Daijiworl Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 29: Well-known academic and community leader Prof P C M Kunhi passed away on the night of Monday February 29. He was 74.
He had been hospitalized on Sunday February 28 after he suddenly took ill.
Prof Kunhi was the director (academics and administration) of Yenepoya University. He was also the convenor of Yenepoya Moideen Kunhi Memorial Educational and Charitable Trust, convenor of Yenepoya Foundation and chairman of Peecee Group of Industries.
He was recipient of several awards, including Aryabhata Award in 2011 in recognition of his contribution to education and entrepreneurship, and the district Rajyotsava Award in 2014 in the field of education.
Born in Mogralputtur, Kasargod, in 1941, Prof Kunhi had voluntarily retired after serving National Institute of Technology Karnataka at Suratkal (KREC, now NITK) for two decades. He also had functioned as convener of Badriya educational trust, chairman of Islamic Academy of Education, treasurer of Essa English medium school, executive secretary of Mangalore Islamic Trust and Islamic Cultural Centre, president of Mogral Chaliyangod Jamaat and president of Islamic Study Centre. He was a senate member of NITK till he opted for retirement last year.
Preparations were under way to celebrate his 75 years in a grand way. A special souvenir planned to be brought out at the celebrations, which were proposed both in the city and Kasargod, is under printing stage now. He was a skilled footballer when young and was a member of Kerala football team which won Santosh trophy.
Kunhi stayed in his house at Kaprigudda in Attavar, and is survived by wife and three sons. One of his sons, P C Zaheer, who was a bright football player and medical student, had passed away in 1986.
Minister U T Khader has expressed condolences on the demise of Prof Kunhi. Having lost a rare achiever and a person with impeccable living style, Khader said he deeply mourns Prof Kunhi's demise. Ismail, principal of Badriya college, recollected the leading role played by Kunhi in the growth of the institution. District in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, sports minister, Abhay Chandra Jain, chancellor of Yenepoya University, Y Abdulla Kunhi, and large number of dignitaries and leaders have condoled his death.
The funeral will be held on 'Tuesday March 1 at Chaliyangod Jumma Masjid at Mogral in Kasargod after performing Namaz at Takwa mosque at Pumpwell in the city, a release stated.