The People's Leader – Datuk Seri M. Saravanan
I first met Datuk Seri M. Saravanan around 2018. At that point, it was purely an introduction with no particular depth to it. I used to accompany my Rotary friends when they went to meet him and I was more of an observer than a participant in those early interactions.
Probably one of the first things I noticed was quite simple. He is a foodie. He genuinely enjoys exploring different cuisines. Being a foodie myself, I could immediately relate to that. In fact, many of the initial interactions happened over meals accompanying our Rotary friends to different restaurants whenever Datuk was in Chennai. Food, as it often does, created an easy and natural common ground.
But over time, that changed. The acquaintance slowly evolved into a relationship. The meetings became more frequent, the conversations more open, and what started as a formal interaction began to reveal the layers of the person behind the public image. I began to observe qualities that define leadership in a much deeper and quieter way.
He has also been a strong supporter of our Seyal forum and has been its patron for several years now. We had the opportunity to recognize him with an award through Rotary. Over the years, I have met him on multiple occasions, in different settings, across cities and even countries including the inauguration of the Singapore Chapter in November 2025, where he was the Chief Guest.
Three qualities about him that stand out for me.
1. A True People's Leader
He is almost always surrounded by people. But what is interesting is not the crowd. It is how he engages with them. There is no visible hierarchy in his interactions. He speaks to everyone. He listens. He acknowledges. There is a certain warmth in the way he connects with people that does not feel forced or political. It feels genuine and that distinction is not a small one.
One instance that stands out is from the COVID period. Many Malaysian Tamilians were stranded in Chennai due to the lockdown. It was a deeply uncertain time, travel was restricted overnight. With flights being cancelled, anxiety was high and people were far from home with no clear answers. During that phase, he took significant personal efforts to ensure their safety and well-being. There are many such instances I could point to, but what matters more than the actions themselves is the intent behind them.
Leadership, in such moments, is not about position or visibility. It is about responsibility and the willingness to show up for people even when no one is watching.
2. He Values Friendship
In many public roles, relationships tend to become transactional over time. Meetings are scheduled. Conversations are measured. Interactions are often driven by necessity rather than genuine connection. But with him, there is a visible and consistent effort to maintain friendships beyond the formal context. He remembers people. He stays connected. He makes time and that, in itself, says a great deal about him.
I have had the opportunity to meet him along with a small group at his home. In that setting, away from public events and formal gatherings, he was a perfect host - warm and attentive. That ability to transition from a public leader to a personal friend, without effort or pretence, is a quality that is rare.
3. Energy That Sustains
Energy is an underrated leadership trait. Not the performative kind that appears on stage and disappears backstage, but the kind that remains consistent regardless of the setting or the hour. There is no visible fatigue in how he interacts with people. No drop in enthusiasm. No sense of disengagement. Perhaps the positive people around him play a role in sustaining that energy.
I have seen him at the airport well past midnight, after long and demanding travel schedules, engaging with the same ease as he would at any formal event. He also maintains his physical fitness with evident discipline. I am not entirely sure how he finds the time for it, but it reflects something important. Discipline, more often than not, sits quietly behind sustained energy and sustained energy is what keeps a leader going long after the initial enthusiasm has faded.
Over the years, what started as a casual introduction over shared meals turned into a series of meaningful observations across very different settings. Not every leadership lesson comes from a structured conversation or a formal exchange. Sometimes, it comes from simply watching how a person shows up - consistently, unhurriedly, and with the same warmth across situations, across years, and across the distance that time can often create.
