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[[File:H. Vasanthakumar.jpg|right|200px]]
{{short description|Indian politician-businessman}}
'''Harikrishnan Vasanthakumar''' (14 April 1950{{spnd}}28 August 2020) was an Indian businessman and politician. He was the founder and chairman of [[Vasanth & Co]]. He was also the founder and managing director of the Tamil satellite TV channel [[Vasanth TV]].<ref>{{cite news|title=TV channel war in Tamil Nadu set to intensify|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1115036 |work=DNA|date=12 August 2007}}</ref>
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English| date=August 2020}}
{{Indian name|Vasanthakumar|Harikrishnan Nadar}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = H. Vasanthakumar
| image              = File:H. Vasanthakumar.jpg
| caption            =
| office              = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| term_start          = 18 June 2019
| term_end            = 28 August 2020
| primeminister      = [[Narendra Modi]]
| predecessor        = [[Pon Radhakrishnan]]
| successor          =
| constituency        = [[Kanniyakumari (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kanniyakumari]]
| office1            = Member of [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start1        = 25 May 2016
| term_end1          = 29 May 2019
| 1blankname1        = Chief Minister
| 1namedata1          = {{ubl|[[J. Jayalalithaa]]|[[O. Panneerselvam]]|[[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]]}}
| predecessor1        = [[A. Narayanan]]
| successor1          = Reddiarpatti V. Narayanan
| constituency1      = [[Nanguneri (state assembly constituency)|Nanguneri]]
| term_start2        = 17 May 2006
| term_end2          = 14 May 2011
| 1blankname2        = Chief Minister
| 1namedata2          = [[M. Karunanidhi]]
| predecessor2        = [[S. Manickaraj]]
| successor2          = A. Narayanan
| constituency2      = Nanguneri
| birth_name          = Harikrishnan Vasanthakumar
| birth_date          = {{birth date|df=yes|1950|04|14}}
| birth_place        = [[Agasteeswaram]], [[Travancore–Cochin]],<br/>{{smaller|(present-day [[Kanyakumari District]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India)}}
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2020|08|28|1950|04|14|df=yes}}
| death_place        = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| party              = [[Indian National Congress]]
| spouse              = Tamilselvi
| children            = [[Vijay Vasanth]]<br />Vinothkumar<br />Thangamalar
|father = Harikrishnan Nadar
|mother = Thangammal
| relatives          = [[Kumari Ananthan]] (elder brother)<br>[[Tamilisai Soundararajan]] (niece)
| known_for          = Founder, Chairman & Managing Director of [[Vasanth & Co]], [[Vasanth TV]]
| occupation          = {{hlist|Businessman|Politician}}
}}


He was elected as the [[member of parliament]] to the 17th [[Lok Sabha]] from [[Kanyakumari (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kanyakumari constituency]] in the [[2019 Indian general election]]. He was also elected as [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] from [[Nanguneri]] constituency in the [[2006 Tamil Nadu state assembly election|2006]] and [[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2016 elections]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Plea to halt all trains at Nanguneri|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010252890300.htm |work=The Hindu|date=2 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Vasanthakumar to contest as Independent|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/12/stories/2004041208990400.htm |work=The Hindu|date=12 April 2004}}</ref>
'''Harikrishnan Nadar Vasanthakumar''' (14 April 1950{{spnd}}28 August 2020) was an Indian businessman and politician from [[Tamil Nadu]]. He was the founder and chairman of [[Vasanth & Co]], one of the largest retail home appliance chains in Tamil Nadu. He was also the founder and managing director of the Tamil satellite TV channel [[Vasanth TV]].<ref>{{cite news|title=TV channel war in Tamil Nadu set to intensify|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1115036|work=DNA|date=12 August 2007|access-date=30 March 2009|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901061820/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-tv-channel-war-in-tamil-nadu-set-to-intensify-1115036|url-status=live}}</ref> He was elected as the [[member of parliament]] to the [[17th Lok Sabha]] from [[Kanyakumari (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kanyakumari constituency]] in the [[2019 Indian general election]]. He was also elected as [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] from [[Nanguneri]] constituency in the [[2006 Tamil Nadu state assembly election|2006]] and [[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2016 elections]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Plea to halt all trains at Nanguneri|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010252890300.htm|date=2 January 2009|access-date=30 March 2009|archive-date=4 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104022817/http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010252890300.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Vasanthakumar to contest as Independent|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/12/stories/2004041208990400.htm|date=12 April 2004|access-date=30 March 2009|archive-date=21 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921130418/http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/12/stories/2004041208990400.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref>


He was born in [[Travancore-Cochin]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. [[Tamilisai Soundararajan]], the [[Governor of Telangana]], is his niece.
== Early life ==
Vasanthakumar was born in [[Agastheeswaram]] in the [[Kanniyakumari district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] to Harikrishnan Nadar and Thangammal on 14 April 1950.<ref name="Desk">{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=DC Web|date=29 August 2020|title=Kanyakumari MP H Vasanthkumar, the founder of Vasanth and Co, dies of COVID-19|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/290820/kanyakumari-mp-h-vasanthkumar-the-founder-of-vasanth-and-co-dies-of.html|access-date=29 August 2020|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|archive-date=30 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830065355/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/290820/kanyakumari-mp-h-vasanthkumar-the-founder-of-vasanth-and-co-dies-of.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He completed his primary education from a [[Panchayati raj|Panchayat board school]] in Kanniyakumari, later obtaining his [[Bachelor's degree]] in [[Tamil literature]] from [[Madurai Kamaraj University|the Madurai University]], as well as a [[Master's degree]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Tamil Nadu Congress MP Vasantha Kumar dies of COVID-19|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/08/28/tamil-nadu-congress-mp-vasantha-kumar-dies-of-covid-19.html|access-date=29 August 2020|website=The Week|language=en|archive-date=28 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828192010/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/08/28/tamil-nadu-congress-mp-vasantha-kumar-dies-of-covid-19.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His brother, [[Kumari Ananthan]], was also a legislator from the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref name=":0" />


Vasanthakumar died on 28 August 2020 at a hospital in [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu from [[COVID-19]], aged 70.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vasanthakumar, Kanyakumari MP, dies of Covid-19|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/vasanthakumar-kanyakumari-mp-dies-of-covid-19/articleshow/77806833.cms|accessdate=28 August 2020|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref>
== Career ==
He started his career as a salesman in the early 1970s, including working with [[V. G. Panneerdas|VGP]]. In 1978, he started his own home appliances sales showroom [[Vasanth & Co]], with its first store in the [[T. Nagar]] neighborhood in Chennai.<ref name=":0" /> The company went on to become one of the leading retail chains with showrooms across [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Bengaluru|Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]].<ref name="Desk"/> Vasanthakumar and his company are credited with pioneering sales of consumer electronics goods on [[equated monthly installment]]s in the Indian market, as well as centralized after-sales support.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Vignessh|date=28 August 2020|title=The story of Vasanthakumar: a driven, resourceful, self-made entrepreneur|url=https://thefederal.com/obituary/the-story-of-vasanthakumar-a-driven-resourceful-self-made-entrepreneur/|access-date=29 August 2020|website=The Federal|language=en-US|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901061821/https://thefederal.com/obituary/the-story-of-vasanthakumar-a-driven-resourceful-self-made-entrepreneur/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==References==
Vasanthakumar also founded the Tamil satellite television network [[Vasanth TV]] in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 May 2008|title=Sonia Gandhi launches satellite TV channel Vasanth|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2008/05/05/sonia-gandhi-launches-satellite-tv-channel-vasanth-1209981960.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901061819/https://www.oneindia.com/2008/05/05/sonia-gandhi-launches-satellite-tv-channel-vasanth-1209981960.html|archive-date=1 September 2020|access-date=29 August 2020|website=One India|language=en}}</ref>
{{reflist}}
 
== Political career ==
Vasanthakumar started his political career as a worker with the [[Indian National Congress]] political party taking up multiple local organizational roles.<ref name=":3" /> His first electoral politics stint was in 2006, as the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] from the [[Nanguneri]] constituency in Tamil Nadu. He won the elections by defeating S.P. Sooryakumar of the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] political party. This was a significant win for the [[Indian National Congress|party]] because it was after three decades that the party was able to win this electoral seat.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Tamil Nadu loses Lok Sabha MP H Vasanthakumar to COVID-19|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/aug/28/blow-to-retail-trade-tamil-nadu-loses-lok-sabha-mp-h-vasanthakumar-to-covid-19-2189612.html|access-date=29 August 2020|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=29 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829023828/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/aug/28/blow-to-retail-trade-tamil-nadu-loses-lok-sabha-mp-h-vasanthakumar-to-covid-19-2189612.html|url-status=live}}</ref> One of his campaign promises included the establishment of a [[Special economic zone]] with a hi-tech park in Nanguneri.<ref>{{cite news|date=5 May 2006|title=Congress on strong wicket in Nanguneri|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/05/stories/2006050516380300.htm|access-date=3 August 2010|archive-date=7 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107014208/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/05/stories/2006050516380300.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref> He contested the election from [[Kanyakumari (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituency]] in 2014 against [[Pon Radhakrishnan]] and lost the elections.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Seetharaman|first=G.|title=Pon Radhakrishnan: BJP's lone ranger in Tamil Nadu|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pon-radhakrishnan-bjps-lone-ranger-in-tamil-nadu/articleshow/35270324.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2021-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-05-26|title=Pon Radhakrishnan: BJP's sole Tamil Nadu MP becomes minister again|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/409823/pon-radhakrishnan-bjps-sole-tamil.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref> In his second term as a member of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]], he represented Nanguneri again in 2016. He served the constituency until 2019 when he went on to become the [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]], as a member of the [[17th Lok Sabha]] from the [[Kanyakumari (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituency]]. He won this election, against the incumbent Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping [[Pon Radhakrishnan]], by winning with a margin of over 250,000 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sudhakar|first=P.|date=25 May 2019|title=Religious divide obliterates good work of ‘Ponnaar’|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/religious-divide-obliterates-good-works-of-ponnaar/article27243835.ece|access-date=29 August 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=25 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825105256/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/religious-divide-obliterates-good-works-of-ponnaar/article27243835.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=28 August 2020|title=Tamil Nadu: Congress MP Harikrishnan Vasanthakumar passes away due to Covid-19|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-congress-mp-hariskirshnan-vasanthakumar-passes-away-due-to-covid-19-6573918/|access-date=29 August 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=28 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828180343/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-congress-mp-hariskirshnan-vasanthakumar-passes-away-due-to-covid-19-6573918/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
He was the working President of the [[Tamil Nadu Congress Committee|Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC)]] from 2019 through his death in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kolappan|first=B.|date=3 February 2019|title=K.S. Alagiri is new TNCC president|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ks-alagiri-is-new-tncc-president/article26164726.ece|access-date=29 August 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901061822/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ks-alagiri-is-new-tncc-president/article26164726.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Earlier, he had served as the Vice-President of the TNCC, and also as the Chairman of the TNCC Traders wing.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=29 August 2020|title=Congress MP Vasanthakumar succumbs to COVID-19|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/congress-mp-vasanthakumar-succumbs-to-covid-19/article32469824.ece|access-date=29 August 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901061826/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/congress-mp-vasanthakumar-succumbs-to-covid-19/article32469824.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
 
== Writings ==
Vasanthakumar wrote a three part autobiographical book series in Tamil, titled ''"Vetri Padikattu"'' – "'''வெற்றிப் படிக்கட்டு'''" – (English: Ladder of Success), focusing on his entrepreneurial success and community building initiatives.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=Congress MP from Kanyakumari H Vasanthakumar succumbs to COVID-19|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/aug/28/congress-mp-from-kanyakumari-h-vasanthakumar-succumbs-to-covid-19-2189538.html|website=The New Indian Express|publisher=The New Indian Express|access-date=28 August 2020|archive-date=28 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828194208/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/aug/28/congress-mp-from-kanyakumari-h-vasanthakumar-succumbs-to-covid-19-2189538.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Weaving Successful Short stories|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2015/feb/16/Weaving-Successful-Short-stories-717883.html|access-date=29 August 2020|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105140029/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2015/feb/16/Weaving-Successful-Short-stories-717883.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Death==
Vasanthakumar died on 28 August 2020 at the [[Apollo Hospitals]] in Chennai, of complications from [[COVID-19]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Vasanthakumar, Kanyakumari MP, dies of Covid-19|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/vasanthakumar-kanyakumari-mp-dies-of-covid-19/articleshow/77806833.cms|access-date=28 August 2020|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|archive-date=28 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828201356/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/vasanthakumar-kanyakumari-mp-dies-of-covid-19/articleshow/77806833.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> He was admitted to the hospital on 10 August 2020, and was on [[ECMO]] and ventilator life support, prior to his death.<ref name=":2" />
 
[[President of India|President]] [[Ram Nath Kovind]], [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]], [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu Chief Minister]] [[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]], Congress leader and [[Wayanad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Wayanad]] [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] [[Rahul Gandhi]], [[Governor of Tamil Nadu]] [[Banwarilal Purohit]] among others were amongst those who expressed their condolences.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tamil Nadu: Congress MP Harikrishnan Vasanthakumar passes away due to Covid-19|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-congress-mp-hariskirshnan-vasanthakumar-passes-away-due-to-covid-19-6573918/|access-date=28 August 2020|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en|archive-date=28 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828175254/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-congress-mp-hariskirshnan-vasanthakumar-passes-away-due-to-covid-19-6573918/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite web|title=Vasanthakumar was a born fighter, says T.N. Governor Banwarilal Purohit|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/he-was-a-born-fighter/article32470083.ece|access-date=30 August 2020|website=[[The Hindu]]|language=en|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901061825/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/he-was-a-born-fighter/article32470083.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
He is survived by his wife Tamil Selvi, two sons, and a daughter. His wife was also undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at the time of his death.<ref name=":1" />
 
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
 
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|in-lwr}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Pon Radhakrishnan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br>for [[Kanyakumari (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kanyakumari]] |years=2019–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Vijay Vasanth]]}}
|-
{{s-end}}
 
== External links ==
*[http://www.vasanth.tv/ Vasanth TV]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Vasanthakumar, H.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vasanthakumar, H.}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:17th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India]]
[[Category:Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian business people]]
[[Category:People from Kanyakumari district]]
 
[[Category:Tamil Nadu politicians]]
{{bio-stub}}
[[Category:Tamil businesspeople]]
[[Category:United Progressive Alliance candidates in the 2014 Indian general election]]
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