Mangalore: PVS Group head, philanthropist Madhusudan D Kushe no more

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 23: Madhusudan D Kushe (78), chairman of PVS Group, a philanthropist who generously donated to genuine causes and ran institutions for the benefit of poor classes of the society, breathed his last at his residence in Kodialbail here on Wednesday May 22. Kushe is survived by wife, Sarojini D Kushe.

Because of hard work, dedication and business acumen of Kushe, who took over reins of PVS Beedies, which was set up by the late Puttu Vaikuntha Shet, the concern grew in leaps and bounds and came to be known even at international level. Kushe was 21 when he took charge of the concern.

Under his leadership, PVS Beedies exported its product to foreign destinations like Switzerland, Germany, Australia and Gulf countries.  He was the founder of sister concerns functioning under the PVS banner, like PVS Exports, PVS Printers etc, besides founding PVS Memorial Charitable Trust, which set up a number of educational institutions. Sarojini D Kushe schools, PU colleges, college, high school at Kundapur, educational institutions at Goa, etc are being run by this trust.

Kushe served the society illustriously by functioning as the managing trustee of Lord Venkataramana Temple in Dongerkery here, leading an organization towards the formation of a separate religious math for Vaisya community, and by discharging duty in various positions in Canara Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also held various positions in Rotary movement, and worked as the president of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Trust Mangalore.

Some of the other organizations with which he was involved include Gandhi Peace Foundation, Eshwarananda Mahila Sevashram, Productivity Council, Karavali Automotive Sports Club, etc. He also had served as the president of All India Beedi Industrial Union for 17 years, and took lead in providing various facilities to workers rolling bidis.  He had also worked in different advisory committees set up by the state and central governments.

PVS Building, constructed under his leadership at Kodialbail in 1976 retained its status as one of the tallest buildings in the region for a long period, before other high rise buildings took over. He constructed PVS Kalakunj in the city in 1971, and was instrumental in the renovation of Tagore Park. He visited a large number of foreign countries. He promoted numerous cultural, literal, fine arts, sports and other creative art forms.

Kushe had received a state level award for promoting national savings scheme. He also had served the government Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore workforce, Karwar Port Development Committee, New Mangalore Port Trust, Board of LIC Policyholders, Mangalore Medical Relief Society, etc.

Management of Bharath Beedi Works, which has expressed grief at the demise of Madhusudan Kushe, has declared a day’s holiday on May 23 in his honour. Pejavar Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji, Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade, former union minister, B Janardhan Poojary, union minister, M Veerappa Moily, Rajya Sabha member, Oscar Fernandes, ministers, B Ramanath Rai, U T Khadar, Abhay Chandra Jain, and Vinay Kumar Sorake, MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLAs, J R Lobo and B A Mohiuddin Bava, MLCs, K Monappa Bhandary and Capt Ganesh Karnik, Konkani Sahitya Academy president, Kasargod Chinna, former central Kannada Sahitya Parishat president, Harikrishna Punaroor, leaders of different political outfits, dignitaries, and office bearers of various organizations,  have expressed condolences at Kushe’s demise.