K. Ramesh Pai

Dr. K. Ramesh Pai, MS, FRCS, passed away peacefully on January 06th, 2018 at his residence in Augusta, Georgia, USA. He was 99 years of age.

Dr. Pai was born and grew up in the Indian city of Madras. He obtained his medical degree from Stanley Medical College in Madras and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh in post- war Britain.

Dr. Pai returned to India in 1947 to be a Civil Surgeon at the prestigious Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad, India. With the organization of Indian states, Dr. Pai joined the government service in the state of Andhra Pradesh. In this capacity, he had the opportunity to serve in the cites of Kurnool, Vishakapatnam and Hyderabad. His clinical appointments progressed from being Superintendent of Osmania General Hospital to finally being the Director of Medical and Health services in the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1975. A giant amongst academicians, he proceeded to teach thousands of medical students and trained hundreds of surgeons who spread his innovative techniques in surgery across the globe.

Following his government service, his clinical service continued with his position as Surgical Director of Mahaveer Hospital in Hyderabad, and, Surgical Director of the Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, Karnataka, India.

Upon his retirement from medicine, Dr. Pai was highly influenced by Swami Ranganathananda of the Ramakrishna Mission in Hyderabad where he commenced his study of the Bhagavad Gita. Under the auspices of the Ramakrishna Ashram in Hyderabad, he participated in the establishment and running of the Free Health Clinic and the Vanaprastha Ashram (home for the aged).

Dr. Pai moved to the USA in 1994 where he continued the study of the scriptures. He taught Hinduism to the Humanities students of Augusta College and was recognized as the Paul Harris Fellow of the International Rotary Club. He led scriptural discussions in the Indian community at the Hindu Temple in Augusta, Georgia.

He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Prema Pai, four children, Shanti (Ashok) Kudva of Hendersonville, North Carolina, Sharada (Ganesh) Pai of Columbia, South Carolina, Sheila (Vinayak) Kamath of Augusta, Georgia and Ramachandra (Padma) Pai of Nashville, Tennessee, and his six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Friends and relatives may pay their respects at the memorial service which will be held at 11 AM on the 11th of January, 2018 at Elliot Funeral Home on Columbia Road, Martinez, Georgia, USA.