Condolences offered to Late Mr. MAT RAO – Founder of I.S..C Abu Dhabi

By Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Abu Dhabi, 25 September 2012: A condolence meeting was held in Abu Dhabi for the founder member/committee member of Indian Social Centre,(ISC) Abu Dhabi, Sri Mangalore Amrut Tharanath Rao who passed away recently in Udupi/Mangalore. The condolence meeting was attended by prominent personalities namely Padmashree Dr. B.R. Shetty (Vice Chairman – ISC/MD NMC Group), Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty (COO Global (UAE Exchange) Mr. Sarvotham Shetty (President Karnataka Sangha Abu Dhabi),

 

All the above personalities spoke during the condolences meeting and offered their deep sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family.  They also praised him for his selfless service in formation of India Social and Cultural Centre, Abu Dhabi Indian School.  He was the bridge between people and government as he directly dealt with Mr. Mohammed Hamid Ansari (Vice President of India) then was the ambassador of Indian Embassy U.A.E.

 

Mr. Thomas Sequeira briefed the audience on request of Dr. B.R. Shetty on his various achievements through out his 30 years service for the Indian community on various capabilities and through various organizations.  He used to carry the children to school himself when the kindergarten was formed in his Land Cruiser.  He worked as an Engineer for ADCO (one of the oil companies in Abu Dhabi) for more than 45 years. He was the tremendous growth of the school and happy to see his own accomplishments.  He wanted to see the state-of-the-art new building of India Social and Cultural Centre where this condolence meeting was held but unfortunately could not make it due to his illness.

 

 

Mr. Sarvotham Shetty with whom Late Mr. Rao was closely associated said that Mr. Rao, fondly known as ’ MAT  Rao’,. Rao was truly a magnanimous human being and is missed deeply by his family, relatives, and especially all the friends he made. Everyone recognizes his selfless work and appreciate his contribution to the society.

 

Under his leadership the many organizations/Institutions were formed and he was the founder and served of all these institutions namely; India Social Centre,  Indian Kindergarten,  Abu Dhabi Indian School, Hon.General Secretary of India Social Centre,  Secretary to the Board of Abu Dhabi Indian School, Committee member of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha and many other organizations. His contribution towards Indian Community in Abu Dhabi is much appreciated.  He is a great person to whom I have respected the most. He has played a key role when they started India Social Centre with some of his very close friends.  Initial stages he used to conduct various programmes, musical nites to collect fund for ISC, ICK and of course ADIS.

 

When he came to Abu Dhabi there was a scarcity of schools and it was very difficult to get admission for his own children. That made him to go for our own school and immediately he has approached some of the stall-warts like Mohan Jashnamal, Ambassador Hamid Anasari and all.

 

When i spoke to Mohan Jashanmal yesterday, he was telling me that MAT RAO was ready to do any kind of social work related to the poor and needy. He was mingled with all the associations like Samajam. Kerala Social centre, Indian Islamic Centre.
His big venture is ICK in the initial stage then Abu Dhabi Indian School. Alongwith Mohan Jashanmal he has worked day and night to get the ADIS land, school permission and co-ordinating with Indian Embassy and rulers office.What Mohan Jashanmal says yesterday sometimes Indian Ambassador used to call him for his advise & guidance. Sometimes, He used to conduct the board meetings of school and ISC meetings in his house.

 
On Mr. Rao’s demise his daughter Ms. Shravana wrote Mr. Sarvotham Shetty:
 
He was born in Udupi district and celebrated his birthday on 17th June. He was born in 1935 and his age at the time that he passed away was 77. He was the 2nd of 11 siblings - 5 girls and 6 boys and the eldest boy in the family. He went to Mumbai at the age of 17-18 to take care of and help my grandfather,the then magistrate of Udupi, Sri Amruth Rao, in providing for his family. At age 21-22 he went to Qatar and has since been in the Gulf - Middle East areas and provided for and looked after his family.

 

He was in Abu Dhabi, working in ADCO as a Technical Engineer for more than 46 years. He got married in 1966 to my Mother, Smt. Anuradha T. Rao and they’ve led a good life together for 46 years now. They have 3 children - my sister Ashwini, who is a Kindergarten teacher & lives in Australia with her family (my brother in law and 2 daughters), my brother Ashlesh who lives in Bangalore with his wife and together head their own NLP Training and Coaching company, and myself Shravana, who is also working with my brother in his company as a Program Coordinator & Coach.