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The
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, Udupi, was founded in 1949 to
fulfill the aspirations of the northern parts of the Dakshina Kannada
District
which till then could boast of only two colleges, both situated
in Mangalore. The need for a college in this era was keenly visualized
by Dr. T. Madhava A. Pai, whose dream was to better the life of
his
people by bringing opportunities to their doors. He could inspire
a band of enlighted citizens of Udupi to work for the founding
of a college in this town. The obstacles in the way were so severe
that
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Dr. Pai, at one stage, had even to return the donations he had collected for the purpose of raising the funds required for the establishment of the college. But Dr. Pai, a man of grit that he was, did not give up the idea that he had cherished for long and created a public opinion in favour of the college, thawed the icy mind of unwilling donors, blew the mist of misgivings, persuaded liberal minded men to unstring their purse and bent the will of the reluctant authorities of the government and the university of Madras and secured the permission to found a college in the practically rural environs of Udupi.
Hurdles in the path were many. One among them was unwillingness of
University of Madras to allow lady students to be admitted to the
college. This
was solved by one Shantha who asserted her democratic right of equality
by approaching the High court of Madras. The matter, then in the court
of Governor Sri Prakash, was settled in favour of girls with the intervention
of Smt Indira Gandhi. Once Dr. Pai's sincerity was realized, the support
he got became Spontaneous and overwhelming. The Swamijis of Udupi
blessed the project. The public
of Udupi rendered Shramadan to raise the building on the site at Sagri
where the college, started first in the rooms let by an elementary
school, was shifted in the year 1952. A band of eminent citizens of
Udupi rallied
behind Dr. Pai and the dream of the college became a reality.
That is the story of five decades ago and the college has witnessed
in this course of period phenomenal growth and expansion. It became
a premier
institution sponsored by the Academy of General Education, Manipal
and a source of inspiration to the citizens of many other towns in
the district
who approached Dr. Pai for advice in the matter of starting new colleges.
Thus began an era of higher education in this district which led
to its economic revolution too. On the threshold of the Golden Jublee
year 1999
the college can look back with pride upon the different stages of
development
and growth, including the recent inauguration of Madhav Raksha, the
magnificent new administrative block by Hon'ble Minister for Human
resources development,
Dr. Murali Manohar Joi on the occasion of inaugurating the Birth
Centenary Celebration of our Founder Dr. T. M.A. Pai.