Dharwad, DHNS: The city bid a tearful adieu to scholar M M Kalburgi on Monday as his mortal remains were laid to rest on the Karnatak University premises with full State honours.

Prof Kalburgi was shot dead by an unidentified man at his residence in Kalyan Nagar in the city on Sunday morning.

A number of academicians, elected representatives, political leaders, teaching and non-teaching staff of the university, students, admirers, writers, friends, relatives and members of various organisations participated in the funeral and paid their last respects. Pontiffs of various Veerashaiva Mutts were present.

The mortal remains of Kalburgi, which were kept at Karnatak College for the public to pay homage, were taken in a procession from Karnatak College to his home ‘Sowjanya’.

Rituals as per the Veerashaiva tradition were performed at the house and the mortal remains were taken to the burial ground behind the botanical garden. Srivijaya, son of Kalburgi, performed ‘aarti’ to the mortal remains of his father, before burying it. Earlier, full State honours were given to Kalburgi after the body was brought to the burial ground.

The police fired three rounds in the air followed by police band rendering the national anthem. A two-minute silence was observed at the burial site. Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree represented the government.

Kalburgi’s wife Umadevi, daughters Poornima, Pratima and Roopadarshi were present. He was buried amidst recitation of vachanas by the pontiffs. Gadag’s Thontadarya Swami, Basava Mrutyunjaya Swami of Kudalasangama, Nijagunananda Swami, Mallikarjuna Swami, Channabasavananda Swami, Basavalinga Swami of Bhalki, Saranga Devaru from Kalaburagi and others rendered vachanas and expressed their condolence.

Senior writers and poets including Channaveera Kanavi, critic Giraddi Govindaraj, Chandrashekar Patil, Siddalinga Pattanashetti, G?S?Amur, Dushyanth Nadagouda, Dr Shamsunder Bidarkundi, Go Ru Channabasappa, Dr K?R?Durgadas, Shanta Imrapur, MLAs Vinay Kulkarni, Prasad Abbayya and others paid their last respects. The shops in Dharwad market downed their shutters as a mark of respect to the slain scholar. Some schools and colleges suspended classes. Members of some organisations formed a human chain in the city in protest against Kalburgi’s killing.

Photo credit: DHNS