Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Feb 20: Senior agricultural scholar, freedom fighter, founder of Indian communist party Addur Shivashankar Rao passed away at the age of 92.

He died at a hospital in Mangalore at 11:30 pm on Tuesday February 19.

He is survived by his son Addur Krishna Rao, author, agricultural expert, bank officer, younger brother Dr Ram Mohan Rao and other family members.

Late Dr A Thimayya, senior doctor and district surgeon, late Dr A Subba Rao, Kerala Irrigation minister, late A Venkata Rao, retired judge were his brothers.

Life of Shiva Shankar Rao

Shiva Shankar Rao was born in Tanjavur, Tamilnadu. He studied at school in Tamil and he continued his studies later in Mangalore. During his youth he was an active participant of the communist movement. For the next five decades of his life, he was completely involved with agriculture and conducted various research programmes.

He grew coconut trees in the land which he obtained. He kept himself busy with agricultural seminars, workshops, interactions with agricultural scientists, officials of the department of agriculture and others. In his entire life, books were his companion.

Rao never waivered under pressure and always had a set goal in his mind. In the year 1999, he bought a computer to his house in Mangalore and he even attempted to learn it. He was a role model to all the youth.