Hubballi: Principal retires after blood donation for 41st time in 33 years

HUBBALLI: With his retirement, Lingaraj Angadi, principal of SJMVS Women’s College, left a noble message to his students. He will retire on September 30 and his legacy is of blood donation.
He donated the blood for the 41st time on September 17, his birthday. He has also authored his autobiography ‘Butthi Bichhidaaga’ and it will be released on September 30. Angadi told TOI that he was inspired by his son, Suchit Angadi, a civil engineer.
“He has donated blood about 62 times, and I am a junior to him in this regard. Blood donation is a noble cause that saves lives and I have also been doing it for the past 30 years,” he said.
“Actually, I started donating from 1989 but the frequency was less, say once a year or so. As my son grew up and formed a team of blood donors, I started donating three-four times a year for the last 8-10 years. My wife Sumangala and daughter Shweta also followed him,” he said.
Prof JM Nagayya, retired Kannada professor of the Karnatak University, Dharwad, commented that Angadi has been a senate, academic council, and syndicate member of KUD and has worked as president of KUD College Teachers’ Association.
“He utilised the first lockdown of Covid-19 pandemic to write his autobiography. Though it’s in a diary style, it is a self-assessment autobiography of Angadi. He has been elected as president of Dharwad district unit of Kannada Sahitya Parishat for the third consecutive term,” he said.
Prof KS Koujalagi, a close friend of Angadi and a senior writer, said Angadi is an amateur cyclist who rides his bicycle for 20-30 kms during weekends and during holidays.
“As an activist for teachers’ rights, he has helped many colleges and teachers get grant-in-aid and other facilities throughout his service. He has been generous to help poor students by paying their fees or providing learning material,” he added.
The college management, students, alumni of SJMVS Women’s College will give a farewell to Angadi on September 30 on the premises in JC Nagar.
MLCs Basavaraj Horatti and SV Sankanur, former CM Jagadish Shettar, mayor Iresh Anchatageri, former MP Prof IG Sanadi and others will be present. Angadi’s autobiography ‘Butthi Bichhidaaga’ will be released on the occasion.