Psychiatrist Anand Pandurangi, who took mental healthcare to North Karnataka, dies at 74

Anand Pandurangi, a noted psychiatrist and Karnataka Rajyotsava awardee who carried mental healthcare beyond hospital walls across North Karnataka, died at a private hospital in Dharwad in the early hours of Thursday. He was 74.

He is survived by his wife Anupama, a psychologist, and his son Aditya Pandurangi, also a psychiatrist.

A steady stream of visitors from different walks of life called at his residence in Dharwad's Michigan Compound to pay their last respects. Among them were MP and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, former MLA Chandrakant Bellad and Malikarjun Swami of Murugha Mutt. The cremation was held later that night with full state honours.

An alumnus of Karnataka Medical College, Pandurangi built his career on taking psychiatric care into the community rather than confining it to hospitals. His work included counselling programmes in schools and colleges, mental health camps in towns and villages, and training for teachers to spot mental health concerns among adolescents.

His contributions to the field drew a series of honours, among them 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. In 2018, Karnatak University conferred an honorary doctorate on him in recognition of his service to mental healthcare and society.

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