Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Apr 2: Veteran journalist, staunch patriot, Beluvai Subraya Narayana Mallya (83), popularly known as Be Su Na Mallya, who was living at his Tellar Road residence in the town, breathed his last on Thursday April 1.

Mallya, who functioned as the editor of the weekly, ‘Vikrama’ for 50 long years at a stretch, used to lead a retired life in his home here since about a decade. He had been conferred the ‘Panchajanya Vishisht Samman’ instituted by Panchajanya Nachiketa Foundation, which was handed over to him by the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the year 2002. He had been felicitated by Karkala Taluk Working Journalists Union, Moodbidri Journalists Association, Jaycees, GSB Sabha etc.

Mallya had been a member of the work committee of All Indian Newspaper Society, member of Karnataka  Patrika Academy, besides being the president of Karnataka Small and District Newspaper Editors' Association thrice between 1974 and 1985. He was the first secretary of Karnataka Vishwa Hindu Parishat. He was also involved with various social service organizations, and was the president of Karkala Taluk Kannada Sahitya Sammelan held in the year 2005. He was jailed during the emergency. Mallya, who had fluency in various languages, was a bachelor.

After his death, his eyes were donated as per his wishes. State home minister, Dr V S Acharya, MLA, K Raghupati Bhat, former MLA, V Sunil Kumar and various BJP leaders and activists have condoled his demise.