T. M. A. Pai

Dr. Tonse Madhav Ananth Pai, abbreviated: T. M. A. Pai,(30 April 1898 – 29 May 1979), was an Indian doctor, educationist, banker and philanthropist, most well known for building the university town of Manipal, India.

He was first to start a private, self-financing medical college offering MBBS in India. Pai established the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal in 1953 and Manipal Institute of Technology in 1957, which was followed by a string of other education institutions including Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Manipal Pre-University College. He, along with his brother Upendra Pai, also established Syndicate Bank originally in Udupi, Karnataka, which has its headquarters now in Manipal and Bangalore. He was responsible for its popular Pigmy Deposit Scheme.

Dr. T M A Pai was conferred the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1972. He was awarded the degree of D.Litt. by the Karnataka University in 1973 and the Andhra University in 1975.

The Government of India brought out a stamp commemorating Pai on 9 October 1999. Pai has also been recognized by Ripley's Believe It or Not as the person who has established the most number of educational institutions in his lifetime.