Philanthropist T. V. Mohandas Pai inaugurates hostel to promote Konkani

Philanthropist T. V. Mohandas Pai inaugurates hostel to promote Konkani

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 11, 2011: T. V. Mohandas Pai, the philanthropist, former director of Infosys, and Manipal Universal Learning chairman, inaugurated the Shri T. V. Raman Pai and Smt. Vimala V. Pai Hostel constructed in the premises of Vishwa Konkani Kendra in Shakthinagar on Nov 11 at 11:11:11 a.m. 

Smt. Vimala V. Pai, the mother of T. V. Mohandas Pai, inaugurated the structure by cutting the ribbon while R. V. Deshpande, the chairman emeritus of Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation, lit the lamp. 

The hostel, which has been constructed as per international standards, can accommodate 52 people. It has 13 double rooms and 4 dormitories for 8 people each. The hostel can host a number of activities such as seminars and camps, especially for research programmes and training of youngsters. The facility will not be used to accommodate guests coming to Mangalore for various events organized by the centre. 

 

 

 

A number of people from all over Karnataka and Kerala along with students of educational institutions across Mangalore participated in the event.

Delivering the welcome address, Basti Vaman Shenoy thanked R. V. Deshpande, T. V. Mohandas Pai, and Ronald Colaco for their support to the centre. 

Vimala V. Pai was felicitated with a shawl, a garland, and a memento. 

In his address, Mohandas Pai spoke of the importance of protecting Konkani language and suggested that activities such as recording and documenting can contribute greatly to the survival of this language. 

The newly inaugurated hostel has already been booked for activities for the next 12 months, and the first batch of 36 undergraduates from Kerala will be trained at the hostel from today. 

Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat, who was present at the venue, expressed his gratitude to T. V. Mohandas Pai, Dayanand Pai, Ramdas Kamath U., Vimala V. Pai, R. V. Deshpande, and others. He also thanked former CM B. S. Yeddyurappa for agreeing to sanction Rs. 5 crore for the centre’s projects and informed the audience that the file is now with the current CM D. V. Sadananda Gowda. 

Mementos were given to everybody involved in the construction of this hostel. Basti Vaman Shenoy presented mementos to N. Yogish Bhat, R. V. Deshpande, Dayanand Pai, and Gilbert D’Souza.

Pradeep Pai provided details of scholarships given away to students so far and said that the centre has decided to give away scholarships worth Rs. 1 lakh to 10 students annually to assist their studies abroad. 

Among the dignitaries present were N. Yogish Bhat, R. V. Deshpande, the chairman and chief patron of the foundation, P. Dayanand Pai, T. V. Mohandas Pai, Vimala Pai, T. V. Ramachandra Pai, the philanthropist, Gilbert D’Souza of Puttur, Ramdas Kamath U., Pradeep G. Pai, and Basti Vaman Shenoy, the president of the World Konkani Centre. 

Shortly thereafter, a press meet was held during which details regarding the proposed Konkani School were revealed. The school will have a CBSE/ICSE syllabus with emphasis being placed on leadership skills. Although Konkani language will be taught and several skills will be imparted in Konkani, the technical subjects will be taught in English, said Mohandas Pai. 

Pundit Upendra Bhat presented a musical concert that evening at T. V. Raman Pai Convention Centre, followed by the staging of a children’s play called Patholi Rookh.