Bangalore :

D.A. Pandu, 69, Chief Mentor of the Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust, which managed the R.V. Group of educational institutions, died here after a brief illness on Friday.

Born in Kolar on July 5, 1935, Mr. Pandu had his early education in R.V. School established by late M.C. Sivananda Sarma.

Mr. Sarma appointed him Assistant Secretary of the growing R.V. Group in 1964, and after the former’s death in 1969, Mr. Pandu became the Honorary Secretary. Since 2003, he was Chief Mentor of the educational institutions. Under Mr. Pandu’s visionary leadership and guidance, the R.V. Group has grown.

The State Government recognised his services by conferring on him the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 1995. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike honoured him with the Kempe Gowda Award in 2002.

The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, his Cabinet colleagues, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, D.H. Shankaramurthy, have mourned his death.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka / Online Edition / by Special Correspondent / Saturday – June 11th, 2005