K. Usha P. Rai is the eldest daughter of Sri K. Honnayya Shetty, a prominent journalist from South Kanara. He was the editor of the famous Kannada Weekly `Navayuga` for more than 6 decades and a monthly magazine `Antharanga' for more than 3 decades. Navayuga weekly, started by Sri A. B. Shetty - a freedom fighter and the Health Minister in the Madras Govt. `Navayuga` created history in the field of journalism since the date of its launch in 1921. Being a writer himself Sri. K.Honnyya Shetty wrote few dramas for children, one collection of short stories, and a collection of poems `Mugulu`for children. He was a teacher and adjudged as one of the best teachers of that period in South Kanara.

Usha's mother Mrs. Kedambadi Padhmavathy Shetty was equally interested in literature but as a reader. She was a very pious woman with modern thinking. She treated all her sons and daughters equally and believed in giving equal education to daughters and sons. This outlook enabled K.Ushadevi [her maiden name] to try her hands in many fields. She is good at painting and needlework.

Mrs. Usha P.Rai was born on 23rd May,in the year 1945. She was interested in becoming a doctor but instead she inherited her father's literary talent and became a writer. She showed keen interest towards pen and paper since her childhood. All her earlier writings were for school magazines and competitions. She bagged many prizes in the school in literary compititions. Actually her 1st published article was in English, in the college magazine. Soon out of college after finishing her graduation, she got married to Sri B.A.Prabhakar Rai in 1967. He is also a writer in Kannada and Tulu languages. After her 1st child she did her master's degree in sociology. In 1974, she joined Vijaya Bank as an officer. She served Vijaya Bank in various capacities for 25 years and took voluntary retirement from the bank in the year 1999.

Literary achievements:

Her 1st novel `Anubanda` was serialised in Prajamatha weekly in the year 1974. That gave a boost for her literary pursuit. Managing the house, children and her job she has written 7 novels, 2 collection of short stories, 4 collection of poems,(1 in Tulu) 2 collection of essays besides editing some books and magazines regularly.

She was in the editorial board of `Aisiri' - published during the World Bunt's Convention 2004. She was the editor of `Bolli' - published by Tulukoota, Bangalore, in commemoration with their 25th anniversary. She was the editor of `Sneha Chinthana' quarterly magazine published by Bunt's Sangha, Bangalore; She was the chief editor of Lekaki - quarterly magazine published by the Karnataka Lekakiyara Sangha, Bangalore.

Books published by her are:

Books edited by her:

Most of the themes of her writings are social problems.Life and death haunts her more. she like to write on the subjects of personality developments. Her writings are published in all the leading magazines in Kannada and also some of her articals in English are published in Femina and some other English periodicals. She is also writing in Tulu and her poems and articals are published in Tulu magazines. She gets lot of appreciation from the readers and lot of fan mails from all corners of Karnataka. Besides this her talks and short stories are broadcasted in All India Radio, Bangalore. She has taken part in many Kavigoshti's, and presented papers on various subjects in many seminars on various occasions. Her discussions on women's issues in `Sthri loka`, a popular Doora Darshana programme received good appreciation from the audience. She is introduced in Parichaya programme in Udaya T.V She was the member of Tarangini film award selection committee in 1993. Member of the Anakru Kadanbarishri prashasthi selection committee in 1996.

Besides her literary pursuit she is interested in social service and is helping women through Mahila Dakshata Samiti and Vanitha Sahayavani whenever she gets time. She served as the voluntary counselor at Vanitha Sahayavani at Commissioner's Office, Bangalore. She was also a special police officer designate in the Shanthinagar area. Her responsibilities were to help distressed women who have been harrased/abuse. She counselled them and also assisted them in lodging police complaints

She has been honored by many organizations. She was honored as the President of the Mahila Sahitya Sammelana organised by the women's wing of Kannada Sangarsha Samiti in memory of Dr. Anupama Niranjana, in the year 2000. She was the President of the Kannada Sahithya Sammelana organised by the Shanthinagara area branch of Kannada Sahithya Parishat for the year 2001 As the president of Karnataka lekhakiyara sangha she is doing very good work and recenly she has successfully conducted Akila Karnataka Lekhahiyara Sammelana and Silver Jubilee function of Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha for which she has got tremendous appreciation.