MK Panduranga Setty

Early Life and Education

He graduated from Central College Bangalore. Late Shri Kasturiranga Setty, having established a business in wholesale food grains, opened a flour mill with the most modern equipment imported from Switzerland. The flour mill was operated by technically qualified “Millers” during early years. These millers were not prepared to train others in the technology nor was there any institute to train beginners. M/S Buhler Brothers, suppliers of equipments to the newly established mill offered to train its employees and the young Panduranga Setty to operate the imported machines. Hewas also sent to Switzerland to get additional specialized training whilst completing his final year in college.

Panduranga Setty returned after his training with Buhler Brothers, Switzerland and took charge of the operations. He was also elected as a Managing Committee Member of the Federation of the Flour Millers of India. Soon Panduranga Setty was elected as Vice President of the Federation, when he toyed with an idea of starting a training school for milling technology in India similar to that in Europe. From conception to commissioning it took almost 4 years. With the cooperation of the Govt of Switzerland and Govt of India, and the help of the Indian millingiIndustry, “The International School For Milling Technologies” was established in 1984 at the CFTRI Campus. This school was one of its kind catering to 15 students from India and 5 from other developing countries. Till date this school is running successfully with the help of CFTRI at their campus in Mysore.

Poultry

During the 1960s in Karnataka, there was no organized marketing setup for Poultry products. Poultry farmers were finding it difficult to earn a reasonable profit for their products. setup was required for manufacturing balanced feed. He organized an innovative marketing setup for the poultry farmers to market quality products giving birth to the Association of Mysore Poultry Farmers. Setty served as the founding Chairman. As they had no premises, he provided space in his own establishment and with the Assistance the Government a qualified veterinary doctor was appointed to look after the affairs of the association. A marketing committee was formed by the farmers to fix the price on a weekly basis. This prevented the whole sellers from exploiting the farmers. The eggs were properly graded. The eggs were also tested so that the consumers would get quality eggs at a fixed price. This became a trend setter for the whole state and similar arrangements were made all over the state. With the assistance of “CARE” cycles were provided to the sales boys to go round the city selling eggs. Stalls were also taken for rent at important markets for selling the eggs.

Management Education

His interest in education, particularly Management Education has been immense. He was Secretary and President of Bangalore Management Association. He successfully devised programmes for management executives and was also instrumental in starting a residential programme at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. This was a landmark achievement in his career. He has also been on the board of All India Management Association and served as Vice President of AIMA was instrumental in being the bridge between Government of Karnataka & India’s premiere institute IIMB and the outcome of which was the establishment of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, IIM-B. He served on the board of Governors and was a part of the Institute’s recruitment process of teaching faculty.

Institute of Social Economic Change

Professor V.K.R.V Rao met Setty and convinced him to become a life member of “Institute of Social and Economic Change”. ISEC with Bangalore University invites intellectuals for lectures and symposiums. Institute for the social economic change brought social scientists like Dr. VKRV Rao, Dr M N Srinivas and many other social scientists and organized workshops, seminars to provide input to the government on various social and economic issues. Setty became the part of this group and when the society was formed he helped Dr. VKRV Rao in raising funds. He has been on the Board of Governors right from its inception and served as the Chairman of the ISEC board and continues to serve on the board.

Rashtreeya Shikshna Samithi Trust

In 1974 the Trustees of Rashtreeya Shikshna Samithi Trust invited him to be a trustee and president. During his tenure, the trust staredt a number of Institutions. These institutes have become Karnataka’s premier institutes attracting students from all over India. The trust has established 23 institutes and has over 16000 students from KG to PG. The World Bank team while evaluating for Tequip Grant has rated “R V College of Engineering as one of the top Engineering college of India. The trust also runs Dental, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Science and Arts Colleges.

All India Manufacturers organization

Sir Vishweswariah founded “AIMO” with a slogan “Industrialize or perish” with its head office in Bombay. Chapter was started in Karnataka by Late Shri B N Gupta. AIMO celebrated Sir M V’s 100th birthday. To commemorate Sir M V’s Birthday the Vishweshwariah Industrial Museum Society was founded which set up the Vishweswariah Industrial and Technological Museum under the aegis of CSIR. He continues work as the Honorary Secretary of VIMS. Setty and his associates organized several workshops and seminars for industrialists in Karnataka. Several exhibitions were organized to show the opportunities for industrialization of the then Mysore state. AIMO also organized an International Trade Fair in Madras. Vishweshwariah Industrial Trade Center was built by Vishweshwariah Industrial Museum Society to display products manufactured in Karnataka so that the visitors can have an idea of the goods manufactured in Karnataka. The Trade Centre was Setty’s idea. He was inspired by such facilities available in other countries and wanted a similar platform in Karnataka. He organized a convention of the Indian Standard Institute, and served as the Vice President of AIMO.

During his tenure as the President of Association of Food Scientists and Technologists of India, the first International Conference of Food Science and technology was held in Bangalore with 1600 food scientist and technologist from 23 countries gathered. A food expo “AHARA ‘82” was organized at the Bangalore Palace Grounds to show case the progress made by Indian Food Industry in the country. “AHARA” is now held every year by ITPO now in New Delhi. He was the first and remains only non scientist president of Association of Food Scientists and technologists India.

Positions

He served as a director of Vysya Bank ltd, now ING Vysya for nine years and is the Director of more than twenty companies. He has served on the Executive Committee of CFTRI and DFRL, as the President of FKCCI, AIMO, the Founder president of Indo -American Chamber of Commerce and actively involved in Indo German Chambers of Commerce. He served on several committees of the State and Centre, he was also served as the Chairman of Karnataka Industrial and Investment Development Corporation, the first industrialist to hold that post.

Rotary International

He was invited to join Rotary Club of Bangalore in 1959. He became the first Rotary International Director from South India (1991–93) and the first Asian to serve as the Chairman of the executive committee of Rotary International (1992–93). He is the longest serving member of the Strategic Planning Committee of Rotary International and was served as the Chairman of the Rotary Foundation India. He has served as Chairman South East Asia Regional Polio Plus Committee. His involvement in Rotary has helped a large number of programme of Rotary, including providing comfort stations for girls’ schools, Literacy Programme, housing for the Poor etc. He received the “Service Above Self “award from the Rotary International.