Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 19: The district lost one of its crowning jewels when Shanti R Pai (77), wife of the late T Ramesh U Pai, who was an industrialist and head of the Manipal group of institutions, passed away owing to cardiac arrest on Friday July 18 afternoon at Manipal KMC Hospital.

Although she had suffered a mild heart attack at her residence 'Chitrakala' in Anant Nagar, Manipal on Thursday July 17 afternoon, she recovered later. She was the daughter of the ex-speaker of Karnataka assembly the late Vaikunt Baliga, who belonged to the famous Baliga lineage of Mangalore.

She married T Ramesh U Pai in the year 1949. She was functioning as the trustee convener of Manipal High school Trust which runs Manipal Junior College and the president of Manipal Education Foundation that runs Madhav Pai Memorial College. Shanti R Pai was also the president of Hindu Orphanage Manipal, ex vice-president of Manipal Academy of Helath and Education Goa and director of Manipal Holdings Private Ltd. She was actively involved with various service activities of Ramakrishna Ashram.

She had actively lent support to her husband in setting up of various institutions and industries and also in modernizing of Manipal, in association with the late Upendra Pai and Dr T M A Pai.

She is survived by sons, Kurl-On Ltd chairman and managing director T Sudhakar Pai and Dr Shantaram Pai who is pursuing his medical profession at USA, daughters Dr Sheela Pai who is employed at Dubai and Shobha Pai, settled in USA.

The funeral of the deceased was conducted at the Hindu graveyard, Indrali here on Friday evening. Madhav Pai Memorial College, Manipal Junior College, Manipal High school and Manipal Computer Academy declared holiday on Friday afternoon and Saturday, as a mark of respect to the departed veteran.