Noted Kannada poet Siddalingaiah no more
BENGALURU:
Noted Kannada poet Siddalingaiah died on Friday due to COVID-19 related ailments, sources close to him said.
Popularly known as ‘Dalita Kavi’ (Dalit Poet), he was 67. He is survived by wife, a son and a daughter.
According to the sources, he was admitted to a private hospital for over a month and had been on ventilator support for some time now.
His wife too was infected by COVID and has recovered.
Siddalingaiah was poet, playwright, essayist and a Dalit activist, and was one of the founders of the Dalita Sangharsh Samiti.
His notable works include Holemadigara Haadu, Saaviraaru Nadigalu, Kappu Kaadina Haadu and Meravanige, among others.
He had written plays like Panchama, Ekalavya, and one of his popular essays was Gramadevathegalu.
Several of his works have been translated into English and other languages and his Ooru Keri- an autobiography had won him the Sahitya Akademi Award.
Siddalingaiah is also a recipient of Pampa Award- the highest literary award in Kannada, presented by the State government, Nadoja Award by Hampi University and Rajyostava Award, among others.
He had also chaired the 81st Kannada Sahitya Sammelana (a premier gathering of Kannada literature) held in Shravanabelagola.
He had also served as the member of the Karnataka Legislative Council and Chairman of the Kannada Development Authority, a post with Cabinet rank, and had taught Kannada at Bangalore University.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ramnath Kovid has condoled the death of Siddalingaiah.
Dr. Siddalingaiah will be remembered for his prolific writings, poetry and contributions towards social justice. Saddened by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and many admirers in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 11, 2021
The demise of Dr Siddalingaiah has left a huge void in Kannada literature. An eminent poet, social activist and academician, he became a fierce voice for the poor and marginalized and also enriched public discourse through his writings. My condolences to his family & followers.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 11, 2021
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has condoled the death of Siddalingaiah.
‘In his death, we have lost a great writer with social concern, who strove for the upliftment of the depressed classes,’ the Chief Minister said in his condolence message.
ದಲಿತ ಕವಿ ಎಂದೇ ಖ್ಯಾತರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಡಾ.ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ ವಿಧಿವಶರಾದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ತಿಳಿದು ಅತೀವ ನೋವುಂಟಾಗಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಸಾಧಕರೊಬ್ಬರು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಅಗಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅವರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಸದ್ಗತಿ ಕೋರುತ್ತಾ, ದೇವರು ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬ, ಅಪಾರ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳಿಗೆ ದುಃಖವನ್ನು ಭರಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ನೀಡಲಿ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಓಂ ಶಾಂತಿ
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) June 11, 2021
ಹಿರಿಯ ಕವಿ ಡಾ. ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ತಿಳಿದು ತೀವ್ರ ಬೇಸರವಾಗಿದೆ.
— H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) June 11, 2021
ದಲಿತರನ್ನು ಜಾಗೃತಗೊಳಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ ಡಾ. ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯನವರ ಕೊಡುಗೆ ಅಪಾರ. ದೇವರು ಅವರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಶಾಂತಿ ನೀಡಲಿ, ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬದವರು ಹಾಗೂ ನಾಡಿನಾದ್ಯಂತ ಇರುವ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಈ ನೋವು ಭರಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ನೀಡಲಿ.
ಕಾವ್ಯವನ್ನೇ ಖಡ್ಗವನ್ನಾಗಿಸಿ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಸಮಾನತೆಯ ಹೋರಾಟವನ್ನು ಮುನ್ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದ ದಲಿತ ಕವಿ, ವಿಧಾನಪರಿಷತ್ನ ಮಾಜಿ ಸದಸ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ನನ್ನ ಆತ್ಮೀಯ ಮಿತ್ರ ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯನವರ ಸಾವಿನಿಂದ ಆಘಾತಕ್ಕೀಡಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) June 11, 2021
ಸಾವನ್ನು ಮೀರಿದ
ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಮೂಲಕ ಅವರು ಅಜರಾಮರ.
ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ದುಃಖದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನೂ ಭಾಗಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ. pic.twitter.com/ivXQqgzy84
ಬಂಡಾಯ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಬಹುದೊಡ್ಡ ಕೊಡುಗೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದ, ವಿಧಾನಪರಿಷತ್ ಸದಸ್ಯರಾಗಿಯೂ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಿದ್ದ ನಾಡಿನ ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಡಾ. ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ ಅವರ ನಿಧನ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ತುಂಬಲಾರದ ನಷ್ಟ.
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) June 11, 2021
ಅವರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಶಾಂತಿ ಕೋರುತ್ತಾ, ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬ ವರ್ಗ ಹಾಗೂ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಗಲಿಕೆ ಭರಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಸಿಗಲಿ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ. pic.twitter.com/BQ8Jt9Bvrm
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, several of Yediyurappa’s Cabinet colleagues and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, among others, have express grief over Siddalingaiah’s death.
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