Bengaluru: Come Ugadi and Deepavali festivals, come postal greeting cards by Satyanarayana Nadig, a veteran journalist, educationist, and social worker, involved with literary and cultural activities and whatnot. Writing letters is a forgotten practice of the bygone era. Most kids of the present generation haven't even seen the yellow postcards of the Posts and Telegraphs Department of the Union Government. However, Satyanarayana Nadig has made it a religious practice to post beautifully handwritten postcards with festival greetings.
An active nonagenarian: This has been the practice of the nonagenarian Satyanarayana Nadig for several decades and he hasn't desisted from the fond habit despite his advanced age. Srivatsa Nadig, senior scribe and his son informs-"Age hasn't become a hindrance to my father. Even at this age, he leads an independent life doing the daily chores all on his own. Only recently, he has been down with some peculiar ailment and is undergoing treatment for the same".
A busy person always: Satyanarayana Nadig has always been a busy person ever since his young days. His practice had been to be engaged and keep moving; neither sitting nor standing at the same place for long. His father used to keep joking at his predicament of being on the run and always used to have a dig by claiming that Satyanarayana Nadig has a wheel in his legs! Maybe, such nature has always kept him engaged and busy day in and day out.
Malladihalli Swamiji became a source of inspiration: For being in Malladihalli on central government service he came under tremendous influence of Sri Raghavendra Swamiji's life and activities. By then Sri Raghavendra Swamiji had opened a kindergarten, primary and high school, PUC college, Yoga institute, Physical education college, Teachers training institute, destitute home, Dhanwantri free health centre and many other institutions in Malladihalli. These activities motivated Satyanarayana Nadig to do something for the benefit of the villagers around Santhebennur. Thanks to his vision of ensuring education in his native village he quit government service in 1960 and formed the Vijay Yuvaka Sangha at his native place, Santebennur.
A series of educational institutions: To achieve his vision, Satyanarayana Nadig to begin with started sports activities, a library, and a Hindi institute. In 1964, he began the Rural Shishuvihar, Rural Primary School in 1967, Vijaya Girls High School in 1973(now it's a co-education school). After several years Satyanarayana Nadig started the Vijaya Pre Primary Teachers Institute and Vijaya Physical Training Centre. About 700 students are studying in these institutions.
As a Journalist: Satyanarayana Nadig began his journalism profession by becoming an Agent cum Reporter for Janavani in 1954. He later became a Correspondent of Tayinadu, Samyukta Karnataka, Kannada Prabha, Indian Express, Prajavani, Deccan Herald and many other newspapers highlighting the problems of his region. His stint with the print media also enabled him to become close to the then media legends like Khadri Shamanna, and S V Jayasheela Rao among many others. He also had an opportunity to travel with S V Krishnamurthy, Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Grameena Vani in 1988: Satyanarayana Nadig launched his own Grameena Vani newspaper to dwell on the issues plaguing the rural areas and struggled to run it for five years despite adverse financial conditions. He was also actively associated with the Shivamogga District Journalists Association and also served as the President of the Chennagiri Journalists Association. He also launched the Udyoga Nota fortnightly in 1996 from Bengaluru. Despite multiple decades into the profession, his zeal and enthusiasm remain unchanged despite never-ending odds on the path.
About 10,000 books in the libraries: Satyanarayana Nadig launched the library in Santhebennur much before he started other educational organizations. He was instrumental in developing a reading habit among the rural folks. Thanks to his untiring efforts in this regard, the number of books available in the public library and libraries of the educational institutions founded by him, is more than 10,000. He also served as a Member of the Shivamogga Central Library.
Literary activities: Satyanarayana Nadig became a Member of the renowned Karnataka Sangha in Shivamogga around 50 years back. He also functioned as a Taluka Representative of the District Sahitya Parishat. It was during this tenure that he made all teachers of the Vijay Yuvak Sangh institutions, the general public and officers life members of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat.
A record of literary conferences: Thanks to the enthusiasm and initiatives of Satyanarayana Nadig, the teachers of Vijay Yuvak Sangh group of institutions and other interested public took part in the All India Kannada Sahitya Parishat conferences. It was with his enthusiasm and initiative that the first ever Chennagiri Taluk Kannada Sahitya Conference took place in 1999. That was just a humble beginning paving the way for a record number of 11 Taluk Sahitya Conferences so far.
Santheennur transforms into a literary and cultural centre: Satyanarayana Nadig did not confine himself to the roles of being a journalist or handling the affairs of the Vijay Yuvak Sangh group of institutions. Thanks to his variety of activities across any number of spheres, Santhebennur, hitherto a sleepy town rose to the level of taking shape as a literary and cultural centre. He made use of every occasion and celebration to rejoice in literary and cultural events. If deserving Teachers are felicitated on the eve of Teachers Day, likewise all those serving the language and society are feted on the state formation day celebrations.
Foundation to an array of activities: During the annual Ganeshotsava festival, music, dance, Harikathe, drama and other entertainment programs are held daily. These activities not only helped encourage budding artists but also allowed local and surrounding village people to enjoy several art forms. Competitions are being held during Children's Day celebrations to spot young talents and kids are encouraged to conduct the programs by themselves. Almost all national festivals are celebrated in a befitting manner and thereby a foundation for year-long activities has been laid by Satyanarayana Nadig.
Born in Santebennur: Satyanarayana Nadig was born at Santebennur of Chennagiri Taluk, hitherto in Shivamogga district on 15th June 1933 to Rangamma and Govindrao Nadig couple. Venkamma, Sunandamma, and Lalitamma were his sisters while Nadig Jayaram, Dr N Raghavendra, and Sumatindra Nadig were his brothers. Late Nadig Padmanabharao was his father's elder brother and Nadig Gururao was the younger brother of his father.
Education in Government schools: He finished his Primary and secondary education at different state government schools in Bhadravati, Santebennur, and Shivamogga and did his intermediate course from the R C College in Bengaluru.
Government service from Malladihalli: Satyanarayana Nadig joined central government service in 1955 by joining the Posts and Telegraphs Department in Malladihalli and became quite popular among the local populace due to his gentlemanly nature and sincerity in performing the duties. Just behind his residence cum office was the "Anatha Sevashrama" founded by the late Sri Raghavendra Swamiji. The Swamiji was very fond of Satyanarayana Nadig, while the latter had daily darshan of the former.
Marriage in 1960: He got married to Ramabai, daughter of Padmavatamma and Gururao Deshpande on 17th February 1960. Gururao Deshpande was a retired Head Master of Government School and retired Education officer. He has two children, Bharati, the eldest daughter married to Srinivas working with Punjab National Bank; and Srivatsa Nadig married to Mamata, is a journalist having had stints with Kannada Prabha and Vijaya Karnataka.
Inputs Courtesy: Srivatsa Nadig and H Neelappa.
-Manohar Yadavatti
I have known him for the last decade or so. Very inspiring person. As you said, he sends greetings on postcard for all major indian festivals. Recently, I met him in his house. Same kind of enthusiasm was visible. Pray God to give him long life with good health 🙏🏼Dr B S Srikanta
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