Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 5: Eminent educationist, entrepreneur, leader of cooperative movement and veteran social worker, eighty eight year-old Mulky Ramakrishna Hari Punja (M R H Punja), breathed his last in a hospital in the city on Saturday July 3 night.

Punja is survived by wife, a son and two daughters. His son, M H Aravind Punja, is a well known entrepreneur.

Punja had worked in close association with political leaders like Ullal Srinivas Mallya, George Fernandes, etc. After working for Syndicate Bank for a couple of years, he resigned from the bank in 1963 to set up a tile factory in Ganjimutt near here. Besides giving student scholarships to over 500 poor students annually, he set up Mulky Ramrksihna Punja Industrial Training Institute through Mulky Education Society to help rural students. He had also contributed immensely to the progress of Mulky government hospital and had worked for Bappanadu temple.

He was an active member of Lions Club, being the founder member of Mulky chapter of the club, and had organized over 25 eye treatment camps in association with Dr M C Modi. During his term as the president of Buntara Sangha, Buntara Bhavan was built at Mulky.

Scores of political leaders, dignitaries and office bearers of organizations have mourned Punja’s demise.