Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 16: An all-religion and all-party meeting for paying public homage to former higher education minister of Karnataka, Dr V S Acharya, was organized by Karavali Group of Educational Institutions at Karavali College premises near Kottara Chowki in the city on Wednesday February 15.

The meeting was presided over by vice chancellor of Mangalore University, Prof T C Shivashankara Murthy. Hailing Dr Acharya as a visionary, he said that a postgraduate centre of the university is being set up at Madikeri at the behest by Acharya, and that within the next two years, such a centre will also be opened at Udupi.

Managing trustee of Sharavu Lord Ganapati Temple, Sharavu Raghavendra Shastri, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Mangalore division Sanghchalak, Dr Vaman Shenoy, Fr Muller Charitable Institutions administrative officer, Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, MLA, U T Khader, and others paid rich tributes to the departed leader.

MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA, B Ramanath Rai, Venkataramana Asranna of Kateel Goddess Durgaparameshwari Temple, representative of Indian Medical Association, Dr Kailkere Mohandas Bhandary, former MLA, Kumble Sundar Rao, district BJP spokesperson, Monappa Bhandary, former president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Harikrishna Punaroor, former MLC, Balakrishna Bhat, member of All India Congress Committee, P V Mohan, former chairman of Mangalore Urban Development Authority, Suresh Ballal, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee secretary, Ivan D’Souza, president of Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Union, P B Harish Rai, and others were present.

Chairman of Karavali Group of Educational Institutions, Ganesh S Rao, delivered introductory address. The dignitaries present offered floral tributes to the portrait of Dr Acharya kept on the dais. Director of ‘Ranga Bharati’, K V Raman, presented the programme.

Tributes Pour at Sharada Vidyala

Veteran litterateur, Erya Lakshminarayana Alva, who had a close association with Dr V S Acharya, said that he could not immediately assimilate the information that Dr Acharya was no more. He described Acharya as a rare personality, who kept his image clean, and remained committed to truth and honesty, in the midst of changing world, where it is generally accepted that there can be no politics without ample money and power. Erya could not continue talking, as he was overtaken by grief.

He was speaking at a condolence meet relating to Dr Acharya’s demise, organized at Sharada Vidyalaya premises on Wednesday February 15.

“Acharya was not a politician alone. He was an expert educationist with a vision for the future. During the last two years, six universities came into existence because of him. Acharya had firsthand knowledge about the needs of the field of higher education, and had plans to meet them. During my two years of association with him, I learnt that he was a good-hearted politician with foresight,” said Mangalore University vice chancellor, Prof T C Shivashankar Murthy.

Ranganath Hegde, who was a classmate of Dr Acharya, explained in a choked voice that Acharya retained the same affection and attachment he had with his friends during his primary school days, till the end. Congress leader, Ivan D’Souza, termed Acharya as a role model, who never lost balance of mind all through his life, in spite of ups and downs, and retained interest in life and politics.

Various other dignitaries including Prof M B Puranik, registrar of Mangalore University, Dr Chinnappa Gowda, Harikrishna Punraroor, Polali Jayaram Bhat, and Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, were present.