Mangalore : P.P. Gomathi (84), English professor and secretary of the Women’s National Education Society that runs Besant institutions here, passed away after brief illness here on Monday night.

She is survived by her two brothers.

Ms. Gomathi, known for her selfless service to the cause of education, had served as Principal of the Besant Women’s College for eight years and is credited to have earned name and fame for the institution.

Born in 1930, she did her initial education in Sacred Heart School in Thalassery and intermediate at Government Brennen College in the same town. She did her B.A. (Honours English Literature) from Madras Presidency College. She first joined as English teacher at Government Victoria College, Palakkad in Kerala and in 1954 she joined the English Department of Government College (now University College) here.

While serving Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women in Bangalore, she was deputed to Besant College where she served as Principal from 1980. The College, started only in 1977, earned reputation under her leadership. After her retirement in 1988, she became the Secretary of Women’s National Education Society during which time she was instrumental in starting the English School and later the Manel Srinivasa Nayak Besant Institute of Management here.

“She dedicated all her time for the institution and was responsible for overall growth and name and reputation it enjoys,” said former Principal of the College, K.T. Manjula.

Ms. Gomathi’s mortal remains were kept in the premises of the college for about two hours when thousands of her students and academicians and others paid their last respects to her on Tuesday morning. The Besant institutions remained closed as mark of respect to her.

In a condolence message, President of Association of Mangalore University College Teachers Norbert Lobo and its Secretary Lakshminarayana Bhat said Ms. Gomathi as higher education expert had struggled hard to develop Besant College.