Peers say he was a father figure for entrepreneurs

As the news of Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd's founder and chairman Anji Reddy's death spread, his friends, people who knew him personally and relatives started flocking to his Banjara Hills residence to pay their respects. His body was kept in the main hall. Reddy's face defied any trace of ill-health and looked as calm and peaceful as he used to appear at the annual general meetings (AGM) of Dr Reddy's Laboratories.

Among the big names of Hyderabad, Telugu poet C Narayana Reddy, industrialists Dasari Jay Ramesh of Vijaya Electricals and Mohan Reddy of Infotech were among the first to arrive. Reddy's son, Satish, and son-in-law, G V Prasad, among other family members, were present.

A father figure
"He was a father figure to all the entrepreneurs of Hyderabad," said M Narayana Reddy, managing director of Virchow Laboratories.

Incidentally, several people who have started pharma companies in Hyderabad - including Aurobindo, Hetero Drugs and Virchow - have all worked at Dr Reddy's before turning entrepreneurs.

Many of his fans, among the company's shareholders, missed him during the last AGM held in July 2012, when Reddy skipped it for the first time since inception.

Touched millions of lives
His son, Satish Reddy, MD and COO of Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, said: "Dr Reddy touched millions of lives through his contribution to the pharmaceutical industry and his philanthropic efforts. In improving access to affordable, high-quality medicines and in innovation, his contributions were extraordinary. His philanthropic initiatives made a difference in the lives of so many Indians in the areas of livelihood, education, clean drinking water and healthcare. The nation is grateful to a man who paved the way for the delivery of affordable medicines to the masses and made us believe and take pride in innovation as a means to prosperity."