V. S. Acharya

V. S. Acharya
Dr.V.S Acharya (centre) at a function.
Born	Vedavyas Srinivas Acharya July 6, 1940 Udupi, Karnataka
Died	February 14, 2012(2012-02-14) (aged 71)
Occupation	Higher Education Minister
Spouse(s)	Shanta

Vedavyas Srinivas Acharya (6 July 1940 – 14 February 2012) was a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP) in Karnataka. He was the Higher Education Minister in the Government of Karnataka.

V.S. Acharya was born on 6 July 1940 in Udupi in a traditional Brahmin family. His parents were Vidwan Katte Srinivasa Acharya, a Sanskrit scholar & Smt.Krishnaveni Amma. After finishing his graduation in Medicine from the famous Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, he started his medical profession by opening a private clinic in Udupi and earned fame as a good physician in the town. He married a fellow social worker Dr.Shanta Acharya and the couple had 4 sons and 1 daughter.

Having been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from his childhood, He started his political career in the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh (the predecessor of the BJP). He was first elected as a municipal councillor and then, as president of the Udupi municipal council in 1968. This was the first ever victory of the Jana Sangh in an urban municipality in South India. The BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani later remarked that the Jana Sangh victory in the Udupi municipal council in 1968 laid foundation for the BJP rule in South India and particularly in the state of Karnataka. As the youngest municipal president of Udupi, he was hailed for his pro-active role in the development of the town. He remained municipal president for a period of 8 years and the Swarna river water supply system, Under ground drainage system, Town roads widening etc.were some of his achievements during this period.Under his presidentship Udupi Municipality in 1968 became first in nation to ban carrying night soil by humans.

During the Emergency (1975–77), he was imprisoned for a period of 19 months. After being released, he unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections from Udupi in 1977 and 1980. He was elected as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 1983 and was the floor leader of the BJP Legislature party. He was as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1996 until his death.