Jack of all Traits

Vaathiyaar pulla makku (a teacher's son will always be a fool) is an ancient Tamil proverb that has gone wrong with V Adimurugan, CEO of AVM Computers, Tiruvannamalai. Son of a teacher couple, Adimurugan is one of the leading channel partners in North Tamil Nadu today.

EARLY LIFE
Born and brought up in Tiruvannamalai, a town known globally for its spirituality, Adimurugan was interested in tech-related activities right from a tender age. After a diploma and a post-diploma course from Melmaruvattur and Chennai respectively, Adimurugan worked in various private organizations in Bengaluru and Chennai. "I have worked as a lecturer and learned accounts," says Adimurugan, who learned to do multi-tasking from such jobs. "I got my full-fledged IT exposure from a company that was into financial services and where I headed the IT team. While maintaining end-to-end IRT activities taught me the implementation part, I also got the experience of implementing things like on-site printing," informs Adimurugan.
CHALLENGES FACED
In 1993, Adimurugan, in his wish to get back to his hometown, started a home-based software consultancy for the healthcare SMBs in Vellore. "The prime challenge I faced was gaining the confidence of the clients. No one gave me projects just because I did not hail from a metro city like Chennai. It took great deal of a time to convince them that I was no way technically inferior from someone from Chennai," he recalls.

JOURNEY FROM SOFTWARE TO HARDWARE
Many have the habit of moving to software from hardware sales. However, Adimurugan is way different. "After few years, I found a good hardware engineer within myself and the industry contacts gained while working as an IT manager helped me start my own retail operation in my hometown," says Adimurugan, recalling that there were only seven computers in total in his region during those days, out of which two belonged to a government office. He also had some interesting and funny incidents during the stint. "I was called for doing a desktop service in the mid 90s. While I was about to touch the computer, someone came towards me, shouting not to touch the computer without washing my hands. Amazed at his caution, I asked him the reason. He told me that he has read about the spread of computer virus and so one should only touch a computer after washing hands," recalls Adimurugan. He also faced tough times in the trade as sometimes the business would do extremely good while at other times, it would not even meet expectations.

POLICIES IN LIFE
Adimurugan has set some policies for his profession, the major being promptness of payments. "Once you are found to be good with payments, you need not worry about building confidence," he says, adding further that he has never issued a blank check to anyone in his entire trade background. On the business part, he shares that he never opts for a brand or product, unless he is satisfied with the service. "I am a sub-distributor for a few brands. However, I do not handle few products as I do not like them. Implementation starts from self." Adimurugan always checks the quality of a product in his own office before selling it to the customer. "If I have any doubt over the performance of the product, I will find a replacement rather than pushing it to the customer."

PERSONAL LIFE
Adimurugan is blessed with two children-Adi Arunachalam and Aishwarya. Adimurugan loves reading books and spends ample amount of time listening to music. "I am an ardent reader of books, specially those related to spiritualism and Tamil language. From ancient scribbles to the latest collections of Vairamuthu, I have everything in my library," he says adding that there have been times when he purchased books with the money given to buy crackers for Diwali.

FAVORITES
Adimurugan is a great fan of superstar Rajinikanth. "What else can you expect a Tamilian to be other than Thalaivar?" questions Adimurugan whose favorite cuisine is Chicken. Besides, he likes to trip Kodaikanal and Manali.

A DYNAMIC PERSONA
Apart from being a channel partner, Adimurugan has many facets of his personality. He is an active blogger and a spiritual-speaker. "I want to convey technology to the grass roots and would like to write about spiritualism." On top of that, there is something which no one knows about Adimurugan-he is an expert in ethical hacking for which a developed a knack during youth. "If you are lazy, please share your IP address with me. I will read out your mail for you," quizzes Adimurugan before we say bye to him.
B SWAMINATHAN
(swaminathanb@cybermedia.co.in)