‘The process of learning should never stop’

But, three years later, inspired by his professor and two other well-wishers, he joined the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). “I was among the first batch of urban engineers in the country. Prof Anantha Rajan and Louis Menezes (former IAS officer) were among the people who constantly inspired me to take up the position at CMDA,” said Kumar, who went on to serve that organisation for 14 years. 

“I learnt a lot at CMDA and I loved my job. I was happy to be stationed in Chennai. I got a lot of recognition. We implemented many social improvement projects under the guidance of the World Bank. This exposure empowered me. Though I was an executive, the interactions with chief engineers were a great experience. I was even sent abroad during MGR’s regime. I spent four months at the University of Birmingham. I thoroughly enjoyed the CMDA experience – be it giving small, micro loans or participating in socially-oriented welfare measures,” he added.

So, what led him to become an entrepreneur? “I was in the enforcement department of the CMDA and this was the turning point for me. My job was to ensure quality and clear titles. I had to visit project sites to determine the building violations. As part of taking corrective measures, I was involved in many demolition exercises,” said Kumar, who takes pride in stating that he has been involved in the maximum number of demolitions of live buildings. 

While he went about this with a rigour that enabled him to use his specialised skills (Masters degree in Civil Engineering and Urban Planning), he was equally pained to see people losing their homes in such demolition drives. “Using crowbars, hammers and welding rods to go about the demolitions were not easy. I learnt the best use of concrete material by destruction as it redistributes the forces,” he said. 

“But, it was a painful experience. Though we used to conduct these quietly, it was not easy to see people crying and weeping inconsolably. Demolition was not my objective. By using demolition as an example, we wanted people follow the law,” he said, adding he would go to town with the news so that rules could not be flouted. 

Interest in architecture and the joy of creating “stirred” him. “I would set along with my classmates and visit Villupuram, Cuddalore and such places. Then I started thinking why can’t one do business without compromising on values?” said Kumar, who holds integrity, honesty and genuineness as the ‘mantras’ of existence. 

That was when he decided to start Navin’s in 1989, quitting a comfortable government job to take on the reins of entrepreneurship. For 27 years now, from a humble beginning, the enterprise is standing tall despite all the odds and challenges. “It has been an extremely difficult journey. Real estate business is one of the toughest ones to be in. I had to wait almost four years to start a project and lost a lot of big projects to other developers for many years. But, I stood by my principles though I would end up building less,” said Kumar, who believes that by promising less and delivering more, customers can be won for a lifetime. “We see ourselves as professionals in business,” he added. 

“We did not have any spurt in business. It has been an organic and gradual journey for us. We have been following rules at a time when the ‘no objection certificates’ were not even mandatory. Likewise, we introduced rain water harvesting in our home projects much before the state government made it mandatory,” said the man, who has led by setting an example and by stepping out of his comfort zone to explore entrepreneurship in a way that augurs well for the real-estate sector. Kumar, a multi-faceted person, who is into meditation, has oratorical skills, acting, drawing and what not. Last year, he took up playing golf, as he signs off saying “learning should never stop.”