Outspoken Kannada scholar MM Kalburgi shot dead at his residence
Sunday, 30 August 2015 - 6:08pm IST | Place: Dharwad | Agency: PTI
77-year old Kalburgi, a former vice-chancellor of Hampi Kannada University, was rushed to the civil hospital where he died without responding to treatment.
MM Kalburgi Youtube Grab
Noted Kannada scholar and researcher, M M Kalburgi, who often courted controversies with his outspoken stand on various issues including idol worship, was shot dead at point-blank range by two unidentified men at his residence here today.
Two men came on a two-wheeler and knocked at the door of Kalburgi's house and as it was opened, two shots were fired at him on his forehead and chest, after which the assailants fled, Hubli-Dharwad City Police Commissioner Ravindra Prasad told reporters.
77-year old Kalburgi, a former vice-chancellor of Hampi Kannada University, was rushed to the civil hospital where he died without responding to treatment, he said, as the audacious act shook the Kannada literary world. A special team had been formed, Prasad said, adding, the culprits would be caught soon. Forensic and fingerprint experts were also summoned.
Asked if there was "personal or other reasons" behind the killing, he said, only the inquiry would reveal the real motive. Kalburgi, who had won the central and state "Sahitya Akademi" awards, had often stirred a hornet's nest with his remarks on various issues including opposing idol worship and suggesting the need for a better state anthem.
Part of his works on "Vachana"(verses) "literature had also come under criticism of the state's majority "veerashaiva" (Lingayat) community, a liberal Shaivism founded by 12th century philosopher, poet and social reformer Basaveshwara.
Kalburgi had raised the hackles of some right-wing outfits like VHP and Bajrang Dal when he had made certain remarks about idol worship by Hindus that were considered "derogatory" and "blasphemous" by them. He was also a noted epigraphist and won several awards at the state level.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed shock and anguish at the killing of Kalburgi at Dharwad, considered the state's cultural capital. He said Kalburgi was known for his outspoken views and was a progressive thinker. The government has treated the incident "very seriously" and culprits would be traced soon and meted out "strictest punishment" according to law, he said.
Karnataka BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and Prahlad Joshi also condemned the killing of Kalburgi and said the culprits should be brought to justice at the earliest.
Scholar MM Kalburgi Murdered For His Beliefs, Alleges Daughter: 10 Developments
Cheat Sheet | Reported by Sneha Mary Koshy, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Updated: August 31, 2015 16:52 IST
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DHARWAD: The family of renowned scholar MM Kalburgi, who was shot dead on the doorstep of his home in Karnataka on Sunday morning, today alleged that he had paid with his life for his ideas and beliefs. The case will be handed over to the CBI, says the state government.
Here are 10 developments in the story:
1. MM Kalburgi, a former vice chancellor of Hampi University, answered the doorbell at his home in Dharwad at around 8.40 am when he was shot in the forehead and chest.2. The attackers had come on a bike, said Dharwad police chief Ravindra Prasad, and asked for "sir". They are yet to be caught or identified. A Special Investigation Team of the police will investigate the murder.
- The family and friends of the 77-year-old, a well-known let ideologue and rationalist, say he had received many threats to his life, but he had never taken them seriously.
- Because of the threats, Dr Kalburgi was given a gunman as an escort but the cover was withdrawn a year and a half ago. "My father didn't want to stop living for fear of death," said his daughter Ropadhiri.
- The professor provoked the anger of some rightwing Hindu groups by speaking in support of writer UR Ananthamurthy, who had shared that as a child he had urinated on idols.
- Dr Kalburgi's comment that the Lingayat community that he belonged to, is not Hindu, was also condemned by his critics.
- A Sahitya Academy winner, Dr Kalburgi had several run-ins with rightwing groups who called his writings and speeches "anti-Hindu."
- The police have filed a case against an activist of Hindu rightwing group Bajrang Dal, Bhuvith Shetty, for a threatening tweet after the killing.
- Former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, also a lingayat community leader, said: "Whatever be his views, he was a great historian and cannot be replaced. The culprits must be hanged."
- In the last couple of years, there have been at least three such attacks. In August 2013, anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead in Pune while he was out for a morning walk. In February this year, social activist and veteran CPI leader Govind Pansare -- who was holding agitations against toll tax among other issues -- was shot dead in similar circumstances in Kolhapur.
