Manipal,
today, is a knowledge powerhouse and a brand name in higher education.
Over five and half decades ago, one man, Dr Tonse Madhava Anantha Pai,
had a vision which ensured that everything he did then, was consigned to
posterity, making sure that generation after generation of students
enjoy the fruits of his labour till eternity on this lateritic plateau.
And the students will, forever, have one name on their lips, that of
Manipal. Manipal University is a name to remember, not just across the
length and breadth of India, but worldwide. The fact that students from
52 countries are studying here is a testimony to this fame. Fired by the
desire to provide health care and other essential services to the
people of this region, Dr TMA Pai transformed the plateau into what it
now is. He turned the wilderness into a sanctuary of education.
In
1953, he set up Kasturba Medical College, the first private medical
college in the voluntary sector. And, with that began the story of
Manipal University. Then, in 1957 came the engineering college, the
dental college, pharmacy college and so on and so forth. Initially,
these institutes were affiliated to different universities. Dr TMA Pai
passed on the baton of leadership to his son, Dr Ramdas M Pai who is the
present President and Chancellor of the University. Located on the west
coast of South India, Manipal was a barren wasteland, a plateau with
wild animals. It was this plateau that Dr TMA Pai decided to change. His
vision for Manipal covered a wide spectrum of interests because he
himself donned many hats. He was a physician, an educationist, a banker
and above all, a philanthropist at heart.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment