2011 Padma Bhushan Awardee Dr. Ramdas Pai - Visionary Par Excellance

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Jan 26: Dr. Ramdas Madhava Pai has been named as a recipient for the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award in the field of Literature & Education, by the Govt. Of India, in the year 2011. ‘Padma Bhushan’ is conferred on a citizen of India for distinguished service of the highest order in any field. On this honorable occasion here is brief write-up on Dr. Pai’s background and acheivements.

Dr. Ramdas M. Pai’s is a uniquely distinguished career as an entrepreneur, educationist, visionary and philanthropist. His name has till date been synonymous with perseverance, dedication, recognition of a larger purpose in all human endeavor. His is a priceless ability to overcome all challenges and obstacles and focus on the larger picture, regardless of the circumstances. If his ability to provide a vision for a brighter future for his community and country in difficult times makes Dr Ramdas M. Pai a member of a select group of people, the ability to make that vision a reality is what differentiates him from most of his peers. Dr Pai is not merely a man of vision, he is a man of action.

Following the footsteps of his distinguished father Dr T M A Pai, Dr Ramdas M. Pai began his career as a Hospital Administrator at Kasturba Hospital. As a young man in 1961, he ventured into the education domain along with his father. His dynamic and inspirational leadership has seen the transformation of the first private medical school in India located at Manipal into a vibrant university township that serves nearly 20000 national and international students on campus. Manipal University is recognized in India and beyond as a centre of academic excellence and offers over 300 courses across 14 professional streams in over 21 colleges.

Dr. Ramdas Pai’s leadership over the last three decades culminated in the creation of Manipal Education and Medical Group, a powerhouse in education, healthcare and research. He has been instrumental in conceptualizing, articulating and implementing Manipal’s Global Delivery Model of Education and has metamorphosed it into an establishment with a global footprint through state-of-the-art campuses in Nepal, Malaysia, UAE and Antigua. He has been a passionate advocate of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in higher education and healthcare. The creation of Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical & Technological Sciences in Gangtok, Sikkim is a striking example of PPP.

The Group’s Healthcare franchise has resulted in a multi-location chain of 16 hospitals with over 4000 beds across seven cities in South India. He established the Manipal Foundation to oversee the philanthropic activities of the Group offering scholarships worth Rs. 15 crores for meritorious students, running maternal and child welfare centres for the rural population in the region, and sponsoring free heart surgeries for children from under-privileged backgrounds.

Dr. Pai is the President & Chancellor of Manipal University and the Pro Chancellor of the Sikkim Manipal University. He is also the President of the renowned T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal, and the Registrar of Academy of General Education, Manipal. He is a member of the National Integration Council (NIC), newly re-constituted by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. He is a member of the Courts of Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Delhi. He is also a member of Round Table on Skills Development of Govt. of India. He was also chosen by Ernst & Young as the "Entrepreneur of the Year - 2004" in the services category.

Dr Pai’s life is a study in humanity, wisdom, entrepreneurial vision, commitment to community, and achievement against all odds. By dedicating his life to helping develop world-class healthcare and education infrastructure and expertise in India, Dr Pai has provided visionary leadership and played a key part both in developing and institutionalizing the paradigm of inclusive growth as well as in enabling India to take its rightful place at the top table of nations. Allvoices