Mangalore: Retired Principal M A Ramachandra Rao (87) Passes away
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MB)
Mangalore, Aug 17: Mattu Adhikari Ramachandra Rao (87), retired principal of University College (erstwhile Government College), Mangalore and former president of Abhayashram, Assaigoly, passed away at his residence at Ballal Bagh here on August 16.
Born in Mattu in Udupi district in 1920, Prof Rao had his education in Karkala, Mangalore and Tiruchirapalli and had served as lecturer and principal in government colleges in Madikeri, Tumkur and Mangalore. He took great efforts along with the late K Suryanarayana Adiga for the founding of Mangalore University.
After his retirement from government service, Prof Rao, for some time, had served as principal of the BBM department at St Aloysius College.
Prof Rao had actively associated himself with the Rotary movement and other organizations. In recognition of his service to the society and educational field, he had been publicly honoured in 1975.
A man of impeccable discipline, efficiency and integrity, Prof Rao was principal of the University College at the time of its centenary celebration and was largely instrumental in having the centenary memorial building constructed.
Physics being his pet subject, a text book written by him has seen 25 reprints. Prof Rao, with his long service at the then Government College, had a large number of students and admirers settled or working all over the world.
Prof Rao is survived by eight daughters including Prof Dr Prabha Adhikari (professor of Medicine at Kasturba Medical College) and son-in-law and Kasturba Medical College dean Dr C V Raghuveer.
On hearing the news of his sad demise, St Aloysius college principal Fr Swebert D'Silva SJ and Aloysian Institute of Business Management director Fr Denzil Lobo SJ visited his residence to pay their final respects to the departed and condole with the family members.
Karnataka Bank chairman Ananthakrishna, Manipal University pro chancellor Dr H S Ballal, former minister B Ramanath Rai, Abhayashram administrator Srinath Hegde, KMC Hospital Mangalore CEO Dr Sunil Deshpande, social worker Nandalike Balachandra Rao and others have expressed sorrow over Prof Rao's death.