10/04/1927 – 01/11/2010

K. Achhabba Master was born on April 10, 1927, to Hammabba and Fatima in Kulavuru, Moolarapatna, Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district. Despite facing poverty, he managed to receive an education, with the funds earned from selling chickens in his yard. His dedication to learning led him to become a teacher at Panemangalore Hayatul Islam School, where he eventually rose to the position of head teacher before retiring.

Beyond his career in education, K. Achhabba Master was actively involved in politics. He served as the President of the Bantwala Taluk Congress Unit in 1967 and maintained close ties with the then MLA Leelavati Rai. Additionally, he held positions as director and secretary of the BC Road Agricultural Service Co-operative Society, where he played a crucial role in ensuring that government benefits reached many impoverished families.

Known for his compassionate nature, Achhabba Master was always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. Villagers would often seek his counsel in times of trouble or dispute, and he gained a reputation as the respected mediator of the town, presiding over informal justice proceedings and earning the title of the “Mutsaddi” of the community.

K. Achhabba Master co-founded the newspaper “Shikshakavani” and served as its deputy editor. A progressive thinker, he emphasized girls’ education and ensured his daughters received higher education. He was humble, avoiding power, and focused on serving as Secretary of the Bantwala Taluk Teachers Association, advocating for educators’ interests at state-level conventions. He had performed Hajj twice.

Acchabba Master, though lacking formal madrasa education, was deeply committed to learning. He taught himself Arabic and Malayalam, and despite his teaching duties, he dedicated time to instructing madrasa students. Although he was a teacher, Master Achabba sat outside that madrasa, listened and watched the children read the Qur’an and gained immense knowledge. And then he used to read the Quran melodiously. He fostered harmony regardless of caste or religion, and many of his students attained prominent positions in society. He lived happily with his wife Saramma, two daughters, and four sons until his passing on November 1, 2010.