R Premkumar: Where success meets humanity

"The late president APJ Abdul Kalam taught us to dream big. I dreamt big and gave wings to it." And the results are there for all to see. What began with the lofty aim of a "Home for All", BLM today is a force to reckon with in the housing sector. It develops houses of all kinds from villas, row houses and apartment complexes to bungalows and mini townships at affordable rates. "We have completed almost 60 projects, both big and small, in Chennai, Puducherry and Kerala and they have benefited close to 50,000 people," he says with a smile of satisfaction.

- Ranjit L Morris

At a time when the Indian entrepreneurial hall of fame is teeming with colossal figures, only a blessed few stand head and shoulders above others for making a positive impact on the lives of others. With the right blend of grit, vision, spiritual strength and empathy, R Premkumar, more popularly known as BLM Premkumar, has earned his rightful place among that niche group of entrepreneurs with a human touch.

Clad in a crispy white shirt and spotless starched dhoti of the matching colour and with sacred ash on his forehead, Premkumar may be mistaken for yet another typical south Indian gentleman, as he appears without the stereotypical trappings of a business magnate. That sage-like visage framed with a thick salt-and-pepper beard hides the hawkeyed, astute visionary entrepreneur, who is at the helm of a multi-crore behemoth—Bharath Lajhna Multi (BLM) State Housing Co-operative Society Ltd. It is a force to reckon with in the entrepreneurial landscape of south India, spanning several verticals such as housing, land development, hospitality, jewellery, civil supplies and transportation to name a few. It is one of the niche enterprises which touch the lives of thousands of beneficiaries. In an exclusive interview with Unique Times, he reminisces about his entrepreneurial journey and future plans for the empire he has built. 

From a seedling to a mighty colossal tree 

When asked how it all began, Premkumar went down memory lane, saying it all started with a bitter experience many years ago. “I once accompanied a friend to a co-operative bank to apply for a loan to conduct his sister’s wedding,” he said.