Revi Karunakaran

Revi Karunakaran (22 November 1931 – 25 November 2003), also referred to as Revi Karuna Karan or Ravi Karunakaran, was a leading coir exporter from Kerala, India, and a former director of the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI).^[1] He was the chairman and managing director of the Karan Group of Companies—the world's largest exporter of coir products—and worked significantly for the modernization of the coir industry in India.^[2] The world-renowned Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum (RKK Museum) in Alappuzha, Kerala, was established in 2006 by his wife, Betty, based on the private collection accumulated by Karunakaran and his family over several generations.

Revi Karunakaran was born in Alleppey (erstwhile Travancore state, British India) on 22 November 1931 into an aristocratic family. His grandfather, Krishnan, was the first Indian to establish a handloom factory to export coir products, which had been a monopoly of European companies until then.

Karunakaran's father, K.C. Karunakaran, after graduating from Birmingham University, UK, completed his Master's from Heidelberg University, Germany, and later married Margret, a lady from Berlin, Germany. Karunakaran had an elder sister, Leela. Margret (Karunakaran's mother) came from a wealthy German family and brought with her a priceless collection of jewelry, art, and artifacts that was more than 100 years old.

Karunakaran completed his secondary school education in Surrey, UK, and studied high school in Lausanne, Switzerland. He later graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Babson College, MA, USA. Karunakaran was a polyglot and fluent in several languages, including German, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and Malayalam.

After his father's demise in 1952, Karunakaran took over the leadership of the companies at the young age of twenty.

Karunakaran married Betty in 1957, and they have a daughter, Lullu.

After his father's death in 1952, Karunakaran assumed control of the companies at the age of twenty.^[2] He was the chairman of the Karan Group, which includes companies such as Kerala Balers, Alleppey Company, and William Goodacre & Sons, all leading coir export houses.^[1]

To maintain and expand the business, he frequently traveled across the globe. He represented India in various international forums such as FAO, International Trade Centre, UNCTAD, and participated as an active member in several trade delegations sponsored by the Government of India. He also served FAO for three years as a consultant on hard fibers and participated in the Tariff Negotiations with the EEC countries.

Karunakaran, who dedicated his life to the modernization of the coir industry, was the chairman and managing director of the Karan Group of Companies—the largest exporter of coir products—and served as a director of many reputed companies. He received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Coir Board, Government of India, in 2001 for his outstanding services to the coir industry.

Karunakaran joined Rotary International at the age of 20. At the age of 24, he became the President of the club—the youngest Rotary club president in the world. Later, he became the Rotary Governor, also at a young age. Karunakaran was a major donor to the Rotary Foundation. He had also been a Freemason since the age of 21 and was a recipient of the 50-year Gold Jewel.

Karunakaran was a great philanthropist and made generous contributions to worthy causes.

Karunakaran died on 25 November 2003 at a hospital in Ernakulam. His body was cremated on the premises of Santhi Bhavan, his home in Alappuzha, on the same day.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, Betty Karan built the Revi Karuna Karan Memorial Museum in Alappuzha in memory of her loving husband.^[3] This is now a renowned, privately owned museum holding one of the largest private collections of Swarovski crystals in the world, along with porcelain, jade, ivory, and Tanjore paintings.

The Karunakaran family has been avid collectors of fine art and artifacts for at least three generations. The collection was originally maintained strictly within their private domain. However, after Karunakaran's death, Betty decided to open the collection to the public as a befitting tribute to the memory of their beloved husband and loving father. Lalichan Zachariah, an architect from Ernakulam, helped Betty design the museum. The museum was inaugurated on 22 November 2006 by the former Meghalaya governor, Sri. M.M. Jacob.

The RKK museum is considered by many as a modern architectural marvel of Kerala. The museum has an area of 28,000 sq. ft. and was completed in about three years. A unique feature of the museum is that visitors can see and experience the four major religions of India—Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism—represented with equal prominence on the murals, ivory collection, Kerala room, and the items displayed in the old wing.

The third phase of the museum was inaugurated on 22 November 2015 by Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.^[4] Most of the pieces displayed in the museum come with a certificate of authentication, personally certified by Betty.^[5]