The mortal remains of poet, writer and researcher G.S. Shivarudrappa, who passed away here on Monday, were consigned to the flames with full State honours at Kalagrama on the Jnana Bharathi campus of Bangalore University here on Thursday.
Police personnel fired several rounds in the air as a mark of respect to the 87-year-old distinguished personality. As per his wishes, the last rites took place without any religious or caste-specific rituals.
The ashes will be immersed in the Cauvery on Friday.
A large crowd gathered at Kalagrama to pay its last respects to the poet.
Apart from his family members, writers K. Marulasiddappa (who is Shivarudrappa’s son-in-law), Siddalingiah, Chidananda Murthy and Chennaveera Kanavi attended the funeral.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Women and Child Development Minister Umashree represented the State government.
The former Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar and B.S. Yeddyurappa and the former Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok also paid tribute to the poet.
Besides the Naada Geethe and the National Anthem, “Yede Thumbi Haadidenu Indu Naanu” was the last song that was played before Shivarudrappa was cremated.
Earlier, the body was taken from the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences to the poet’s Banashankari residence, from there to the Kannada Sahitya Parishat in Chamarajpet, and then the Ravindra Kalakshetra for public viewing.
At these places, his students rendered his compositions. Residents of the orphanage run by the poet also came to pay homage to him.
The body was also taken to the Institute of Kannada Studies on the Jnana Bharathi campus where several teaching, non-teaching staff and students paid their last respects.
Shivarudrappa had served as Director of the Institute of Kannada Studies.
