Eminent psychiatrist Ashok Pai dies at 69 – Times of India

SHIVAMOGGA: Noted psychiatrist, chairman of the state’s mental health task force and award-winning film producer, Dr KA Ashok Pai, died of a massive heart attack in Scotland in the early hours of Friday. The 69-year-old was at an international conference with his wife Dr Rajani Pai.

According to his family, Pai, who landed in Scotland three days ago, had a heart problem on Thursday night and was rushed to hospital where he passed away. His body is expected to reach Shivamogga on Saturday or early Sunday.

Pai was committed to promoting mental health among people and set up the Manasa Trust, which treated lakhs of patients suffering from mental diseases. He would produce films which highlighted the problems of mental health. His films Prathama Ushakirana and Kadina Benki and tele-serial Antarala bagged awards.

Pai was a writer, brilliant orator, TV presenter on psychoanalysis, environmentalist/filmmaker Suresh Heblikar said. Pai felt psychiatry shouldn’t be restricted within the confines of a counselling chamber… he wanted to popularize it as a treatment available to all, he added.