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T. M. A. Pai
banker
- April 30, 1898 · Udupi
- May 29, 1979
- 81 years
About T. M. A. Pai
T. M. A. Pai, 81, Indian physician, educator and philanthropist.
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Full Biography
|Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai (30 April 1898 – 29 May 1979), was an Indian physician, educationist, banker and philanthropist, most well-known for building the university town of Manipal, India.
He was the first to start a private, self-financing medical college offering MBBS in India. Pai established the Kasturba Medical College in 1953 and Manipal Institute of Technology in 1957, which was followed by a string of other education institutions including Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Manipal Pre-University College. He, along with his brother Upendra Ananth Pai, also established Syndicate Bank originally in Udupi, Karnataka, which has its headquarters now in Manipal and Bangalore. He was responsible for its popular Pigmy Deposit Scheme.
Early life
Born in 1898, Tonse Madhava Ananta Pai belonged to a lower-middle-class household of Gowd Saraswath Brahmins of Kallianpur, a village in Udupi.
Awards
Pai was conferred the Padma Shri by the Indian government in 1965. He was awarded the degree of D.Litt. by the Karnataka University, Dharwad in 1973 and the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam in 1975.
The Government of India brought out a stamp commemorating Pai on 9 October 1999.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._M._A._Pai
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from T. M. A. Pai's archived record and the sources above.
1.Which award was conferred upon Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai by the Indian government in 1965?
- A.Bharat Ratna
- B.Padma Vibhushan
- C.Padma Shricorrect
- D.Padma Bhushan
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai was conferred the Padma Shri by the Indian government in 1965.
Source: Awards section
2.From which institution did Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai receive a D.Litt. degree in 1973?
- A.Udupi College
- B.Manipal University
- C.Andhra University
- D.Karnataka Universitycorrect
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai was awarded the degree of D.Litt. by the Karnataka University in 1973.
Source: Awards section
3.Which university awarded Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai a D.Litt. degree in 1975?
- A.Bangalore University
- B.Andhra Universitycorrect
- C.Mysore University
- D.Karnataka University
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai was awarded a D.Litt. by the Andhra University in 1975.
Source: Awards section
4.When did the Government of India issue a stamp to commemorate Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai?
- A.9 October 1999correct
- B.29 May 1979
- C.15 August 1953
- D.30 April 1898
The Government of India brought out a stamp commemorating Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai on 9 October 1999.
Source: Awards section
5.In what year did Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai pass away?
- A.1973
- B.1975
- C.1979correct
- D.1999
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai passed away on 29 May 1979.
Source: Biography introduction
6.What was the economic status of Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai's family during his childhood?
- A.Lower-middle-classcorrect
- B.Wealthy elite
- C.Indigent
- D.Upper-middle-class
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai belonged to a lower-middle-class household.
Source: Early life section
7.On what date was Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai born?
- A.9 October 1899
- B.30 April 1898correct
- C.15 August 1900
- D.29 May 1979
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai was born on 30 April 1898.
Source: Biography introduction
8.In which village was Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai born?
- A.Manipal
- B.Kallianpurcorrect
- C.Udupi
- D.Bangalore
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai was born in the village of Kallianpur in Udupi.
Source: Early life section
9.What is the primary university town built by Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai?
- A.Dharwad
- B.Manipalcorrect
- C.Bangalore
- D.Visakhapatnam
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai is most well-known for building the university town of Manipal, India.
Source: Biography introduction
10.In what year did Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai establish the Kasturba Medical College?
- A.1957
- B.1965
- C.1953correct
- D.1973
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai established the Kasturba Medical College in 1953.
Source: Biography introduction
11.Which educational institution was established by Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai in 1957?
- A.Manipal Pre-University College
- B.Manipal Institute of Technologycorrect
- C.Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- D.Manipal College of Dental Sciences
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai established the Manipal Institute of Technology in 1957.
Source: Biography introduction
12.With which family member did Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai establish Syndicate Bank?
- A.Kasturba Pai
- B.Madhava Pai
- C.Upendra Ananth Paicorrect
- D.T. Mohandas Pai
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai established Syndicate Bank along with his brother Upendra Ananth Pai.
Source: Biography introduction
13.In which city was Syndicate Bank originally established?
- A.Bangalore
- B.Manipal
- C.Kallianpur
- D.Udupicorrect
Syndicate Bank was originally established in Udupi, Karnataka.
Source: Biography introduction
14.Which specific banking service was Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai responsible for introducing at Syndicate Bank?
- A.Educational Loan Scheme
- B.Universal Savings Plan
- C.Pigmy Deposit Schemecorrect
- D.Rural Credit Initiative
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai was responsible for the popular Pigmy Deposit Scheme at Syndicate Bank.
Source: Biography introduction
15.To which social group did Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai belong during his childhood?
- A.Gowd Saraswath Brahminscorrect
- B.Udupi Merchants
- C.Manipal Educators
- D.Kallianpur Kshatriyas
Tonse Madhava Ananth Pai belonged to a household of Gowd Saraswath Brahmins of Kallianpur.
Source: Early life section
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