Retired headmaster and veteran theatre personality BPM Bhandary no more

Kumble: Bayaruguttu Manjunath Bhandary (83), a retired headmaster and senior theatre personality, passed away at his residence in Panjala in Puthige here on January 26.

He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Popularly known as BPM Bhandari, he worked as a teacher at ASBS Ichlampady School in Kalathur for 26 years before retiring as its headmaster in 1995.

He was a founding member of SKS Arts and Sports club in Puthige, which is currently celebrating its golden jubilee. He was also the president of the Puthige panchayat unit of Bantara Sangha, director of Angadimogaru co-operative bank, working president of Brahmakalasha Samiti, and the renovation of Puttige Sri Subraya temple.

For his contribution to the theatre, he was recognized with several awards including the title of Ranga Chakravarti from an organization based in Nerul, Mumbai. Besides this, he had authored several plays and was the founder of two theatre associations, MN Balaga and Mayura.