Ammembal Subba Rao Pai
Encyclopedia
Sri. Ammembal Subba Rao Pai (1852–1909) was a leading lawyer of Mangalore
, India
. He was the founder of Canara Bank
, now one of India's leading banks, and Canara High School
in Mangalore.
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's Education Fund” under the aegis of Goud Saraswat Brahmin 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 25 July 1909.
, this small seed blossomed into a limited company as Canara Bank Ltd. in 1910 and became Canara Bank
in 1969 after nationalization.
"A good bank is not only the financial heart of the community, but also one with an obligation of helping in every possible manner to improve the economic conditions of the common people" - A. Subba Rao Pai.
Sound founding principles, enlightened leadership, unique work culture and remarkable adaptability to changing banking environment have enabled Canara Bank to be a frontline banking institution of global standards.
In June 1891, they hired a building in Mangalore just opposite the Kodialbail Chapel and started the Canara High School as their proprietary concern with the proprietors themselves becoming the first teachers.
There were many opponents to the newly started school who complained to the Education Department that the school had no public support and that it was run by teachers for the sake of jobs. On account of this, in April 1893, the proprietor teachers gave up their proprietorship in favour of a board of Management consisting of reputed people from the community other than the teachers who had started the school. One of the important members of the said board of management was late Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, a reputed lawyer of Mangalore.
In June, 1894, the present Canara Girl’s school was started to educate the girls up to 5th Standard. It took more than a quarter century to raise the level of education of girls to higher classes. The 8th standard was introduced in the year 1932. Both these institutions were managed by a single Board of Management till 1922. In that year, the Canara High school Association was started as a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 to take over the management of both these schools.
The institution was started with the purpose of educating the members of the GSB Community, but later attained a secular status and the benefit of education is available to all, regardless of caste, creed or sex.
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was the founder of Canara Bank
Canara Bank
Canara Bank is a state-owned financial services company in India. It was established in 1906, making it one of the oldest banks in the country. As on 2009 November, the bank had a network of 3057 branches, spread across India...
, now one of India's leading banks, and Canara High School
Canara High School
Canara High School is an educational institution in Mangalore which was founded by Ammembal Subba Rao Pai in 1891, the philanthropist who also founded Canara Bank. It is located in Dongerkeri area....
in Mangalore.
Life & Times
Born on 19 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
Canara Bank
Canara Bank is a state-owned financial services company in India. It was established in 1906, making it one of the oldest banks in the country. As on 2009 November, the bank had a network of 3057 branches, spread across India...
) 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's Education Fund” under the aegis of Goud Saraswat Brahmin 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 25 July 1909.
Canara Bank
Founded as Canara Bank Hindu Permanent Fund in 1906, by late Sri. Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, a philanthropistPhilanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, this small seed blossomed into a limited company as Canara Bank Ltd. in 1910 and became Canara Bank
Canara Bank
Canara Bank is a state-owned financial services company in India. It was established in 1906, making it one of the oldest banks in the country. As on 2009 November, the bank had a network of 3057 branches, spread across India...
in 1969 after nationalization.
"A good bank is not only the financial heart of the community, but also one with an obligation of helping in every possible manner to improve the economic conditions of the common people" - A. Subba Rao Pai.
Founding Principles
- To remove Superstition and ignorance.
- To spread education among all to sub-serve the first principle.
- To inculcate the habit of thrift and savings.
- To transform the financial institution not only as the financial heart of the community but the social heart as well.
- To assist the needy.
- To work with sense of service and dedication.
- To develop a concern for fellow human being and sensitivity to the surroundings with a view to make changes/remove hardships and sufferings.
Sound founding principles, enlightened leadership, unique work culture and remarkable adaptability to changing banking environment have enabled Canara Bank to be a frontline banking institution of global standards.
Contribution to Education in Mangalore
Four young B.A. Graduates viz., Sriyuths U. Srinivas Rao, B. Padmanabha Baliga, B. Vaman Baliga and Arkal Vasudev Rao, when they were at Chennai developed an obsession of starting a school in Mangalore for the benefit of the Goud Saraswath Brahmin community to which they belonged. Most members of that community in the district of Dakshina Kannada at that point of time were uneducated. They were joined by one more teacher Sri. A. Padmanabhayya.In June 1891, they hired a building in Mangalore just opposite the Kodialbail Chapel and started the Canara High School as their proprietary concern with the proprietors themselves becoming the first teachers.
There were many opponents to the newly started school who complained to the Education Department that the school had no public support and that it was run by teachers for the sake of jobs. On account of this, in April 1893, the proprietor teachers gave up their proprietorship in favour of a board of Management consisting of reputed people from the community other than the teachers who had started the school. One of the important members of the said board of management was late Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, a reputed lawyer of Mangalore.
In June, 1894, the present Canara Girl’s school was started to educate the girls up to 5th Standard. It took more than a quarter century to raise the level of education of girls to higher classes. The 8th standard was introduced in the year 1932. Both these institutions were managed by a single Board of Management till 1922. In that year, the Canara High school Association was started as a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 to take over the management of both these schools.
The institution was started with the purpose of educating the members of the GSB Community, but later attained a secular status and the benefit of education is available to all, regardless of caste, creed or sex.
Educational Institutions started to cater to the needs of the community.
- Canara High School Main (1891)
- Canara Girls High School (1894)
- Canara High School (Urva) (1944)
- Canara Higher Primary School (1947)
- Canara Nursery School (1969)
- Canara English Higher primary School(1970)
- Canara Pre-University College (1972)
- Canara College (1973)
- Canara Balawadi School (1978)
- Canara English Higher Pri.School, Urva(1989)
- Canara Nursery School . Urva(1991)
- Canara Girls Institute of Food Processing(1998)
- Canara Engineering College (2001)
- Canara School (CBSE) (2009)
- Canara Montessori (2009)