Udupi: Veteran Freedom Fighter, B Shambhu Shetty, Breathes His last

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 20: One of the few surviving freedom fighters, B Shambhu Shetty (92), left for heavenly abode on the morning of Friday March 19, after a brief illness. Shetty, who used to stay with one of his daughters in her Bunts Hostel Road residence here, is survived by wife and three daughters.

Shambhu Shetty, born on August 30, 1918 as the eldest son of Kudettor Magandadi Jarappa Shetty and Mulky Bappanaduguttu Appi Shedti, abandoned his education for the sake of participating in the freedom movement. Even after the country got independence, he was actively involved with noble activities like the eradication of untouchability, propagation against liquor consumption, efforts to popularize Khadi etc.

Shetty had won the appreciation of the late Jawarhal Nehru during his visit to Mulky on the occasion of the first general election in 1937, when Shetty had been working as a volunteer of Congress Party. Shetty, who continuously took part in various agitations launched by the Congress Party against the British government, underwent imprisonment at Hindalga Jail in Belgaum and Yerwada Central Jail in Pune. He was very active with the ‘Quit India Movement’ launched in 1942. When a procession in Mumbai  in which Shetty participated, was fired at by the policemen on January 23, 1945, eight people died. Shetty survived miraculously but was beaten up badly by the policemen with canes. He was honoured by the former Prime Ministers, Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi, for his participation in freedom struggle. He was also an invitee to the tea party for freedom fighters, hosted by the President of India at New Delhi on August 9, 2008.

Shetty later worked as a clerk in a textile factory in Mumbai, and rose to be its executive officer. In 1965, he came to the district and settled down in Shirva, where he took up agricultural activities. He had married Ratnavati Heggadti crom Shirva in October 1947. Thereafter, he won an award for raising highest yield of paddy per acre of cultivation in 1985.

Shetty was the first president of the Janata Party in Kaup assembly constituency. He later became the BJP president of the constituency and served Khadi and Village Industries Board in different capacities. Several of his articles were published by leading dailies. His speeches were also broadcast by Akashvani. He was leading a retired life at his daughter’s residence since 1993.

The funeral of Shetty was performed on Friday.