MANGALURU: Karnataka Rajyotsava Awardee and former president of Billavara Association, Mumbai, Jaya C Suvarna passed away at his Goregaon East residence early on Wednesday morning. He was 74. He is survived by wife and four sons. His funeral will be held at the Goregaon East on Wednesday itself, said family sources.
He was born at Adve near Padubidri, now in Udupi district, to Chandu Poojari and Acchu Poojarthi in 1946. Suvarna came to Mumbai, after completing his initial education at Adve, to earn a livelihood. He graduated from Shri Chinai College, Mumbai. He purchased Jay Prakash Hotel at Goregaon East in 1974. He was the founder president of the Billava Mahamandala established in 1997, a conglomerate of more than 180 Billava unions and organisations.
From the past decade, he had associated himself with educational activities and helping Billavas get a higher education. He was also the former chairman of Bharat Cooperative Bank (Mumbai) Limited, and honorary president of the administration committee of Shri Kshetra Gejgegiri Nandana Bittil.