Former Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) president Pundalika Halambi died here on Sunday at a private hospital. He was 64 and survived by wife and two children.
Halambi was ailing from kidney-related issues and was undergoing dialysis. His body was kept for public viewing at his Jayanagar residence and final rites were performed at the Chamarajapet crematorium on Sunday evening.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar, JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy, BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa and others condoled his death.
KSP president Manu Baligar said, “Halambi was a great Kannada worker with a vision based on secularism and honesty. He worked for the cause of land, language and culture.”
Halambi, who called himself an organiser, worked to build a representative body of Kannada, and he occupied the chair when KSP celebrated its centenary year. The work on publication of 100 landmark books in Kannada literature was envisaged during his term.
Halambi did not draw honorarium and refused to take privileges and perks during his three-year tenure as president from 2012-15. He was the 24th president of KSP and also served as treasurer for 14 years.
He realised his dream of making a Dalit writer chair the sahitya sammelana at Shravanabelagola in February last year. For as long as he served KSP, Halambi fought for the primacy of Kannada and did not antagonise the State for the cause.
