Mangaluru Mourns the Loss of Psychiatry Pioneer Dr. K Sudhakar Shetty
The city of Mangaluru and the broader medical community are in mourning following the passing of Dr. K Sudhakar Shetty, a towering figure in Indian psychiatry. Dr. Shetty, who dedicated an incredible 52 years of service to the department of psychiatry at Fr Muller Hospital, Mangaluru, succumbed to age-related illness on Saturday. He was 93 years old.
A Trailblazing Career in Mental Health
Born on April 16, 1933, Dr. Shetty's legacy is etched into the very foundations of modern psychiatric care in India. He achieved the distinguished honor of being India's first MD psychiatrist from the inaugural batch at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. This placed him at the vanguard of the mental health field during an era when it was frequently stigmatized, misunderstood, and critically under-resourced.
In 1965, Dr. Shetty took a monumental step by establishing the department of psychiatry at Father Muller's Hospital. For over half a century, he served the institution and its patients with unwavering integrity, humility, and selflessness. His professional philosophy was simple yet profound: the dignity and holistic well-being of his patients were always the paramount concern.
A Legacy of Compassion and Enduring Impact
Over the course of his five-decade tenure, Dr. Shetty's influence extended far beyond clinical diagnoses and treatments. He is remembered for touching the lives of lakhs of patients and their families across the Mangaluru region and beyond. His approach to care was characterized by a deep, genuine compassion that provided mental solace—a comfort that often persisted long after the formal consultation had ended.
His work helped destigmatize mental health issues in the community and set a high standard for empathetic, patient-centered psychiatric care. Colleagues and former patients recall a healer whose dedication was as much about listening and understanding as it was about medical expertise.
Family and Final Rites
Dr. K Sudhakar Shetty is survived by his two sons, Dr. Rajesh Shetty—a noted neurologist and director of First Neuro Hospital in Mangaluru—and Rakesh Shetty, along with his grandchildren. The family announced that his last rites will be conducted on Sunday, allowing the community to pay their final respects to a man who gave so much of himself to the service of others.
The passing of Dr. Shetty marks the end of an era for Indian psychiatry. His pioneering work, lifelong dedication, and compassionate ethos have left an indelible mark on the field, inspiring future generations of mental health professionals to carry forward his legacy of care and commitment.
