Rationalists and his Family Bid Farewell to Keshav Shet
Udupi: It was a motley group of people who had gathered at 5 pm on 17th inst. at the Anatomy department of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. There were academicians, business people, doctors and from all walks of life. They were there to bid farewell to Keshav Shet who had passed away that morning from complications caused by a CVA. He had lived his eighty years with dignity and grace worthy of a true rationalist. He had not compromised on rationalism or his self-reliance, His three children two daughters, his youngest son and a son in law were all present. His son had come down from Muscat to take care of his ailing father while the two daughters and the son in law had driven down from Bengaluru to have a last look at their father.
Office bearers of the Udupi Rationalists Association, as well as the Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association, were present along with a few members. They were all there to bid farewell to Keshav Shet whose wish was that his remains should be handed over to the Anatomy department for the promotion of the study of science. Though he was not very much in the public front of our activities he was the source of knowledge and the analytical brain behind our movement for many of us. His hundreds of mails are a testimony to this. He was enjoying his retired life at Kundapur when he had a brain haemorrhage and passed away due to complications arising from that. The members of his family gladly respected their father’s wishes and handed over the body to the department. We, rationalists, wanted to make our point that we are not alone we stand by each other during times of need as well as occasions of happiness. We are a family bound together by common ideals and ties of a commonly shared philosophy of putting things to the test of reason before accepting them. After retirement from a career as an engineer at MIG factory, Nagpur he was in UAE with his children before coming to down to settle at Kundapura.
Keshav Shet had a long and fine innings! He lived his life on his own terms and even after death did so. Farewell, rationalist brother. We shall miss your incisive analysis, well reasoned out comments and your fine company. On behalf of his biological as well as rationalist family we thank the management and staff of Kasturba Medical College for their co-operation in enabling to fulfill the wishes of the deceased.
Narendra Nayak
President Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations
