Mangalore : Philanthropist T. V. Mohandas Pai, inaugurated the Shri T. V. Raman Pai and Smt. Vimala V. Pai Hostel constructed at Vishwa Konkani Kendra premises in Shakthinagar on Nov 11, Friday at 11:11:11 a.m.

T. V. Mohandas Pai’s mother Vimala V. Pai, inaugurated the hostel building by cutting the ribbon while R. V. Deshpande, the chairman emeritus of Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation, lit the lamp.

The hostel, which has been constructed as per international standards, can accommodate 52 people. It has 13 double rooms and 4 dormitories for 8 people each. The hostel can host a number of activities such as seminars and camps, especially for research programmes and training of youngsters.

A number of people from all over Karnataka and Kerala along with students of educational institutions across Mangalore participated in the event.

Basti Vaman Shenoy delivered the welcome address.

Vimala V. Pai was felicitated with a shawl, a garland, and a memento.

Mohandas Pai explained the significance of preserving Konkani language and suggested that activities such as recording and documenting can contribute greatly to the survival of this language.

Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat, thanked T. V. Mohandas Pai, Dayanand Pai, Ramdas Kamath U., Vimala V. Pai, R. V. Deshpande, and others for their contribution and support and also thanked former CM B. S. Yeddyurappa for agreeing to sanction Rs. 5 crore for the centre’s projects and said that the file is moved to the present CM D. V. Sadananda Gowda.

Basti Vaman Shenoy presented mementos to N. Yogish Bhat, R. V. Deshpande, Dayanand Pai, and Gilbert D’Souza.

Pradeep Pai briefed on the scholarships given away to students so far and said that the centre has decided to give away scholarships worth Rs. 1 lakh to 10 students annually to assist their studies abroad.

Chairman and chief patron of the foundation, P. Dayanand Pai, T. V. Ramachandra Pai, the philanthropist, Gilbert D’Souza of Puttur, Ramdas Kamath U., Pradeep G. Pai, and many others were present on the occasion.