T. A. Pai

Tonse Ananth Pai (abbreviated: T. A. Pai), (17 January 1922 – 29 May 1981) was responsible for the success of Syndicate Bank as its general manager and later as chairman. He is also the founder of T. A. Pai Management Institute.

He was the eldest of four sons of Tonse Upendra Pai. He was the nephew of Dr. T. M. A. Pai. After his early childhood spent in Udupi district, he graduated in Commerce from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in 1943. He worked at Syndicate Bank, which had been established by one of his relatives and in 1970 the Government of India appointed him chairman of Life Insurance Corporation in 1970. He was the first chairman of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1972 and was appointed the Union Minister for Railways. In 1973, he was given the responsibility for the newly created Ministry of Heavy Industries, and subsequently, additional charge of the Ministry of Steel and Mines. Pai took over the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Civil Supplies in 1974. He represented Udupi Lok Sabha constituency in 1977 as an Indian National Congress candidate.

He was conferred the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1972. He was awarded the degree of D.Litt. by the Karnataka University in 1973. The Andhra University decorated him with the degree of D.Litt. in 1975.