Mangaluru, October 12, 2025 – In the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, where financial barriers often dim the aspirations of young minds, one man's unwavering dedication continues to light the path to education. K Narayana Naik, an 83-year-old retired government school teacher affectionately known as the "Scholarship Master," has spent over two decades post-retirement traversing dusty roads on his trusty old Honda Dream motorcycle, helping more than one lakh underprivileged students secure scholarships worth approximately Rs 5 crore.
Born into a poor farming family in Karpe village, Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada, Naik's own journey to education was a battle against poverty and societal odds. Walking 16 km barefoot to school daily and staging hunger strikes inspired by Gandhian principles to convince his father to let him continue studying after Class 5 and Class 8, Naik went on to earn BEd and MA degrees in Kannada and Hindi. He taught for 38 years across government schools, retiring in 2001 with a modest monthly pension of Rs 40,000 – more than half of which he now channels into fuel for his bike and direct aid for needy students.
What began as informal guidance during his teaching days evolved into a full-time mission after retirement. Every morning at 8 a.m., Naik sets off, covering nearly 100 km daily to visit over 350 colleges and schools annually in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. He doesn't just inform; he immerses himself in students' lives. "I visit poor households and strike conversations with students, sharing chocolates and biscuits with them," Naik shared in a recent interview. "After obtaining personal details of students and their parents, I visit schools/colleges and fill scholarship forms either online or offline. Many students are unaware of the availability of scholarships."
His expertise spans four key categories: caste- and religion-based, merit-based, labor-based, and those from trusts and foundations. Naik verifies applicants' financial backgrounds by home visits, ensuring funds reach the truly deserving, and follows up relentlessly with government departments like Social Welfare and Labour. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, he adapted, visiting 207 institutions in 2021-22 alone. Partnerships with NGOs such as the Suprajit and Dyuti foundations have helped disburse nearly Rs 16 lakh in scholarships annually.
The impact is profound. From engineering and medicine to law and teaching, Naik's interventions have slashed dropout rates and empowered generations. "Education is the key to success and therefore it is essential to make use of all the opportunities available," he emphasizes. "I had to struggle a lot for my studies and it is my life experiences that made me think of ways in which I can help students."
Colleagues and beneficiaries alike hail him as a beacon of selflessness. Hariprasad Shetty, principal of Government First Grade College in Vamadapadavu, who has known Naik for 25 years, said: "He is one of the most selfless individuals I have ever met in my life. Students in rural areas, like ours, have benefited a lot through his efforts. He visits our college very often and conducts orientation for the students about scholarships." Dr. Yogish Kairodi, a lecturer at Alva’s College in Moodubidire who once benefited from Naik's guidance, added: "I would say he is a ‘library of scholarships’ and he has been visiting almost all the schools and colleges in this region for decades. It is truly inspiring that he is continuing his social service, even at this age."
District Education Officer G. Ramesh echoed the sentiment: "His intervention has been pivotal in ensuring that financial hurdles do not cut short the academic dreams of hundreds of students in rural Karnataka." Kinnaje Prabhakar, a member of the Bantwal taluk panchayat, noted Naik's broader philanthropy: "Mr. Naik also donates money to senior citizens belonging to the poorest of poor in villages."
At 83, Naik shows no signs of slowing down. "I don’t consider this service as my work. It is my duty to help poor students to access education," he says firmly. "I consider this as my duty to help poor students find hope through education. I always relate to their struggles and I am trying to give back as much as I can. I might be 80 but I am glad that I am healthy enough to go around doing some good." His story, a testament to quiet heroism, reminds us that true change often rides on two wheels and a heart full of resolve.
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