T. A. Pai

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Tonse Ananth Pai
Born(1922-01-17)17 January 1922
Died29 May 1981(1981-05-29) (aged 59)
NationalityIndian
Alma materSydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai
Occupation
  • Banker
  • Politician
Parent(s)Tonse Upendra Ananth Pai
Relatives

Tonse Ananth Pai (abbreviated: T. A. Pai), (17 January 1922 – 29 May 1981) was an Indian banker and politician, who was responsible for the success of Syndicate Bank as its general manager and later as chairman. He is also the founder of T. A. Pai Management Institute.[1]

Early life and career[edit]

He was the eldest of four sons of Tonse Upendra Pai. He was the nephew of Dr. T. M. A. Pai. After his early childhood spent in Udupi district, he graduated in Commerce from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in 1943.[2] He worked at Syndicate Bank, which had been established by one of his relatives and in 1970 the Government of India appointed him as the chairman of Life Insurance Corporation after Syndicate Bank got nationalized.[3] He was the first chairman of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.[4]

Political career[edit]

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1972 and was appointed the Union Minister for Railways. In 1973, he was given the responsibility for the newly created Ministry of Heavy Industries, and subsequently, additional charge of the Ministry of Steel and Mines. Pai took over the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Civil Supplies in 1974.

He represented Udupi Lok Sabha constituency in 1977 as an Indian National Congress candidate. In 1979 when D. Devaraj Urs parted ways with Indian National Congress and created Indian National Congress (U), Pai joined him and moved to the new party.[5][6] In the 1980 Indian general election he contested again from Udupi (Lok Sabha constituency) as a nominee of Indian National Congress (U) and lost elections to Oscar Fernandes.[7][8]

In 1977, Pai was one among the three ministers from the cabinet of Indira Gandhi who were examined by Shah Commission on emergency excesses.[9] Pai gave testimony against Indira Gandhi saying the ministry was 'under siege' and he protested the decisions.[10] The 1998 book by Australian journalist, Hamish McDonald titled The Polyester Prince made references about Pai and his relationship with Dhirubhai Ambani.[11] The book that was banned in India accused that there was gross tax minimization done during Pai's tenure by Reliance Industries by using a company named MyNylon Ltd. a private limited company incorporated in 1973 by Pai family at Karnataka.[12]

Awards[edit]

He was conferred the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1972.[13] He was awarded the degree of D.Litt. by the Karnataka University in 1973. The Andhra University decorated him with the degree of D.Litt. in 1975.

References[edit]

  1. T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal, Karnataka
  2. February 19, S. C. Anantharanan; January 15, 2015 ISSUE DATE; April 6, 1976UPDATED; Ist, 2015 16:26. "We would prefer Indians residing abroad to invest capital in selected industries: T.A. Pai". India Today. Retrieved 5 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. Sudhindra, S. "The man who took banking to the masses". @businessline. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  4. http://www.iimb.ernet.in/about-iimb/history
  5. Ramachandra, C. M. (23 November 2014). "Of a political landmark in Bengaluru". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  6. January 29, Sunil Sethi Prabhu Chawla; November 30, 2015 ISSUE DATE; March 30, 1979UPDATED; Ist, 2015 17:29. "Alliance between Chaudhary Charan Singh and Devraj Urs nothing but a marriage of convenience". India Today. Retrieved 5 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. "The underdog story of Oscar Fernandes". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  8. January 16, Ajay Singh; June 15, 2015 ISSUE DATE; February 23, 1978UPDATED; Ist, 2015 12:26. "Congress Party seems to be heading for yet another split". India Today. Retrieved 5 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. "November 21, 1977, Forty Years Ago: Janata brainstorming". The Indian Express. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  10. March 23, Sunil Sethi; October 31, 2015 ISSUE DATE; April 2, 1977UPDATED; Ist, 2015 17:50. "Shah Commission's proceedings brought to a sudden halt with the arrest of Indira Gandhi". India Today. Retrieved 6 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. McDonald, Hamish (2 November 2012). Ambani & Sons. Roli Books Private Limited. ISBN 978-81-7436-943-7.
  12. "The Unhappy Prince: How Reliance Buried a Book". The Wire. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  13. Padma Bhushan Awardees
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