Mangaluru: Dr K. Sudhakar Shetty, one of the pioneers of modern psychiatry in India and a revered figure in mental healthcare in coastal Karnataka, passed away due to age-related illness on February 7, 2026. He was 93. Dr Shetty devoted an extraordinary 52 years of service to the Department of Psychiatry at Father Muller Hospital, Mangaluru, leaving behind a legacy defined by compassion, ethics, and unwavering commitment to patient welfare.
Born on April 16, 1933, Dr Sudhakar Shetty was a trailblazer in Indian psychiatry at a time when mental health was poorly understood and often stigmatised. He belonged to the inaugural batch of MD Psychiatry at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, making him India’s first MD psychiatrist from the country’s premier medical institution. His academic achievement placed him at the forefront of mental healthcare in post-independence India, where he would go on to shape both clinical practice and professional values.
Pioneer of psychiatry at Father Muller Hospital
In 1965, Dr Shetty laid the foundation for the Department of Psychiatry at Father Muller Hospital, Mangaluru. What began as a modest initiative grew into a respected centre for ethical and patient-centred mental healthcare under his guidance. Over the decades, he not only built a department but also nurtured a culture rooted in empathy, dignity, and holistic healing.
For 52 long years, Dr Shetty served Father Muller Hospital with humility and integrity, always placing the needs and dignity of his patients above personal recognition. His approach to psychiatry went beyond diagnosis and medication; he believed deeply in listening, understanding, and offering reassurance to those struggling with mental illness and emotional distress.
Touching countless lives across generations
Over five decades of clinical practice, Dr Sudhakar Shetty touched the lives of lakhs of patients and their families across the region. Many recall him as a doctor who offered not just treatment but enduring mental solace. His calm demeanour, ethical clarity, and deep compassion reassured patients at their most vulnerable moments.
Colleagues and students remember him as a mentor who led by example. He inspired generations of medical professionals to view psychiatry not merely as a clinical discipline but as a humane vocation demanding patience, respect, and moral responsibility.
A legacy of ethics, empathy, and service
Dr Shetty’s contribution to Indian psychiatry extends far beyond institutional milestones. At a time when mental illness was often misunderstood and marginalised, he worked quietly and consistently to normalise psychiatric care, reduce stigma, and advocate for patient dignity. His legacy lives on in the standards he set—of ethical practice, empathy-driven care, and lifelong dedication to healing.
He will be remembered not only as a great psychiatrist but as a deeply humane physician whose life embodied service and compassion. The values he instilled continue to guide the Department of Psychiatry at Father Muller Hospital and the many professionals he mentored.
Family and last rites
Dr K. Sudhakar Shetty is survived by his children, Dr Rajesh Shetty, noted neurologist and Director of First Neuro Hospital, Mangaluru, and Mr Rakesh Shetty, along with his grandchildren.
The last rites will be held on February 8, 2026.
Conclusion
With the passing of Dr K. Sudhakar Shetty, Mangaluru and the medical fraternity have lost a pioneer whose life’s work transformed mental healthcare in the region. His legacy endures in the countless lives he healed, the institutions he strengthened, and the timeless values of empathy and ethics he championed. His contribution will continue to inspire generations to come.