across 60+ countries.
But K.P. Ramasamy is not just a business magnate; he is a social reformer at heart. Nearly 95% of his workforce comprises women from rural Tamil Nadu. He has pioneered a unique in-house education model that enables thousands of female employees to pursue high school, undergraduate, and even postgraduate degrees, including MBAs. Over 24,000 women have graduated through this initiative, with many earning gold medals and top university honors.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, while many companies scaled back, KPR Mill ensured full salaries, free food, accommodation, and entertainment for its employees, highlighting Ramasamy’s belief that business success lies in the well-being of people.
He has also diversified into sugar, ethanol, co-generation power, and branded innerwear with the launch of Faso. His strong emphasis on sustainability has led to investments in wind, solar, and bio-energy, making KPR Mill an environmentally conscious brand.
Today, at over 70 years of age, K.P. Ramasamy continues to inspire a generation of entrepreneurs with his blend of vision, humility, and purpose-driven leadership. From a farmer’s son to a Forbes-listed billionaire, his story proves that success is not just about profits – but about impacting lives, empowering communities, and building a better future.
