Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (AF)Exclsive report and pics by Divvy Kant Upadhyay
Manipal, May 1: "Dr T M A Pai was one of the first great believers in human resource and with his realistic optimism empowered the people of South Kanara - now Dakshina Kannad - with basic and professional education," said state's minister for medical education Dr V S Acharya here on Monday.
Manipal University vice chancellor Dr Rajsekaran Warrier, pro chancellor Dr H S Ballal, chancellor Dr Ramdas Pai, state medical education minister Dr V S Acharya, TMA Pai Foundation president K K Pai, Prasar Bharati chairman Dr M V Kamath and Acabdemy of General Education president Dr K Mohandas Pai at the function
The minister who is also the pro chancellor of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences was speaking at the Founder's day celebration at Manipal. He stated that "Dr TMA Pai's vision has given birth to various successful national policies in India today".
The minister pointed out that "KMC Mangalore and Manipal are major private contributors to the state government medical seat matrix giving 93 seats to the state government". He added that the state of Karnataka is unique in having the maximum medical graduates in the country. Three new medical colleges were started in the state last year.
Dr Ramdas Pai, son of the late Dr TMA Pai, president of the Manipal group and chancellor of Manipal University, while welcoming the gathering, highlighed the three banes of the society, as identified by his father - illiteracy, ill-health and poverty.
University pro-chancellor Dr HS Ballal in his presentation "Saga of a Visionary" added that to fight these three evils Dr T M A Pai set up educational institutions, healthcare facilities and banks with micro-credit systems.
Prasar Bharati chairman, Dr M V Kamath and president of T M A Pai Foundation K K Pai recalled the memories of their association with Dr T M A Pai.
Kamath stressed that Dr T M A Pai along with luminaries like Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, Haji Abdullah Saheb, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya and U S Mallya were the great architects who changed the face of South Kanara and put it on the global map.
Employees of Manipal institutions who completed 25 years of continuous service were felicitated. A special honour was given to Rutherford Joseph, who having worked with Dr T M A Pai right from the inception of KMC, completed more than 52 years of service to the institution.
Vice chancellor Dr Rajsekaran Warrier proposed the vote of thanks. Mr. Mohandas Pai of the Infosys, Heads and administrative officers of the constituent colleges along with the elite of Udipi and Manipal were present at the function.
Read more about Dr T M A Pai's vision and mission: