Introduction by K.K.Pai K.G.Mallya 50° Publication) ioe 2CSo e 4 P : Bank Chairman, T.A.Pai Religious in Thought, Word & Action T.A.Pai, releasing the Silver Jubilee Commemoration Volume in Walkeshwar, of H.H.Shrimat Sudhindra Tirth Swamiji of Shri Kashi Math (L to R) Shri Swamiji, T.A.Paiand Macson A.M.Kamath. Railway Minister, T.A.Pai At Katgal, Uttara Kannada District inaugurating Smt. Kamalabai Pikale High School. To his right is Dr.Adike, Vice-Chancellor, Karnataka University and left S.V.Pikale, Advocate Supreme Court, the main force behind the school. - a ;. ~r—y.. : &® T.A.PAI & DOMBIVLI LOCAL K.G.Mallya ( 50“ Publication) With an Introduction by K.K.Pai Published on the occasion of the Convention Of All India Saraswat Cultural Organisation, Mumbai At Dombivli, on Sunday the 9" Nov., 2003 By M/s.Deepa Publications, Main Road, ~ Kinnigoli-574150 (Karnataka State) : . The Story of Innovative Bankee “T.A.Pai & Dombivli Local,” | a Pen-sketch 4 By K.G.Mallya Copyright by the Author First Published 2003 Price Rs. 40/- Published by M/s. Deepa Publications, ' Main Road, at Kinnigoli-574150 (Kareataka State) Printed by Gogri Offset Printers 11, Rajmahal Shopping Centre, Opp. Telli Galli, A.K.Road, Andheri East, Mumbai-400 069 He was great Yet remained modest He was powerful Yet always helpful He was shrewd Yet always honest. He led his men, Not from the back But from the front. Carrying his men And carrying the danger He led from the front And always front. —The Author Introduction When my friend and the author of this book, Shri K.G.Mallya approached me with a request to write an introduction to this book, “The Story of Innovative : Banker, T.A.Pai & Dombivli Local” little did J imagine that it is a great volume of multi-dimensions presented in a small form. Historically it is a good document evidencing how a young Bank Manager by sincere and hard work could trigger ~ of economic development of a developing township that is Dombivli in Thana ; District, bringing together people—commoners to the Central Minister. Yes, I — remember. | too had participated as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Bank in his activities of eagerness and anxiety to help the people of Dombivli. | After TA.Pai’s departure from the Bank, | took over and paid two visits to Dombivli and my second visit was purely an appreciation visit to commend his good work. This book tells us about the major events during his tenure as a Manager in ~ Dombivli. And through his inimitable style of narration he has painted the beautiful — picture of the Bank and the Town in those days. There are many individuals the story but they are all angels. Thus the sailing in very smooth. I learn that this is his 50" Book, the Golden Jubilee Book, really a golden book in every respect and more so because it is dedicated to the memory of my illustrious — predecessor, Late Shri T.A.Pai who had successfully taken the Bank to commendable heights as a great innovative banker of India. _I congratulate Shri Mallya for his splendid achievements not only in the arena of banking but also literature. | K.K.Pai, Retd. Chairman & Managing Director, Syndicate Bank Manipal, 25" October, 2003 My association with Late Shri T.A.Pai started with my practice as a Tax Advocate. We came closer because the famous surgeon of Mumbai, late Dr.A.V.Baliwgaas related to both of us. More than taxation T.A.Pai and myself vere good personal friends though at times | was tendering advice on legal matters also. In fact we were well wishers of each other and when he became ‘the Railway Minister at the Centre in 1972, his first visit was to Kumta, Karnataka State at my invitation to participate in the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Kanara College Society’s Dr.A.V.Baliga College of Arts & Commerce. He paid this ‘visit superseding the one to his native place in Dakshina Kannada District where _ he was to be felicitated first. When the people there were not happy he declared _t hat Pikale happened to be the son-in-law of Dakshina’ Kannada and so he deserved the respect first. During his visit he made it a point to offer prayers at “the Holy Shrine of Mother Goddess Katyayani at Aversa, and thereafter to _K atgal to declare open Smt.Kamalabai Pikale High School in memory of my _m other. When he married Vasanti Pai in 1972, as his friend and relative, | had _o rganised a reception in his honour in Shanmukhananda Hall, Mumbai. eS _ Lremember with gratitude his help and support in my profession. At his behest A had also an occasion to attend to one of the tax matters of Late Dhirubhai .A mbani, the industrial giant of our country. Earlier when | was putting in a lot of _e fforts for the transition of taxation policy of Goa soon after the liberation, he _ backed me to the fullest extent. He inaugurated my branch office in Mangalore _ in 1972 when he was the Rly. Minister with Shri D.Veerendra Heggade, _ Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala as the Chief Guest. After advising me to join politics, he had even taken me to Smt.Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister. But | did not pursue as | realised later that politics was not my cup of tea. Today he is not amidst us to see our progress and achievements but his memory _ inspires our thoughts and actions especially in the arena of social and community service. Shri K.G.Mallya, a friend of mine deserves full compliments in bringing out this book dedicated to his memory. | congratulate him for his golden work, the 50" publication. S.V.Pikale, President Emeritus, All India Saraswat Cultural Organisation (AISCO)& Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Mahim, Mumbai 400 016 25" October 2003 Contents 1 Princess & Elephants z Book Release 3 Syndicate Bank 4 Dombivli Local 5. Municipal Water Supply 6. Innovations in Banking 7. My Dear Sir Monthly Letters a 8. My team-Cricket Team 9. Farewell To The Chief 10. Dombivli Revisited Profile T.A.Pai was born on 17" Jan 1922. His father was Upendra Anant Pai and Mother, Smt.Parvati Amma. In 1943. after getting the _ B.Com. degree he started banking career with Syndicate Bank as the Deputy Manager and 1944 he was promoted General Manager. In 1962, he became the Managing Director and 1968, the Chairman. He was the Chairman & Managing Director of the Bank till 19.7.1969, the day on which the banks were nationalised. And_ on nationalisation he was designated as the Custodian. In 1965, he became the Founder Chairman of Food Corporation of India. He held the position honorarily for one year and then returned to ‘the Bank. From 1970 to 1972 he was the Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of India and in 1972, he became the Railway Minister at the centre. In the same year, he was decorated with the title of Padmabhushan by the Government of India for the meritorious services rendered to the country. Later he held the position of the Minister for Heavy Industries and also Industries and Civil Supplies. In 1980 he retired from active politics. And on 29" May, 1981 he passed away leaving behind his wife, Vasanti Pai and a vast number of friends, relatives admirers, pies a very big void in innovative banking. _ The Story of Innovative Banker alegleaaa 1.Princess & Elephants 3 ee or one may not believe today ifi t is mentioned that India’s top- _ most industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani of Reliance fame had visited Dombivli and _ it was T.A.Pai who had brought him to Dombivli. Dr.U.Prabhakar Rao, the eminent surgeon who had the most modern hospital those days played the host. They had visited Dombivli as Chief Guests at the dance programme organised __ by Dombivli Fine Arts. InS ixties. Dombivli: And what was the size of Dombivli those days in the late sixties and early _ seventies when these two giants visited Dombivli? Population barely 60,000 with four banks of which the latest one was Syndicate Bank and T.A.Pai had Visited as the Chairman of that Bank for the first time for declaring the Branch office open on 17° May 1969. Dombivli then was a little sleepy town with small bungalows with gardens in front and at the back. Dombivli East known as Ramnagar had fully developed up to Shivaji Statue near new Municipality building as it stands today and the west, known as Vishnunagar had only a few homes and thatched huts. One could see the grassy fields stretching up to the horizon where the Thane Creek going to Kalyan was looking like a silver line. Then towards Kalyan, again vacant lands and farms in which was grown rice. The Main Road called Manpada Road starting from the Railway Station in the East was virtually without any vehicles plying on the road. On this road, going beyond Shivaji Statue, moving towards Go-grasswadi and passing through the empty land reserved for industrial growth under the auspices of MIDC in those days, in the distance one could see the peaks of Haji Malang Hills looking blue and mysterious with the shrine dedicated to the saint, who it was said, came in the dreams of the pilgrims to fulfil their desires. Once a year during the festival hundreds would travel and climb the hill by foot to secure the saint’s blessings and it was well known those days that if you want to get rich quick, go to Haji Malang, stay over night and try your luck to get the saint in your dream. The next best alternative was to work hard in Dombivli, which was an upcoming township under the benevolent grace of the guardian deity of the town, Mangalamurti Lord Ganesh. In Vishnunagar there were two schools, South Indian High School and S.H.Jondhale High School and on the east was Tilak Vidyalaya and also MSP Mandal’s High School. There was no college in Dombivli, those days. Vehicle-less Roads: : Imagine about that Dombivli with no vehicles on the road! The township as a whole had only four to five cars and buses were yet to ply. Autos were zero but — in the pollution free residential town were plying the Eco—fnendly horse drawn } carriages. The Central Railway Local trains were the only means of conveyance | linking this part with District Head Quarters Thane, on one side and Kalyan, the Taluka Head Quarters on the other side. { Middle Class People: As a residential township, Dombivli attracted middle class and lower middle class people, as houses were available on a deposit of Rs.2,500/- and a monthly rent of Rs.50/- Abundant rice and vegetables were available at affordable prices but at nights the armies of mosquitoes would attack mercilessly not allowing — any one to have sound sleep. I had arrived in Dombivli in 1966 in search of a roof over my head and | could get one at Rajaji Path for Rs.3,000/- with a rent of Rs.60/-per month. From here I used to travel to Bombay Fort by 8.45 morning train and the return journey from Bombay depended on the office work which would not be over before 7.30 evening. I was serving for Syndicate Bank, which T.A.Pai headed and this continued up to April, 1969 when I was designated as the Manager of Dombivli Branch of the Bank that was going to be opened soon. | Shelter for Elephants: K.C.Pai the Deputy General Manager, Premises, who became the General Manager of the Bank later and I, had gone round the town several times by foot, note only within the boundary of the town but also in the nearby localities in search of suitable premises for the Bank. We walked from Shivaji Statue to the distant Famatex or Premier Motors and one name that fascinated most was Gajabandhan Patherli, a village name that is otherwise a part of Dombivli town. Gajabandhan means a place where elephants were kept duly chained up. It was here. we were told, that Shivaji Maharaja’s royal elephants found a shelter. Kalyan is a harbour town with a recorded history. Boats were sailing up to Kalyan from Arabian Sea. This town, we came to know, got the name Dombivli on account of a tribe called Domb that had resided here long ago. Lovers of Dombivli: In fact the first person to fall in love with this little township is none other than K.K.Pai as the General Manager but he visited Dombivli to find out whether the premises were suitable. From Bombay he travelled by car accompanied by N.K.Kamath, Manager of our Fort Branch and on the day of his visit 1 was 2