By FMTeam Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai had to be one of the top Indian educators, social entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, but why’s that? Well, just so you know, he is associated with the Mahatma Education Society (MES), which is the outcome of his entrepreneurial vision in the academic field. Right now, MES runs a total of 48 schools and higher education institutions across the country. And sure, the institutions serve over 30,000 students with the help of 2,000 trained teachers.
As you may already know, he surely believes in providing education to all because that’s one of the main things if we really want to uplift those who are kinda underprivileged in this regard. But for those, who are here just for the net worth number of Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai, well, the wealth he has generated or created so far is not publically dissolved, so we can’t tell you a specific number. Anyway, let’s have a closer look at his life story and you’ll certainly get an idea of that as well.
| Features | Details |
| Name | Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai |
| Known For | Founder and CEO of Mahatma Education Society |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed, mainly derived from educational ventures |
| Age | 78 years |
| Date of Birth | May 17, 1946 |
| Education | Postgraduate in English Literature, Ph.D. on William Wordsworth |
| Number of Institutions | 48 Educational Institutions |
| Major Awards | Recognition from University of Mumbai, Excellence Award for Public-Private Partnership |
Early Life and Education
Dr. Pillai was born on May 17, 1946, in Kerala, India, and was raised in a family of farmers, with him being one of 6 kids. He was in pursuit of education when he moved at the age of 16 to Mumbai, and that was his first step forward. He engaged in English Literature for his undergraduate studies and also post-graduate studies. And just so you know, for a very short period, he was an English lecturer at Somaiya Polytechnic College in Mumbai. His eagerness for literature took him to England, where he delved into Williamson Wordsworth’s writings in-depth for his Ph.D. and deeply explored the life and sources of the poet, you know?
Founding of Mahatma Education Society
Basically, Dr. Pillai laid the groundwork for the first institution established under the Mahatma Education Society, namely, Chembur English High School, in the year 1970. From that very start, the ultimate purpose of his undertaking was to make education provided at very low-cost rates without considering economic status or class. And sure, down the line we all saw a transition in the M.E.S. steady growth from a small experimental Gita Study Center to a full-fledged Maharaja’s College of Arts and Sciences that includes a school in Chembur, a college, and other educational institutions like one in Gorai, one in Panvel, and the one in Rasayani.
Personal Life and Family Contributions
In 1981, Dr. Pillai married Dr. Daphne Pillai, who has been super important in the growth of the Mahatma Education Society. For instance, Dr. Daphne, who is a former English literature lecturer, from the beginning, has been all for women’s education and empowerment. And just so you know, now, they are blessed with three children.
Achievements and Awards
Dr. Pillai has gotten a lot of awards for his work in the education scene of the country, and that is pretty understandable. Like, the University of Mumbai gave him awards in 2007, 2011, and 2012, for expanding the reach of education. And just so you know, in the year 2010, he was one of the Indian delegates who traveled to Brazil to participate in the IBSA Summit, thus establishing himself as a good educator. He has also written the book “EduNation: The Dream of an India Empowered,” where he takes a stand on how to improve the Indian education system. The book was even promoted by people such as Amitabh Bachchan and Anupam Kher, and that alone can tell you how powerful of a book it is.
Talking about something very recent, well, in the year 2015, Dr. Pillai won an Excellence Award for his work in bringing the partnership between the public and private sectors into education. This award was given for his commitment to building educational institutions that are responsive to the needs of society. His life’s work is an indication of how commitment can be converted into quality education for the whole society and not only for those who can afford it, you know?