Padma Shri Awardee And Former ICAI President T.N. Manoharan Dies At 69
The accounting profession in India has lost one of its most respected and influential figures. Padma Shree awardee T.N. Manoharan (69), former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), passed away in Mumbai earlier today. He was widely hailed as a transformative force in India’s accounting and corporate governance.
A towering presence in the profession, Manoharan’s career spanned over four decades, during which he helped steer the course of accounting practices in India towards global standards.
Known for his astute judgment, deep legal knowledge, and unwavering ethical compass, he was instrumental in guiding the profession through complex regulatory transitions and high-stakes corporate crises.
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Born in Rajakoil, a village near Gudiyatham in Tamil Nadu, T.N. Manoharan was the son of freedom fighter T.L. Narayanasamy Chowdhry and Saradammal.
He pursued a postgraduate degree in commerce from Sri Venkateswara University and earned a law degree from Madras Law College, before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. His early academic rigour laid a strong foundation for a career that would later shape national financial discourse.
Manoharan served as the President of ICAI during 2006–07, a term remembered for proactive reforms and key amendments to the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949.
Under his leadership, ICAI expanded its role in policy advocacy, research, and education, strengthening the profession’s credibility both in India and abroad.
He also chaired the ICAI Accounting Research Foundation, spearheading efforts to align Indian accounting standards with international best practices. His leadership was marked by a forward-thinking approach, focused on transparency, accountability, and strengthening the independence of the profession.
T.N. Manoharan came into the national spotlight in 2009 when the Government of India appointed him to the board of Satyam Computer Services Ltd., following one of the most infamous corporate scandals in Indian history.
As part of the government-nominated board, he played a pivotal role in stabilising and eventually reviving the company, which was later taken over and rebranded as Mahindra Satyam.
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His calm stewardship during that turbulent period earned him nationwide admiration. For his efforts, he received the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Award and was named CNN-IBN Indian of the Year in Business in 2009, accolades that reflected his reputation for sound governance and moral clarity.
Manoharan continued to be an influential voice in India’s financial sector. He served as Non-Executive Chairman of Canara Bank until August 2020 and was appointed Administrator of Lakshmi Vilas Bank by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in November 2020 during its crisis period.
He was also an Independent Director at Tech Mahindra Limited and served on advisory committees of both the RBI and the Central Vigilance Commission. His knowledge and integrity made him a sought-after guide for regulatory institutions, boards, and the broader business community.
In 2010, the Government of India recognised his vast contributions by bestowing upon him the Padma Shri, the nation’s fourth-highest civilian honour.
