Ammembal Subba Rao Pai

Ammembal Subba Rao Pai was a leading lawyer of Mangalore. He was the founder of “Canara Bank”, now one of the leading bank in India and “Canara High School” in Mangalore. Subba Rao Pai was born on 19th November 1852 in Mulki, near Mangalore. He went to Government High School in Mangalore. After passing his F.A.(First Arts examination) in Mangalore, he went to Madras for higher education. He completed his B.A. in Presidency college and B.L. in Madras Law College.

Career
In 1876 he came to Mangalore and successfully practiced law. Pai was patriot at heart and humanist by action. He started “Canara High School” on 22 acres of land donated by Upendra Pai. Shortly there after in 1894, he started “Canara Girls High School” with a view to encouraging the education of girls. He also firmly believed that for the social and economic uplift, education was the key. Concerned about the high interest rates being charged by moneylenders to the poor people of South Canara. Pai founded Canara Hindu Permanent Fund Ltd (now Canara Bank) ओन 01-07- 1906. Among his important contributions to the GSB community was the setting up of the “Poor Boys Education Fund”, which became ASRP Memorial Fund. “Focus on your goals and profits will follow” was his dictum.