Moodbidri: Distinguished Writer, Activist, K J Shetty Kadandale, No More

News & Pic: Shekar Ajekar
Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Sep 16: K J Shetty Kadandale (80), an excellent writer and journalist driven by fierce ideologies, an activist with genuine concern for people, retired teacher and film producer, breathed his last at his residence in Kadandale near here on the evening of Wednesday September 15. He is survived by wife, five sons and five daughters.

Kadandale Jayaram Shetty, born in Parari, Puttigeguttu in Kadandale in 1930, earned name and fame through well-written short stories, novels, poems, satirical and light-hearted articles etc. Initially, he went to Mumabi when he was 15, and returned to accept teaching as profession. However, he voluntary retired after serving as a teacher for 20 years.  He had spearheaded an agitation against factory manufacturing colours, which was planned to be set up in Kadandale, by forming Shambhavi River Environment Protection Committee. He also was jailed for 18 days in this connection. He was an excellent achiever, had rare will power and was blessed with immense inner strength. Till his last breath, he remained loyal to his ideologies and refused to barter honesty and ideologies for money.

Tulunada Siri and Abbaga Daraga were among the works he authored, based on Paddanas. Eight collections of his comic articles have been published. His own novels, ‘Varadaskhine’ and ‘Tulunada Siri’ were produced by him as Kannada movies, but he suffered losses as a film producer. He also worked as the editor and publisher of a monthly named ‘Chandana’ for 15 years and editor of a Kannada evening newspaper, ‘Karavali Mitra’.  He always forcefully condemned injustice, and encouraged budding writers. He used to run the columns, ‘Hosarangu’ in Hosa Sanje, and ‘Aranya Kanda’ in Vijaya Kirana dailies. He was regular contributor to Udaya Deepa, Vaarada Rajakeeya and Karavali Maruta periodicals.

After his close friend, journalist, Ashraf Valphady, started publishing a newspaper, ‘Namma Bedra’, he used to contribute to his regular columns in spite of illness. This week too, he got the article written, by dictating it to his grandson. Sharp wit, satires that poked at the politicians, and strong messages even in light hearted articles, were the unique features of his writings.  He used to write articles on politics with the pen name, ‘Sanjaya’.

Kadandale had won Karnataka Patrika Academy award, district level Rajyotsava award, and Jayanti Kurkal award in Mumbai. He had been felicitated by Dakshina Kannada District Pressmen’s Association and Moodbidri Working Journalists Union, among others. He also had presided over the Karkala Taluk Kannada Sahitya Sammelan in 1997.