The launch ceremony of Products of PSG Products, a unique expo that will showcase products and services developed by entrepreneurs who are alumni of PSG institutions, was held in Coimbatore yesterday. The expo is scheduled to take place from December 9 to 13 and is expected to bring together a wide range of innovative enterprises founded and led by PSG alumni.
The official website and brochure of the expo were unveiled during the event. G.R. Karthikeyan, Founder Trustee and Chairman of PSG & Sons’ Charities, attended as the Chief Guest, while Vijay Mohan, Founder of Pricol Limited, was the Guest of Honour. The function was presided over by L. Gopalakrishnan, Managing Trustee of PSG & Sons’ Charities.
Speaking on the occasion, G.R. Karthikeyan took the audience through the remarkable journey of PSG & Sons’ Charities and its contribution to education, healthcare, industry and social welfare over the last century. He recalled the vision of P. S. Govindaswamy Naidu, whose commitment to philanthropy laid the foundation for the charitable trust. Guided by his belief that wealth should benefit society, his four sons established PSG & Sons’ Charities, which went on to become one of the most respected educational and philanthropic institutions in the country.
Karthikeyan highlighted several milestones in the growth of the PSG group. He recalled that the educational journey began with the establishment of Sarvajana School on June 4, 1924. Designed by renowned British architect G.S.T. Harris, the school started with seven teachers and 170 students and continues to stand as a symbol of the founders’ vision.
He also spoke about the establishment of the PSG Industrial Institute in 1926, which played an important role in developing skilled manpower and supporting Coimbatore’s emergence as a major manufacturing centre. This was followed by the establishment of PSG Polytechnic College in 1939, which further strengthened technical education and supplied skilled professionals to industries across the region.
Karthikeyan noted that PSG College of Arts and Science was established in 1947 and inaugurated by R.K. Shanmukham Chetty, independent India’s first Finance Minister. He described the institution as one that has contributed significantly to higher education in the country. PSG College of Technology, founded in 1951, was another major milestone and has since earned a reputation as one of India’s premier engineering institutions.
He further highlighted the growth of PSG’s healthcare initiatives, including the establishment of PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in 1986. Over the years, the institution has expanded into one of the country’s leading medical colleges and hospitals, growing from an initial capacity of 150 beds to around 2,500 beds today, while serving thousands of outpatients every day. He also referred to the PSG Institute of Oncology as one of the latest additions to the healthcare network.
Karthikeyan spoke about the social initiatives of the trust, including the establishment of ‘Mannavar Illam’ in 1995 for children from single-parent families. Today, the institution provides support and accommodation to more than 200 students. He also outlined the expansion of educational institutions during the 1990s and 2000s, including PSG Institute of Management, PSG College of Nursing, PSG College of Pharmacy and PSG College of Physiotherapy. More recent additions include PSG iTech in 2014, PSG Institute of Architecture in 2021, PSG Convention Centre in 2022 and the GRD Museum of Science and Technology in 2025.
Looking ahead, he said PSG plans to further strengthen its research capabilities in emerging technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, cyber security and 3D printing, ensuring that its institutions remain relevant in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
Guest of Honour Vijay Mohan spoke about Coimbatore’s strong entrepreneurial culture and its transformation into one of India’s leading industrial centres. He pointed out that the city has successfully diversified beyond its traditional strengths in textiles, pumps and motors and now supports a wide range of industries.
He acknowledged the significant contribution of PSG institutions in nurturing generations of entrepreneurs who have helped create industries, employment opportunities and economic growth. He also stressed the importance of strengthening the manufacturing sector in India to generate employment opportunities for people with different educational backgrounds. According to him, the Products of PSG Products expo will serve as an inspiration for young visitors by exposing them to successful enterprises built by PSG alumni and encouraging them to pursue entrepreneurship.
In his presidential address, L. Gopalakrishnan said the launch of the expo represented much more than an exhibition. He described it as a celebration of the century-old vision of the founders of PSG & Sons’ Charities, who believed that education should not only transform individual lives but also create opportunities for others.
He observed that successive generations of PSG leadership had consistently focused on building institutions that contribute to society through education, healthcare, research and entrepreneurship. He emphasized that the founders envisioned educated individuals becoming creators of employment and contributors to social progress.
Gopalakrishnan highlighted PSG’s role over the past ten decades as a pillar of education, healthcare and philanthropy in Coimbatore. From schools and colleges to advanced research centres and healthcare institutions, PSG has played a significant role in developing skilled human resources and supporting the region’s growth.
Earlier delivering the welcome address, K.P.M. Muthukhumaren, CEO and Founder of KPM Plasto Rubber Co., highlighted the strong and enduring relationship that PSG institutions maintain with their students even after graduation. He noted that initiatives such as the Products of PSG Products expo reflect the institution’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation among its alumni.
He said the objective of the expo is to create a world-class platform that showcases the achievements, strengths and entrepreneurial spirit of the PSG ecosystem. According to him, PSG has consistently played a role in transforming education into entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship into employment, and employment into social progress.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by C. Raviselvan, Director of GEM Equipments Pvt. Ltd.
