Udupi: K K Pai Passes Away

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 14: K K Pai, registrar of Manipal Academy of General Education and ex-chairman of Syndicate Bank,  breathed his last today at the KMC Hospital Manipal, where he was undergoing treatment since the last two weeks. He had developed health complications and was hospitalized. He was 87.

The body of Pai, who was also actively involved with the development of Konkani,  will be kept for public viewing at M G M College here from 10 am to 2 pm on Thursday January 15. Cremation will take place thereafter.

Kalsanka Kamalaksha Pai, who later came to be popularly known as K K Pai,was born on June 26, 1921. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics Mumbai.

During his illustrious career in Syndicate Bank, Pai was exposed to all the fields of banking like foreign exchange, advances, personnel administration etc., and underwent several trainings both in India and abroad. He became the chairman and managing director of the bank on December 1, 1972.

Pai got elected to Udupi municipal council several times. He functioned as municipal councillor for 14 years and president of the council for five years. He continued to have long and strong association with Manipal Pai family even after retiring from Syndicate Bank and headed various educational and charitable institutions run by the Manipal Group.

An award titled K K Pai National Banking Award, being given annually to eminent bankers of the country, was  instituted by K K Pai Trust several years ago. Pai worked as the president of T M A Pai Foundation that runs educational institutions like Upendra Pai Memorial College and Vaikunta Baliga College of Law in Udupi. He was also the chairman of the governing council of T A Pai Management Institute Manipal, which is one of the leading  management institutes of the country.

Pai was the president of the Udupi-Manipal centre of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He had also functioned as the director of ICDS Ltd., He also was the secretary of Kashi Math Welfare Fund, an all India body working for the welfare of Gowda Saraswat Brahmins.

Pai was the president of the Kannada Sammelan held in New Delhi on April 5, 2008. He was actively involved with the spreading of  Konkani language and culture. Pai was very helpful and was accessible for every one who sought his help.

Pai is survived by sons Arvind Pai, a doctor settled in USA and Suresh Pai, an industrialist in Manipal as well as two daughters, Geetha Kamath whose husband is a leading psychiatrist in USA and Sudha Prabhu, who is also married to a doctor settled in USA. His wife Suguna Pai, who was the sister of the late T A Pai, former union minister, expired about three years ago.