𝐀𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐢

Ammembal Subba Rao Pai was a visionary whose charitable enthusiasm still has a profound impact on the lives of many people. He was the dominant figure among the pre-independence luminaries who helped to mold the destiny of the GSB Community and the Dakshina Kannada District. He was a lawyer and a banker by trade, as well as an educator and social reformer by temperament.

Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, the fourth child of lawyer Upendra Pai, was born in Mulki, Dakshina Kannada district, on November 19, 1852. He finished his education at the Government High School in Mangaluru. After completing his studies, he enrolled at Madras Law College. In 1871, after the death of his father, he relocated back to Mangaluru and established a prosperous law practice.

Ammembal Subba Rao Pai not only placed great emphasis on education, but he also held that a strong society is one in which its members have access to the information and resources necessary to manage and make decisions about their finances. In order to enable the people to mobilize their own resources for self-help, he founded the Canara Hindu Permanent Fund in 1906, which is now known as Canara Bank, one of India's top banks.

Subba Rao was well-known for being a ringleader among the boys as well as being mischievous, mediocre in his schoolwork, and fond of play as a young lad. But he had a great deal of veneration for his elders, and he held his father in the highest regard. Subba Rao's versatility extended beyond just the legal field. He spent the mornings at his job and the nights volunteering for social causes. In spite of how quickly the world was changing, he kept up. He made a difference in all facets of life with his zeal and compassion for others. He worked tirelessly to ensure that our young men would eventually hold significant positions in the engineering and medical industries.

The seed that our founder sowed more than a century ago has grown into a huge tree that provides the community with shelter in the form of educational opportunities, employment opportunities, and financial support, thereby fostering the welfare, prosperity, and growth of the community. On July 25, 1909, visionary Ammembal Subba Rao passed away and entered the abode of God. He lived a life that was well ahead of its time. His charitable zeal continues to have a profound influence on the lives of innumerable others even after he shed his earthly remains and transformed into a living soul.