Noted psychiatrist Anand Pandurangi is no more

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Noted psychiatrist and Karnataka Rajyotsava awardee Anand Pandurangi, 74, died at a private hospital in Dharwad in the early hours of Thursday.

Known for promoting community-based mental healthcare in North Karnataka, he is survived by his wife Anupama, a psychologist, and son, Aditya Pandurangi, a psychiatrist.

A large number of people from different walks of life visited his residence at Michigan Compound in Dharwad to pay their last respects.

MP and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, former MLA Chandrakant Bellad, Malikarjun Swami of Murugha Mutt and others were among those who paid last respects.

The cremation was held with full state honours on Thursday night.

An alumni of Karnataka Medical College, Pandurangi took mental healthcare beyond hospitals through counselling programmes in schools and colleges, mental health camps in towns and villages, and training for teachers to identify mental health concerns among adolescents.

His contributions to psychiatry were recognised with several honours, including the Eminent Psychiatrist Award in 2010, the Distinguished Psychiatrist Award for contribution to community psychiatry in 2011 and the Dr. Katiil Appu Pai National Memorial Award in 2017.

Karnatak University conferred an honorary doctorate on him in 2018 in recognition of his contribution to mental healthcare and society.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, former Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti, MPs and former Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai, former Ministers H.K. Patil and Vinay Kulkarni, legislators Mahesh Tenginakai, N.H. Konaraddi and others have mourned his demise.

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