A Visionary far ahead of his times:

Late Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, whose hallowed memory The Ammembal Subba Rao Pai Memorail Fund owes its existence, was a visionary whose philanthropic zeal continues to touch the lives of innumeral people even today. A lawyer and a banker by profession, and an educationist and a social reformer by temperament, he was the foremost among the pre-independent luminaries who shaped the future of Dakshina Kannada District and of the GSB Community.

His concern for social uplift gave birth in 1981 – of Canara High School, Mangalore (visit the website www.chsassociation.in), the century old precursor to the conglomeration of Canara educational institutions of today, while his spirit of enterprise gave birth to yet another national institution – the Canara Bank, in 1906. But for his initiative and foresight, the steady rise of Dakshina Kannada district, and of the GSB community in particular, in the socio-economic spheres might have suffered a serious set-back. In the realization of his vision and the perpetuation of his ideals, the ASRP Memorial Fund has played a pivotal role over the last 95 years of existence.

His Life & Times:

Born on 19th November 1852, at Mulky near Mangalore, Ammembal Subba  Rao Pai underwent early schooling at Government High School, Mangalore, and it was the early demise of his mother that is believed  to have profoundly influenced him to take to studies seriously . After passing his F.A Examination, his father sent him to Madras to take up higher studies. Following his graduation from the Presidency College, he joined the Madras Law College. Here he came into contact with Justice Holloway, whose remarkable personality proved to be a rewarding experience to him.

In 1876, following the demise of his father, he returned to Mangalore and successfully practiced Law. It is said that he often attempted to persuade amicable out of court settlements for his clients, although this sometimes cost him his fee. In 1891 four teachers, whom he had met in Madras, approached him with a proposal to start a school in Mangalore. Shortly thereafter in 1894, with a view to encouraging the education of girls he started the Canara Girls High School, indeed a evolutionary step considering the prevalent values and attitude of the people towards women’s education at that time.

The disastrous crash of the Arbuthnut Company at the beginning of the 20th century prompted him to start in - 1906 - The Canara Hindu Permanent Fund Ltd (now Canara Bank) to enable the community to mobilise its own resources for self help. Among his important contributions to the GSB community was the setting up of the “ Poor Boys Education Fund” under the aegis of Gowda Saraswath Brahman Parishad of which he was one of the founders. Throughout his life Ammembal Subba Rao Pai suffered from severe gout, an affliction to which he finally succumbed on 25th July 1909.