Ammembal Subba Rao Pai (1852-1909) was an eminent lawyer, educationist, banker, and philanthropist from Mangalore. Born on 19 November 1852 in Mulki, near Mangalore, to Upendra Pai, a practising pleader, he completed his schooling at the Government High School, Mangalore, and studied law at Madras Law College, graduating first in his class in the Bachelor of Law (B.L.) examination.
Returning to Mangalore, he built a distinguished legal practice but believed his real duty was to promote education and self-reliance. He founded the Canara High School in 1891 and the Canara Hindu Permanent Fund (later Canara Bank) in 1906, pioneering both modern education and cooperative banking in South India.
In December 1908, at a meeting of the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin Parishad held in Bhuvanendra Hall, Mangalore, he proposed the creation of “The Poor Boys’ Educational Fund.” Although he passed away in July 1909, his idea inspired the community to act, and by 1913 the Ammembal Subba Rao Pai Memorial Fund was established — carrying forward his noble vision of service through education.
For more than a century, the Fund has remained true to its founding principle: “That no deserving student of the GSB community abandons education for lack of financial assistance.”
Today, it continues to uphold Ammembal Subba Rao Pai’s ideals of learning, integrity, and service — empowering generations through opportunity and trust.
To create a Centenary Free or Loan Scholarship in memory of a loved one
For Regular Loan Scholarships
For Free Scholarships under the Kamadhenu Scheme
Towards the General or Book Bank Fund