H. Ganapatiyappa (91), freedom fighter, socialist, and architect of Kagodu Sathyagraha, passed away at his residence in Vadnala village in Sagar taluk on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife, five daughters and five sons.
He was a recipient of the Devaraj Urs award instituted by the State government. Recognising his contribution to the land reforms movement, Kuvempu University had conferred an honorary doctorate on him.
Mr. Ganapatiyappa spearheaded the peasant uprising in Kagodu, a small village in Sagar taluk. Socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia had also participated in the struggle, which eventually forced the State government to pass laws related to land reforms. After Kagodu Satyagraha, Mr. Ganapatiyappa involved himself in the struggle against mining in Kudremukh and protests staged by ‘bagair hukum’ farmers seeking land ownership rights.
In 1989, he unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election from Shimoga as a Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha nominee. Earlier, he had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly elections from Sorab–Shikaripur constituency in 1952 and from Sagar constituency in 1972, 1983 and 1985.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Kagodu Thimmappa, BJP national vice-president B.S. Yeddyurappa, Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Rathnakar have mourned Mr. Ganapatiyappa’s death.
