Veteran freedom fighter Dr Sanjeevanath Aikala no more

Veteran freedom fighter Dr Sanjeevanath Aikala no more

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 7, 2014: Dr Sanjeevanath Aikala, a renowned freedom fighter, former MLA and above all a great patriot, breathed his last at his residence at Karnad near Mulki on February 6, Thursday. Dr Aikala who was 95 was ailing since some time. He is survived by a daughter and two sons.

Dr Aikala who had  his schooling at Satyanarayana  Higher Primary School, Niddodi and the  Government Model School, Mulki,  was greatly influenced by the speeches of freedom fighters Venkatraya Mallya of Bantwal and Karnad Sadashiva Rao. He then plunged into the freedom struggle.  After pursuing Ayurveda studies at Bellary in 1940, he took part in the Quit India Movement and was even jailed for two years in Bellary. He then left his home state and settled in Mumbai  where he  continued his fight for freedom.

Dr Aikala was also a close associate of great socialist leader George Fernandes. He was also instrumental in taking the Jai Bharat Mata School at Punaroor near Mulki to great heights.

In the later years, he joined the Praja Socialist Party  under Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and won the  assembly election from the then Moodbidri-Suratkal constituency in 1962 after contesting from Praja Socialist Party. His term as MLA saw good progress in his constituency through the taking up of a number of projects including the Pavanje Bridge, Polali Gurupur dam, Sankalakariya vented dam etc.

Also a promoter of Kambala, the traditional folk sport, he was also instrumental in organising Aikala Kambala.

Dr Aikala’s funeral was held on Friday morning.