Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Jul 31: Thonse Mohandas M Pai, president, MGM College Trust, Udayavani founder and eldest son of Dr TMA Pai breathed his last on Sunday, July 31 in Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. He was 89.

Born on June 2, 1933, T Mohandas M Pai was an alumnus of MGM College, Udupi. He also served as president of Dr TMA Pai Foundation. He has also been a president of ICDS Ltd which later became Syndicate Bank, Manipal Media Network Ltd that runs Udayavani and various other organisations. 

He leaves behind his younger brothers Dr T Ramdas Pai, Dr T Narayan Pai, Dr T Ashok Pai, T Satish U Pai, sisters Vasanthi R Pai, Jayanti Pai, Indumathi Pai and Asha Pai. 

He completed his primary education in Manipal Academy School and Udupi Model School, high school in Udupi Board High School and intermediate education in MGM College. He completed his law degree from Kolhapur and secured first rank in Pune University.

After completing his education, he first joined as general manager of Canara Land Investment. He also took additional responsibilities of Manipal Power Press as partner and took leads in management and financial matters. Modern automatic type setting and printing machine were introduced by him. In 1961, Manipal Power Press received a national award for quality printing. He has immensly contributed for the development of Manipal Power Press.

In 1970, Udayavani was founded under his leadership. He served as the managing director of Udayavani. Taranga weekly magazine was his dream project. To print the magazine in color, he introduced ultra modern web offset machine and also automatic binding machine.

He served as an executive committee member of the Indian Newspaper society for two terms. He was appointed as joint director of ICDS in 1989, he was promoted as director in 1995. Later, he also served as chairman and life time director.

He also served as president of Regional Resource Centre, Yakshagana Kendra, Kanaka Adhayana Peetha, Gandhi Adhyana Kendra and R G Pai Centre.

He has largely been responsible for the safekeeping of his father's belongings in Smrithi Bhavan, Manipal, the museum devoted to the memory of Dr TMA Pai.

He was also instrumental in setting up Heritage Village in Manipal along with Vijayanath Shenoy.

The mortal remains will be kept in MGM College for public viewing at 9 am on Monday, August 1.