Tribute to a Noble Visionary

Tribute to a Noble Visionary

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 11, 2012: A great personality and a noble soul who steered the renowned Bharath Group   to great heights   through his dynamism and realistic vision, is no more. B. Ganapathi Pai, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharath Group, well known for its flagship company Bharath Beedi Works Pvt Ltd, manufacturers of No.30 Brand of Beedies, passed away on October 10 following a brief illness at the age of 76.

 

 

It was his zeal and passion towards the business which he had taken over from his father Manjunath Pai, the Founder of the Group, and his tireless endeavour that saw the establishment  scale greater heights in the span of a few decades. No. 30 Brand Beedies which had a humble origin in the hilly town of Karkala, an enduring initiative of Late Manjunath Pai, has today grown into a gigantic establishment.

Born on June 29, 1936 in Karkala, life was never a cake walk for Ganapathi Pai.Tragedy struck him when he was hardly 11 months old following the demise of his mother. While Ganapathi Pai was lucky to have a very fond and affectionate step-mother, his father continued to be his greatest inspiration right since his young days. Ganapathi Pai who had his primary and high school education at Bhuvanendra Oriental School of Karkala and Board School completed his inter-mediate at St Aloysius school in Mangalore. 

It was in the year 1954 that Ganapathi Pai had joined his father in business. There was no looking back since then as the zealousness of the young man was proved in the efficient functioning of the establishment along with his two brothers who however passed away early in life. The administrative office was subsequently shifted to Mangalore in the year 1995. Although the death of Manjunath Pai in the year 1982 was a major jolt, Ganapathi Pai had forged ahead undeterred and  had singlehandedly managed the show with great resolute for nearly 15 years.

Under his visionary leadership, the 30 Brand Beedies emerged as one of the top brands   and pioneering leader in Beedi industry with a Pan-Indian presence. While having diversified into various other sectors, still No. 30 Brand beedies remains its core business. Today, Bharath Beedi Works Pvt Ltd and other concerns coming under Bharath Group including Bharath Exports, Bharath Builders, Bharath Printers & Alaknanda Printers,  Bharath Auto Cars, Bharath Mall, Book Mark, employ over 50,000 people directly and indirectly.  It was the great vision of Late Pai which helped the Bharath Group to diversify and the Group has thus gifted Mangalore its first Multiplex in the form of Bharath Mall.

The Group is being efficiently managed by B Ganapathi Pai’s sons Ananth, Anand and his nephews  Nagendra, Sudhir, Subraya and Venkatesh.

Today, if thousands of families are earning a livelihood,they are all ever grateful to Ganapathi Pai who had provided them a source of income through the beedi industry, despite the industry facing turbulent times.It was the sheer resilient spirit of this great personality which helped him steer through the business even in the toughest of times.

Despite his hectic schedule,Ganapathi Pai always responded to educational, religious, cultural and other social causes and was trying his level best to contribute something to the society on special occasions like the birth centenary of the Founder and other celebrations of the Bharath Group.

He was even instrumental in setting up the Manjunath Pai High School at Durga Tellar his home town and had contributed towards the setting up of the Government College in Karkala. Liberal contributions had also been made towards the setting up of the post-graduate study centre at the Bhuvanendra College. The formation of the B Manjunath Pai Cultural Foundation and the construction of an auditorium at Karkala due to the initiative of Late Pai, are worth recollecting.

Pai who had also actively involved himself in various organizations always responded to the problems of the work force of his establishment. He often used to say that it were the sincere efforts of the work force coupled with the experience of its staff that helped him in taking the firm to great heights. He had strongly believed that good human resources are the real assets of any industry.

Pai is survived by his wife Geetha Pai, who had been his pillar of strength all through,  two sons, Ananth, Anand and daughters Roopa and Rekha, apart from a host of well-wishers.

May his soul rest in peace.