Mangaluru, Oct 22: Eminent city based businessman Maroor Padmanabha pai passed away in the wee hours of this morning (Sunday, 22nd October 2017), aged 86. He succumbed to cardiac failure at 12.40 a.m. at KMC Hospital, Ambedkar Circle, where he had been admitted after feeling ill last night.
He was the founder of Maroor Padmanabha Pai and Co., a leading automobile spare parts dealership of the city and a doyen of Maroor Group. He was also the President of Dakshina Kannada Automobile & Tyre Dealers Association and Sri Mahalasa Narayani Temple, Konchady respectively. He is survived by his wife Smt. Sumathi Pai, three sons Rammohan Pai Maroor, Chandrakanth Pai Maroor, Shashidhar Pai Maroor and a daughter Sumana Nayak.
Mortal remains will be kept at his residence ‘Shanthi’, Matadakani, Mangalore for paying last respects from 9.00 a.m. Funeral will be at 12:00 noon.
Padmanabha Pai was born on 16th September 1931, at Puttur. He studied up to matriculation at BEM High School in the city and graduated in commerce from Government College, Mangaluru in 1953. Subsequently, after gaining experience as a Marketing Executive in a local firm for five years, he ventured into business in the year 1958 along with his brothers Late Maroor Vittal Pai and Maroor Kamalaksh Pai.
Today Maroor Group is a leading business house of the city whose name is synonymous with Automobile Spares, Tyres, Machine Tools, Automobile Batteries, Power Generators, Lubricants, Aluminum Structurals etc. They are also the authorized distributors for Maruti genuine parts for eight districts of Karnataka and for Hero Motor Corporation for their motor bike spares for three districts of Karnataka.
One of the founding members of Dakshina Kannada Automobile & Tyre Dealers Association, Mangaluru, Padmanabha Pai has served as its President since 1999. An auto industry veteran with deep insights in the field, he had spearheaded the rapid growth of the Association for the last 18 years. Under his initiative the association was able to fulfill its long cherished dream to have its own building ‘Auto Bhavan’, which is situated at Maroli. He also initiated a series of programmes to establish a strong identity for the association, promote unity and goodwill among automobile dealers and organized training seminars for the professional advancement of the members. In the year 2015, on the eve of his 84th birthday, the Association had honoured him with the title of ‘AUTO RATNA’ in recognition of his lifelong service to the trade and dedicated service to the Association since its inception.
A self made man, he was affectionately called ‘Padmanabhamaam’ by all. He was actively involved in numerous social and cultural activities and he has been serving as the president of Sri Mahalasa Narayani Temple, Konchady since several years.
His eldest son Rammohan Pai Maroor was the President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry during 2015-2016.
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