Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Dec 15: Renowned Sanskrit scholar, retired principal and staunch Kannada activist of this border district, Khandige Shama Bhat (92), left for heavenly abode on Wednesday December 14. His end came at his residence in Neerchal in the district. He is survived by six sons and three daughters.

Bhat was simple to the core, and a perfect gentleman. After completing primary education in Peradala, he continued his education in Canara High School Mangalore, and passed SSLC from there. He then pursued intermediate course in the government college in Mangalore, before getting postgraduate degree in Sanskrit from Presidency College Madras. He also secured his postgraduate degree in Kannada privately.

He worked as a teacher of Mahajan Sanskrit College Peradala from 1944 to 45, before being promoted as headmaster. He also worked in later years as the principal of the college till 1966. He also served as the manager and correspondent of Mahajana Vidhyabhivriddhi Sangha which operated the above institution, for long.

The name of Khandige Shama Bhat comes among the top activists who fought for the re-alignment of Kasargod, which had slipped out of the then Mysore state, and got included in Kerala. He worked as the president of Karnataka Samiti, president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Kassargod unit, and vice president of Karnataka unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. He served as president and director of several organizations. He had contributed immensely to the field of education, and had worked in the fields of culture and literature. His wife, Saraswati Amma, had breathed her last about three months back.