Hailing from the tiny, unnoticed village of Appanaickenpatti Pudur near Coimbatore, Dr. A. Velumani’s life is a powerful narrative of resilience and reinvention. Born to a landless agricultural worker, his childhood was marked by extreme poverty—so much so that his father couldn’t afford to buy him a simple pair of pants or even slippers. Despite the lack of resources, Velumani went on to carve out a remarkable journey, transforming not only his destiny but also making a deep impact on the Indian healthcare diagnostics industry.
From walking barefoot in rural Tamil Nadu to pioneering one of India’s largest diagnostic networks, his trajectory is nothing short of inspirational. Known for his iconic spectacles and scientific acumen, Velumani became a key player in redefining how affordable healthcare diagnostics were delivered across the country.
On Sunday, Dr. Velumani took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a heartwarming story about a reunion with a woman who had once been an acquaintance of his mother.
A Touching Reunion After Four Decades
The woman, now in her eighties, had not seen him in over 40 years. Without notifying her in advance, Velumani paid a surprise visit to her home in a nearby town. Initially failing to recognize him, she embraced him with tears in her eyes the moment she realized who he was.
They spent 90 emotional minutes together—75 of which were spent reminiscing about his late mother. The elderly woman’s memory was remarkably sharp, and she fondly recalled their shared history from the 1960s. Back then, both women had shown unwavering determination in ensuring their children received proper education, despite immense financial constraints. While most mothers in their village had not placed much emphasis on academics, these two stood apart for their discipline, endurance, and commitment to their children's futures.
“She was fifteen years younger than my mother,” Velumani wrote in his post. “Between them, they had seven children, all of whom graduated from Madras University. Their sacrifices made that possible.”
A Mother’s Influence and Legacy
Velumani quoted the woman emotionally, “Your mother had absolutely nothing. I had very little. But she inspired me.” Despite limited means, she ensured her children succeeded—and today, all of them are doing well professionally. She now lives alone, content and proud, with her children visiting her over the weekends. “I love my solitude,” she told him. “But their success brings me peace.”
In another heartfelt message, Velumani reflected on how women like his mother and her friend played a silent yet powerful role in transforming Tamil Nadu’s socio-economic landscape. He connected their efforts to the state’s impressive economic performance in recent years.
Education as the Engine of Growth
Referring to Tamil Nadu’s outstanding 14.02% growth in nominal GDP for 2024–25—one of the highest among Indian states—Velumani credited the consistent prioritization of education by both policymakers and mothers over the last six decades. “Others may not have focused on education in time,” he noted. “But here, it was treated as essential. The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is indeed sweet.”
About Dr. Velumani
Dr. A. Velumani is the founder of Thyrocare Technologies, a leading healthcare diagnostics company in India. The firm played a crucial role during the COVID-19 crisis by expanding access to affordable testing across the country. According to a Forbes India report from 2021, Thyrocare was valued at Rs 7,000 crore, while Velumani himself has an estimated net worth of Rs 5,000 crore—a testament to what determination, vision, and education can achieve.
From walking barefoot in rural Tamil Nadu to pioneering one of India’s largest diagnostic networks, his trajectory is nothing short of inspirational. Known for his iconic spectacles and scientific acumen, Velumani became a key player in redefining how affordable healthcare diagnostics were delivered across the country.
On Sunday, Dr. Velumani took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a heartwarming story about a reunion with a woman who had once been an acquaintance of his mother.
Appanaickenpatti Pudur:
— Dr. A. Velumani.PhD. (@velumania) April 6, 2025
She was younger to my mother by 15 yrs 4 of my mothers and 3 of hers were all 1960s born in the same village. Both struggled, sacrificed and made all their children graduates in Madras university
While majority of other mothers in that village did not… pic.twitter.com/X3uBXq6yNf
A Touching Reunion After Four Decades
The woman, now in her eighties, had not seen him in over 40 years. Without notifying her in advance, Velumani paid a surprise visit to her home in a nearby town. Initially failing to recognize him, she embraced him with tears in her eyes the moment she realized who he was.
They spent 90 emotional minutes together—75 of which were spent reminiscing about his late mother. The elderly woman’s memory was remarkably sharp, and she fondly recalled their shared history from the 1960s. Back then, both women had shown unwavering determination in ensuring their children received proper education, despite immense financial constraints. While most mothers in their village had not placed much emphasis on academics, these two stood apart for their discipline, endurance, and commitment to their children's futures.
“She was fifteen years younger than my mother,” Velumani wrote in his post. “Between them, they had seven children, all of whom graduated from Madras University. Their sacrifices made that possible.”
A Mother’s Influence and Legacy
Velumani quoted the woman emotionally, “Your mother had absolutely nothing. I had very little. But she inspired me.” Despite limited means, she ensured her children succeeded—and today, all of them are doing well professionally. She now lives alone, content and proud, with her children visiting her over the weekends. “I love my solitude,” she told him. “But their success brings me peace.”
In another heartfelt message, Velumani reflected on how women like his mother and her friend played a silent yet powerful role in transforming Tamil Nadu’s socio-economic landscape. He connected their efforts to the state’s impressive economic performance in recent years.
It is not over night magic.
— Dr. A. Velumani.PhD. (@velumania) April 6, 2025
I read many proud tamilians tweeting “The nominal GDP of Tamil Nadu in 2024-25 has grown by 14.02%, the highest among all states”.
It is possible only because our CMs and mothers who had given priority for education for last 60 yrs while others did… https://t.co/0OLzcDJxwI
Education as the Engine of Growth
Referring to Tamil Nadu’s outstanding 14.02% growth in nominal GDP for 2024–25—one of the highest among Indian states—Velumani credited the consistent prioritization of education by both policymakers and mothers over the last six decades. “Others may not have focused on education in time,” he noted. “But here, it was treated as essential. The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is indeed sweet.”
About Dr. Velumani
Dr. A. Velumani is the founder of Thyrocare Technologies, a leading healthcare diagnostics company in India. The firm played a crucial role during the COVID-19 crisis by expanding access to affordable testing across the country. According to a Forbes India report from 2021, Thyrocare was valued at Rs 7,000 crore, while Velumani himself has an estimated net worth of Rs 5,000 crore—a testament to what determination, vision, and education can achieve.
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