Born on August 22, 1928, in Kodialbail, Mangaluru, Rai began her career as a high school teacher but soon carved a niche for herself in the world of letters. Over the decades, she authored hundreds of articles in periodicals and magazines, transforming her globe-trotting experiences into compelling narratives in both prose and fiction.

Rai’s body of work, deeply rooted in the ethos of the region, includes titles such as Chittagangina Krantiveeraru (Freedom Fighters of Chittagong), Matte Belagitu (It Dawned Again), Sodaru mattu Itara Kathegalu (Brothers and Other Stories), Internetna Olage mattu Itara Kathegalu (Inside the Internet and Other Stories), as well as collections like Tulu Short Stories Collection – Volume 1 and a widely appreciated Kannada short stories collection.

Her Tulu novels, Desantara and Bonte Derend, were especially praised for their exploration of identity, displacement, and cultural belonging.

Her literary excellence earned her several notable accolades. The Karnataka Women Writers’ Association honoured her with the Triveni Award for Internetna Olage mattu Itara Kathegalu, while her work Otu Yaarige won first prize from Niratha Sahitya Sampada Samsthe. She was also a recipient of the Veerarani Abbakka Award, presented by the Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Association.

Rai’s writing was marked by a deep engagement with social themes and a sharp, empathetic understanding of human relationships. “She was a path-breaking figure in regional literature, especially in bringing Tulu narratives to the forefront,” said a senior member of the Karnataka Sahitya Parishat.

Her passing has been widely mourned across Karnataka, with writers, scholars, and public figures paying tribute to her enduring contributions. Many described her legacy as "irreplaceable" and her presence in the literary world as "unforgettable."

A beacon of coastal Karnataka’s literary tradition, Lalitha Rai will be remembered not only for the words she wrote but for the worlds she brought to life through them.