T. A. Pai
{{Short description|Indian banker and politician}}
{{About|banker|philanthropist|T. M. A. Pai}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tonse Ananth Pai
| honorific_suffix =
| image = T. A. Pai photo.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|01|17|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1981|05|29|1922|01|17|df=yes}}
| nationality = Indian
| birth_place =
| alma_mater = Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai
| occupation = {{hlist|Banker|Politician}}
| website =
| parents = Tonse Upendra Ananth Pai
| relatives = {{ubl|Ramesh Pai (Brother)|T. M. A. Pai (Uncle)|Ramdas Pai (Cousin)}}
}}
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.[http://www.mbauniverse.com/admissions/institute_profile1.php?institute_id=480 T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal, Karnataka]
Early life and career
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.{{Cite magazine|author=S. C. Anantharanan |date=February 19, 2015 |title=We would prefer Indians residing abroad to invest capital in selected industries: T.A. Pai|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/interview/story/19760115-we-would-prefer-indians-residing-abroad-to-invest-capital-in-selected-industries-t.a.-pai-819024-2015-02-19|access-date=2021-05-05|magazine=India Today|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Sudhindra|first=S.|title=The man who took banking to the masses|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/the-man-who-took-banking-to-the-masses/article33602498.ece|access-date=2021-05-05|website=@businessline|date=18 January 2021|language=en}} He was the first chairman of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.{{cite web | url=http://www.iimb.ernet.in/about-iimb/history | title=Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | IIM Bangalore }}
Political career
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.{{Cite news|last=Ramachandra|first=C. M.|date=2014-11-23|title=Of a political landmark in Bengaluru|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/of-a-political-landmark-in-bengaluru/article6625410.ece|access-date=2021-05-05|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite magazine|author=Sunil Sethi Prabhu Chawla |date=January 29, 2015 |title=Alliance between Chaudhary Charan Singh and Devraj Urs nothing but a marriage of convenience|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19791130-alliance-between-chaudhary-charan-singh-and-devraj-urs-nothing-but-a-marriage-of-convenience-818030-2015-01-29|access-date=2021-05-05|magazine=India Today|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=The underdog story of Oscar Fernandes|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2009/apr/02/the-underdog-story-of-oscar-fernandes-37852.html|access-date=2021-05-05|website=The New Indian Express|date=2 April 2009 }}{{Cite magazine|author=Ajay Singh |date=January 16, 2015 |title=Congress Party seems to be heading for yet another split|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19780615-congress-party-seems-to-be-heading-for-yet-another-split-818607-2015-01-16|access-date=2021-05-05|magazine=India Today|language=en}}
In 1977, Pai was one among the three ministers from the cabinet of Indira Gandhi who were examined by Shah Commission on emergency excesses.{{Cite web|date=2018-12-20|title=November 21, 1977, Forty Years Ago: Janata brainstorming|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/november-21-1977-forty-years-ago-janata-brainstorming-4946864/|access-date=2021-05-06|website=The Indian Express|language=en}} Pai gave testimony against Indira Gandhi saying the ministry was 'under siege' and he protested the decisions.{{Cite magazine|author=Sunil Sethi |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Shah Commission's proceedings brought to a sudden halt with the arrest of Indira Gandhi|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19771031-shah-commissions-proceedings-brought-to-a-sudden-halt-with-the-arrest-of-indira-gandhi-818801-2015-03-23|access-date=2021-05-06|magazine=India Today|language=en}} The 1998 book by Australian journalist, Hamish McDonald titled The Polyester Prince made references about Pai and his relationship with Dhirubhai Ambani.{{Cite book|last=McDonald|first=Hamish|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i9FbBAAAQBAJ|title=Ambani & Sons|date=2012-11-02|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|isbn=978-81-7436-943-7|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=The Unhappy Prince: How Reliance Buried a Book|url=https://thewire.in/books/the-unhappy-prince-how-dhirubhai-ambani-buried-a-book|access-date=2021-05-06|website=The Wire}}
Awards
He was conferred the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1972.[http://india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=770 Padma Bhushan Awardees] 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
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.kla.kar.nic.in/assembly/elib/pdf/eresources/T%20A%20PAI.pdf ಟಿ.ಎ. ಪೈ - ಡಾ. ಶಿವಾನಂದ ಬೇಕಲ್, ಭಾ.ಪ್ರಸೇ.(ನಿ) [T.A. Pai - Dr. Sivananda Baikal, Bha.Prase]]
{{Energy Ministries and Departments of India}}
{{Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pai, T. A.}}
Category:People from Dakshina Kannada district
Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in civil service
Category:Lok Sabha members from Karnataka
Category:Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka
Category:People from Udupi district
Category:Commerce and industry ministers of India