MUMBAI: Anant V Pai, a chemical engineer who taught Indian culture, tradition and ethos through Amar Chitra Katha comics to millions of his countrymen, passed away here on Thursday evening.
Popularly known as ‘Uncle Pai’, he is survived by his wife Lalitha and elder sister Sumati Prabhu. A younger sister, Savita Prabhu, died a few years ago, Pai’s nephew Suhas Prabhu said.
“As per his wishes, his funeral will be a private affair and shall be completed at Shivaji Park Electric Crematorium tonight (on Thursday) itself,” a grieving Prabhu said.
Bor n on September 17, 1929, in a modest family of Venkataraya Pai and Susheela in Karkala, Dakshin Kanara district of Karnataka, young Anant completed his primary education in the only school in the village.
Orphaned at the age of two, Anant shifted to Mumbai when he was 12 for pursuing his secondary school and higher education.
A bright student, he went on to become a chemical engineer from the prestigious University Institute of Chemical Technology, formerly UDCT, University of Mumbai