Karnataka - Bangalore   

A crusader for the cause of Kannada

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Matinee idol Rajkumar, who spearheaded the Gokak agitation demanding supremacy for the Kannada language in school education, died a day before the 25th anniversary of the launch of the agitation in 1981.

Following the R. Gundu Rao's Government's reluctance to implement the recommendations of the Vinayaka Krishna Gokak report that strongly advocated supremacy for Kannada in all spheres, a large gathering of intellectuals, writers, workers, artisans and journalists convened a public meeting at the Central College grounds here on April 13, 1981 to discuss the future course of agitation which was a low-key affair then.

After discussing the issue at length, the leaders of the "movement" decided to meet the then Chief Minister, R. Gundu Rao, and demand the implementation of the report.

As the leaders left for the Vidhana Soudha, thousands of agitators followed them and attempted to gherao the Chief Minister. But a noted Kannada poet, who was a Deputy Commissioner of Police, exhibited presence of mind and averted a major incident.

Sensing the Chief Minister's stubborn attitude, a team of select leaders headed by the former Vice-Chancellor of Gulbarga University, the late Dr. Ha. Ma. Naik, met Rajkumar and urged him to lead the movement.

Dr. Rajkumar grasped the situation and said, "I am thankful to you. I would not have joined you without an invitation. It is for Kannada. Come what may. Let me have the privilege to die for the cause of Kannada."

The very news of his leading the movement electrified the State, and it was later to alter the status of Kannada.

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