Padmashri Dr. T. M. A. Pai
Padmashri Dr. T. M. A. Pai, the versatile visionary, the founder of The Syndicate Bank, Medical and Engineering Colleges, the Law College,School of Nursing, The College of Dental Surgery, The College of Pharmacy, the Academy of General Education, Manipal, five other First Grade colleges and also the pioneer of 'Pigmy Collection' among many other institutions of repute was the founding father of Bhandarkars' Arts and Science College, Kundapura. The noble vision of Dr. T. M. A. Pai was eager to sponsor a First Grade College in Kundapura, when he found the philanthropic and magnanimous offer from Dr. A. S. Bhandarkar. Thus the College is an embodiment of altruistic vision of these two great men worthy of evergreen gratitude and posterity.
Upon the insistence of Dr. A. S. Bhandarkar, Dr. T. M. A. Pai agreed to sponsor the College under the aegies of Academy of General Education, Manipal. Since then, the affairs of the college have been managed and supervised by the Bhanadrkars' Arts and Science College Trust, a registered body of distinguished citizens and generous donors of the region. The progress and the development projects of the college are regularly guided and monitored by the Academy of General Education, Manipal.
Dr. A. S. Bhandarkar
Dr. A. S. Bhandarkar, a native of Kundapura and practicing medicine in Bahrain, observed with keen interest the attempts of local citizens to start college in the region. His fervent longing to serve the people of the region materialized when he learnt that the Academy of General Education of Manipal headed by the illustrious Dr. T. M. A. Pai would sponsor the proposed college. Gladly he donated Rs. 2,00,000 that was his hard earned savings set aside for a rainy day and modestly thought of it as squirrel's service to the people. Only at the insistence of the citizens of Kundapura and Academy of General Education of Manipal, he allowed the college to be called Bhandarkars' Arts and Science College, Kundapura, named after his family, as he did not want a name for himself.
