GANGTOK, 15 September 10, 2021: In consonance with its heritage, legacy and ethos of the Manipal Education & medical Group (MEMG) to provide socially relevant and affordable services to our students & citizens in the keys verticals of education, healthcare, research and service to society, Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) has announced the Dr. Ramdas M Pai Scholarship for deserving meritorious students who have unfortunately lost their sole earning parent during their course of their study at and its constituent institutes, colleges, units and departments. This scholarship scheme, a philanthropic initiative of SMU is in the form of complete course fee waiver for the remaining duration of their study at the University and its constituents.
The scholarship has been officially launched on September 17th , on the occasion of the 86th birthday of the iconic and visionary Dr. Ramdas M Pai, the founding Pro-Chancellor of Sikkim Manipal University and the Chairman Emeritus, MEMG. He is the worthy son of the legendary Late Dr. T. M. A. Pai, who was the founder of the Manipal Group and a highly respected doctor, banker, educationists and philanthropist.
Dr Ramdas M Pai is an alumnus of Karnataka University and a postgraduate in Hospital Administration from Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA. In 1961, Dr Pai began his career to spearhead the emerging field of hospital administration at the Kasturba Hospital, Manipal and gave wings to the dreams of his father. Dr. Pai has dedicated his entire career in envisioning a healthy, educated and enlightened society and a nation. In line with his philosophy & ethos, SMU endeavors to fulfil its onuses towards our State of Sikkim & the North Eastern region.
In 2001, Pai set up the Manipal Foundation to give impetus philanthropic efforts of the Manipal Group. By continuing to provide excellent opportunities in higher education and implementation through innovative curricula and novel learning approaches, he believes, the Manipal Group will lead to nurture, groom and mentor pioneers in all fields of medicine and education to serve the underserved and underprivileged strata of the society.
Dr. Pai has always set a high benchmarks of credibility, integrity and core values in all the institutions he has established. His commendable contributions to education has been recognised nationally and internationally. He has been the deserving recipient of a galaxy number of awards and honours in recognition of his contribution to healthcare, education, business and community service.
Among the various awards and honours, Dr Pai received the Padma Bhushan by the President of India in April 2011. In December of the same year, the Government of Melaka, Malaysia honoured him with the prestigious ‘Datuk’ Award. He was also awarded the Golden Peacock Lifetime Achievement Award for 2011 in recognition of his contribution in the field of education and healthcare. He was bestowed with the ‘Life Time Achievement Award 2018’ by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI); the Dr. B. C. Roy Award for his community health efforts from the President of India Shankar Dayal Sharma and also received the Phillips Medal of Ohio University in recognition of public service in 1993.
Dr. Pai shares a special bond with SMU, an institution he envisioned, nurtured and established as a pioneering Public-Private Partnership with the Government of Sikkim. He will always be remembered as the founding Pro-Chancellor of SMU from its inception till 2018, taking it to its glorious heights. In the year 1992, when Sikkim had no university, a joint venture Sikkim-Manipal University of Health, Medical & Technological Sciences was conceived and a Memorandum of Agreement was accordingly signed with the Government of Sikkim on 12 March 1992.
Today, the constituent colleges and units under SMU include Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS), Central Referral Hospital (CRH), Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT), Sikkim Manipal College of Nursing (SMCON), Sikkim Manipal College of Physiotherapy (SMCPT), Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Hospital Administration and Department of Medical Biotechnology. The University has a majority of students from Sikkim and the eastern and north-eastern India, thereby realizing the vision of Dr. Pai to provide a contemporary professional education to students from the remote regions of the country.
The scholarship scheme was launched in an austere and befitting function to commemorate the 86th birthday of Dr. Ramdas M Pai on September 15. The Scholarships were awarded to 21 eligible students of SMU.
Dr. (Lt. Gen.) Rajan S. Grewal, Vice Chancellor, SMU paid a reverential tribute to the peerless contributions of Dr. Ramdas M. Pai and highlighted his yeoman service to the nation and the world. He exhorted the faculty, staff, students and employees of SMU to carry forward his rich legacy and treasured heritage by enshrining the core values of credibility, integrity, compassion and dedication as epitomized by Dr. Ramdas M Pai.
Dr. Muralidhar V. Pai, Dean SMIMS administrated a solemn pledge to uphold the vision and mission of the founding Pro Chancellor of SMU, Dr. Ramdas M. Pai
