K. N. Kesari

Who was K. N. Kesari?

Dr K. N. Kesari was an Indian physician, social reformer, philanthropist, author, magazine editor and patron of music. His Kesari Kuteeram Ayurveda Oushadasala, an ayurvedic medicine manufacturing unit which also featured a music academy, was a landmark in Madras.

He was born in Inamavamelloor in Ongole District of present day Andhra Pradesh as Kota Narasimham. His father dying when he was five years old, his mother had to face severe hardships to bring them up. When he was 11, he ran away from home and reached Madras city. The story of his childhood was published in his memoir, Na Chinnanati Muchchatlu.

Kesari succeeded in getting a scholarship to the Hindu Theological School and studied there. His mother joined him in the city in 1889 only to die a few months later.

In 1928 he founded and became editor of the Telegu magazine Gruhalakshmi, which encouraged women to engage in society and politics, fostered writing talent in women and sponsored the Gruhalakshmi Swarnakankanam award for women writers.

In 1943 Kesari took over the management of Mylapore Telugu Elementary School in Madras and provided an endowment which enabled it to be elevated to high school status. His educational philanthropy expanded in 1951 when he founded the Kesari Education Society, a charitable trust which now runs several schools.