‘God Is the Master of Death’: DK Shivakumar Pays Tribute to Departed Leaders, Announces Irrigation Project in D Sudhakar’s Name
Bengaluru, August 13: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday paid tribute to recently deceased political leaders, dignitaries and achievers during a condolence motion in the legislature, reflecting on the inevitability of death and announcing that a minor irrigation project would be named after his close friend D Sudhakar.
“God is the master of death and the gardener of this world. We sow our seeds in this garden, grow according to our nature and eventually depart in death,” Shivakumar said as the Assembly session began on Thursday.
Speaking during the condolence motion to honour recently deceased dignitaries, political leaders and national achievers, Shivakumar invoked verses and sayings while remembering those who had died.
He said birth and death were beyond human control and that only the life lived between them belonged to an individual.
Recalling D Sudhakar, Shivakumar described him as a close friend of the same age and said no one had expected his life to end so soon. He said Sudhakar had wanted to see him become Chief Minister and had told him that it did not matter even if he was not made a minister in his Cabinet.
Shivakumar recalled Sudhakar’s month-long struggle before his death and said efforts had been made to save him after complications arose when he went for leg surgery, but they were unsuccessful.
He also recalled an incident from his tenure as Cooperation Minister in the SM Krishna Cabinet. After a cooperative week programme attended by Vilasrao Deshmukh, a senior officer had recited a Sanskrit verse to him and advised that every moment was precious and that one should not wait to do good. Shivakumar said the officer died of a heart attack the following morning, an episode that reminded him that no one was immortal.
Shivakumar said Sudhakar was a gentle, smiling politician and recalled his contribution during the Bharat Jodo Yatra when rain caused difficulties. He said Sudhakar mobilised workers and helped make the yatra successful, and that Rahul Gandhi later spoke to Sudhakar’s family and offered condolences.
He said Sudhakar had handled the Planning and Statistics and Muzrai portfolios, before the Muzrai portfolio was later given to Ramalinga Reddy. According to Shivakumar, Sudhakar had told him that he could work for him even without holding a ministerial post.
Announcing a memorial initiative, Shivakumar said Sudhakar had several aspirations for irrigation development and that legislators from Chitradurga district had sought progress on an important irrigation project. He said he had decided to name a minor irrigation project after Sudhakar to perpetuate his memory.
Remembering former minister Venkataramanappa of Pavagada, Shivakumar said they used to call him “Thola”. He recalled Venkataramanappa’s service as minister for small industries, sericulture and textiles, his struggle for drinking water and his efforts for the Tumakuru-Rayadurg railway project.
Shivakumar also paid tribute to Ramachandra Gowda, describing him as a relative and a gentleman politician. He recalled knowing him from the time Gowda was a corporator and Shivakumar a student leader, and said Gowda was a close aide of BS Yediyurappa, remained simple through five decades in politics and was known for discipline and integrity.
He said Ramachandra Gowda travelled across Karnataka to build the BJP and served five terms as an MLC. Recalling Gowda’s resignation as medical education minister after facing allegations, Shivakumar said he had advised him not to take a hasty decision, but Gowda insisted on resigning and facing an inquiry because of his commitment to morality, and was later cleared of the allegations.
Paying tribute to Chennamma, wife of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Shivakumar said there had been discussions over her funeral but he had firmly decided that it should be held with full state honours. He described her as someone who lived a simple life and said her life exemplified the role of a woman behind a successful man.
He said Chennamma’s guidance had contributed to Deve Gowda becoming Prime Minister and to their children serving the people of Karnataka. Irrespective of whether the family was in power, it remained engaged in public service, he said, adding that the family deserved respect.
Shivakumar also remembered Hanumanthappa, saying they had been close and had stayed in rooms 108 and 110 respectively at the General Hostel. He said Hanumanthappa had chaired the Railway Commission, guided Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, helped lay the foundation for the party office in Chitradurga and pressed for the purchase of Nijalingappa’s property.
He recalled Syed Yasin, son-in-law of Jaffer Sharief, saying Yasin had served as an MLA alongside him for three terms. He also remembered former minister Venkatachalaiah, with whom he had served as a zilla panchayat member before Venkatachalaiah became an MLA, and former minister Veeranna, whom he described as Ugrappa’s father-in-law and a politician known for efficiency and integrity who entered politics in 1972 and became a minister in 1983, including serving as prisons minister.
Shivakumar also paid tribute to singer S Janaki, describing her as a voice that gave expression to love, pain, devotion, motherhood and friendship. He said artists live on through their work and recalled being surprised when her family told him that she had wished for her last rites to be performed in Mysuru. He also referred to Hindi film singer Asha Bhosle while speaking about singers becoming immortal through their voices.
The Chief Minister also remembered former ministers and legislators V Srinivasan, KR Srinivasaiah and HS Puttaranganath during his address.
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