A.N Upadhyaya Ji

He was born in the family of Jaina Priests (Upadhyaya) on 6 February 1906 in Sadlaga in Chikkodi Taluka of Belgaum District. His primary education in Kannada was provided by his parents.Dr Adinath Neminath Upadhyaya completed his primary education in Sadalaga and Secondary Education at Gilginchi Artal High School, Belgaum. He then went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts with Honours from Bombay University in Sanskrit and Prakrit languages. Later, he moved to Pune for Post-Graduation and joined Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. In 1930, he completed a Master of Arts from the same university in Sanskrit and Prakrit languages.

Dr. A.N. Upadhyaya began his career as a Lecturer of Prakrit at Rajaram College, Kolhapur in 1930. He served full 32 years in Rajaram College and received D.Litt. Degree from Bombay University in 1939. He dedicated himself as Springer Research Scholar of Bombay University from 1939 to 1942. He retired from Rajaram College in 1962 after 32 years of loyal service. Later, he joined Shivaji University as a Professor Emeritus from 1962 to 1971, during this period he served as Dean of Arts Department as well. He worked closely with Dr. A.G. Pawar, then Vice-Chancellor of Shivaji University and also worked hard to lay a strong foundation for newly formed University.

In 1971, Upadhyaya became a founding professor and Head of the Jain Chair at the University of Mysore. In this role, he was the driving force behind the establishment of the University's post-graduate Department of Jainalogy and Prakrit.

Within days of retiring from Mysore University, Upadhyaya died of a heart attack on 10 August 1975 at his home in Kolhapur.