MYSURU: Veteran journalist and editor of Kannada daily Andolana, Rajashekar Koti, passed away following a massive cardiac arrest at a hospital in Bengaluru on Thursday. He was 71.
Famous as ‘Koti’ among readers, he was a socialist know for fearless writings. He is survived by wife Nirmala, son and journalist Ravi Koti and two daughters. Koti, a native of Huyilagol in Gadag district, graduated from Karnatak University and started his career in journalism with Vishwavani, edited by Patil Puttappa in Dharwad. Later, he worked as a sub-editor for Prapancha newspaper. Koti came in contact with dalit writer Devanoor Mahadeva, Prof M D Nanjundaswamy, Prof K Ramdas, Nelamane Deve Gowda and others and started Kannada-weekly Andolana and stopped the publication during Emergency.
With support from his friends, he converted his weekly into a daily and managed to have his own printing press. Koti identified himself with dalit and farmers movements and was also active in Gokak and Cauvery agitations. He lived in a dalit colony at Ashokpuram and was the voice of the downtrodden and deprived sections.
Andolana’s circulation crossed 50,000 in Mysuru and later the newspaper started editions in neighbouring districts. His stories on the famous Sathyadev murder case and Veerappan left a mark among readers.