Attavar Balakrishna Shetty(1883-1960)[1] better known as A. B. Shetty was an Indian politician, philanthropist, entrepreneur and the founder of Vijaya Bank.[2]
A. B. Shetty was born in a Bunt family of landlords to Mulki Kalappa Shetty (Father) and Attavar Unhakke (Mother).He completed his early education in Mangalore. Mr. Shetty realising the need for dissemination of news and information about world affairs among people in the erstwhile South Canara district, started a weekly in Kannada "Navayuga" which was edited in its early years by K. K. Shetty and later by K. Honnayya Shetty. The weekly did yeomen service in the field of journalism and was very popular for more than 40 years. In addition Mr. A. B. Shetty was also the pioneer behind the popular printing press called the Canara Printing Press in Mangalore.
Realising the strong necessity of good financial backing for the progress of any community Mr. Shetty established the Vijaya Bank in the year 1931. The bank did well providing job opportunities for thousands of youth and also providing banking service to lakhs of people all over the country. Vijaya Bank is today one of the foremost nationalised banks of India. Deeply secular and progressive in outlook, Mr. Shetty took a keen interest in the activities of the Theosophical Society, the Brahmo Samaj, the Arya Samaj, the Depressed Classes Mission, etc., all of which were engaged in the uplift of neglected sections of society. He married Kalyani Shetty. They had four children: two sons and two daughters. Mr. Shetty was a popular figure in the political, educational & social life of south Canara district for more than 50 years. He also served as Minister in the erstwhile Madras Presidency and later in Madras State holding various portfolios such as agriculture and veterinary, medical and public health, cooperation, housing and ex-servicemen between the years 1949-1956 until quitting the Ministry on March 1 1956 following the States Reorganisation Act of 1956[3]. He spent his last days in Mangalore & died in the year 1960 at the age of 77. Considering his legacy in the development of erstwhile south Canara district a Dental College is named after him in Mangalore.[4]