“My aim is to transform Society through education by setting up academic institutions in dynamic equilibrium with its social, ecological and economic environment striving continuously for excellence in education, research and technological service to the nation.”
The most eminent Educationist and philanthropic entrepreneur of Mangalore, Shri CA. A. Raghavendra Rao is the Founder, Chairman and the chief patron of A. Shama Rao Foundation. The Foundation was specifically established to impart quality and sustainable education to all. This foundation was born out of the belief of Shri A. Shama Rao, that education is the engine to transform society. The “Srinivas Group of Colleges” is one such venture that is sponsored by A. Shama Rao Foundation.
Shri A. Raghavendra Rao was born on 16th October, 1937, to Late Shama Rao, and late Shrimathi. A. Indiramma at Benagal, Pejamangore Village, Udupi. He completed his elementary education in SVS Elementary School, Innanje and then joined SVH High School. He pursued his graduation in Commerce at the M.G.M. College in Udupi and came to Mangalore to pursue his higher education in Chartered Accountancy.
Married to Vijayalaxmi in the year 1964, he is blessed with two children – Padmini and Srinivas. Padmini is married to Dr. Uday Kumar and Srinivas is married to Mitra. Shri A. Raghavendra Rao is presently a proud grandfather to four grandchildren.
Reaching the present position he holds has not been easy and has involved a lot of hard work, commitment and sacrifice. He is the only CA from the region to be elected on Council since inception in 1949 and set up his independent practice as Chartered Accountant at Felix Pai Bazaar, Mangalore in 1965. He became the elected Secretary of the Canara Chamber of Commerce for the year 1983 – 84. He is the Senior Partner of M/S. Raghavendra Chartered Accountants, Mangalore having 7 branches in other cities.
He became the elected Secretary of the Canara Chamber of Commerce for the year 1983 – 84. He is the Senior Partner of M/S. Raghavendra Chartered Accountants, Mangalore having 7 branches in other cities.
During his service, Shri. A. Raghavendra Rao has been privileged to meet several top leaders of the country as well as top officials and discuss with them some of the problems about the development of the region. In the year 1988, he had set up a new trust “A. Shama Rao Foundation” and he set up his first Professional Degree College in Hotel Management,”Srinivas College of Hotel Management” in August 1988. The strength of the college was only seven students in the inaugural year and it was affiliated under the B.H.M degree discipline by the Mangalore University. The second year, the strength was 11 and the number of students went on increasing every year and now, it has 100 students every year. In 1993, he set up the Srinivas College of Physiotherapy with only seven students. Today, it is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and well known for its quality teaching with Post graduate teachers and a research centre. After that, he went on setting up new degree colleges in various fields of education.
He started his career with one staff in his office and now, 75 employees work under his CA firm. In 1979, he contested the South India Regional Council of Institute of Charted Accountant in Chennai and won the election during his four years of time. In the council, he served as a Chairman of the India regional Charted Accountant Students Association at Chennai and also as Secretary of S.I. R.C for sometime. During his tenure, he was the taxation committee Chairman of the SIRC and conducted regional taxation seminars at Mangalore. During the year 1980, he planned and set up a 3 star Vegetarian hotel in Mangalore, “Hotel Srinivas”. In 1984, the Classification Committee of the Tourism Ministry of India inspected the hotel and classified it as a 3 Star Hotel. It is the first pure vegetarian hotel to be classified as a 3 Star pure vegetarian hotel in Karnataka.
Articleship of Chartered Accountancy course under Late Sri. A. Umanath Rao, C.A. Mangalore
Member of Institute of C.A of India in 1965 (A.C.A.) & Fellow of ICAI in 1970 (F.C.A)
1979 to 1983 Member of the Southern Indian Regional Council of Chartered Accountants of India, Madras.
1980 t0 1981 Chairman of the SIRC C.A Students Association, Madras
1982 to 83 Secretary of SIRC, Madras Leading consultant & Auditor for Finance, Trading Commercial & Industrial Concerns.
1983 to 1984 Secretary of Canara Chamber of Commerce & Industry
1984to 1985 Vice-president of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
1985 to 1987 President of Canara Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chairman of Advisory Committee to Canara Chamber of Commerce & Industry for several years.
1985 to 1987 Member of the Karnataka Telephone Advisory Committee
1987 Member of the Customs Advisory Committee for the Karnataka Customs Collectorate.
1987 to 1988 Working President of Besant Women’s National Education Society.
Chaired many Taxation and Accounting Seminars held at Madras, Belgaum and Mangalore.
Attended a number of All India Conferences conducted by ICAI and Hotel & Tourism Convention Organized by FHRAI, New Delhi.
27.12.1995 ‘Shree Krishnanugraha award’ from Paryaya, Shri Sheeroor mutt, Udupi
18.01.1998 ‘Shree Krishnanugraha award’ from Paryaya, Shri Kaniyoor Mutt, Udupi
01.11.2004 District Level Rajyotsava Award of Govt. of Karnataka.
28.05.2006 ‘VIPRA JANA’ Award from D.K. Dravid Brahmins Association, Mangalore.
26.08.2006 ‘Chitrabharathi’ Award for the contribution in the field of education from Chitrabharathi Tulu Chitraranga.
01.01.2009 Achiever’s New Year Award 2009, for distinguished service to Society in the field of Education, Commerce & Industry by Academy of General Education, Manipal, along with Rotary Club of Udupi – Manipal and Syndicate Bank, Manipal.
03.01.2009 “SIRC Diamond Jubilee Award” for senior Chartered
Member & Founder President of Kala Sangama, a Cultural body
Life Member of Mangalore Productivity Council and Mangalore Management Association.
Past member of Rotary Club of Mangalore
Past member of the Senate of Mangalore University, 1985- 88 and 1995 – 1998
Hotel Srinivas – 3 Star Hotel in Mangalore
Udupi Srikrishna Bhavan, Mangalore.
Srinivas Estates Pvt. Ltd.,
Founder & President of A. Shama Rao Foundation.
Srinivas College of Hotel Management (BHM)
Srinivas College of Physiotherapy (BPT/MPT).
Srinivas Institute of Management Studies (MBA/MCA)
Srinivas College of P.G. Management Studies (BCA/BBM/MSW)
Srinivas College of Pharmacy (B.Pharm)
Srinivas Institute of Nursing Sciences (B.Sc.N/M.Sc.N)
A Shama Rao Nursing School (GNM)
Srinivas College of Education (B.Ed.)
Srinivas Institute of Technology (BE/MBA/MCA)
Vijayalakshmi Institute of Hospitality Sciences (B.Sc. (HS)
A. Raghavendra Rao Charitable Trust.
Adka Shama Rao & A. Indiramma Charitable Trust.
Vijayalakshmi Education Trust
Srinivas Management Academy for Research & Training Trust (SMART Trust)
Srinivas Institute of Rural Reconstruction Agency(SIRRA)
He says. “Work hard and build up a constructive thinking for future generations. People should be good to one another. We have to keep everyone happy and there should be no room for jealousy among our brethren. We have to try to lift up someone and not pull them down. We have to think of others prosperity and not disparity.”
In keeping with this vision, Shri Raghavendra Rao’s immediate future plans are to start a Medical and Dental College and higher studies Institutions for Fine arts and Sanskrit.
