Kannada poet, activist and face of Dalit literature in Karnataka, Siddalingaiah died at private hospital in Bengluru on Friday. Siddalingaiah, 67, was admitted to hospital on May 4 and despite treatment he failed to recover.
Siddalingaiah, famous Dalit poet and activist and Karnataka Shaithya Academy Award winner who time and again condemned every state government whenever it mired into controversies and anti-people actions, is the latest well known personality to have lost the battle against Covid related complications.
As per reports, Siddalingaiah was admitted on May 4 following symptoms of Covid and its advancement.
Despite treatment and efforts from medical staff, the 67 year old poet breathed his last.
Treating doctors said that the patient developed pneumonia which later resulted in multi-organ failure.
"Despite best efforts, he succumbed to his illness at 3.45 pm on June 11,” the hospital said through a statement.
Siddalingaiah will be remembered for his works particularly, Holemadigara Haadu, Saviraaru Nadigalu, Meravanige Yaarige Bantu Yellige Banthu Nalavattelara, Swatantra and others.
Recognising his contribution, he was elected to Karnataka Legislative Council for two terms.
From CM BS Yediyurappa to opposition leader Siddaramaiah and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy all expressed condolences.
Taking to Twitter, CM opined that the state has lost a finest Dalit writer.
ಹಿರಿಯ ಕವಿ ಡಾ. ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ ಅವರ ನಿಧನಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ರವರು ತೀವ್ರ ಸಂತಾಪ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ದಲಿತರ ನೋವನ್ನು ಸಮರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ಅಕ್ಷರ ರೂಪಕ್ಕಿಳಿಸಿ, ಅವರನ್ನು ಜಾಗೃತಗೊಳಿಸಿದವರು ಡಾ. ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ. ನೋವಿನ ಕೆಂಡವನ್ನೇ ಒಡಲೊಳಗಿರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಅವರ ಕವನಗಳು ದಲಿತ ಚಳವಳಿಗೆ ಕಾವು ನೀಡಿತ್ತು. (1/2)
While Siddaramaiah wrote that, Siddalingaiah used his writing as a weapon to tighten the government whenever it went wrong.
ಕಾವ್ಯವನ್ನೇ ಖಡ್ಗವನ್ನಾಗಿಸಿ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಸಮಾನತೆಯ ಹೋರಾಟವನ್ನು ಮುನ್ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದ ದಲಿತ ಕವಿ, ವಿಧಾನಪರಿಷತ್‌ನ ಮಾಜಿ ಸದಸ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ನನ್ನ ಆತ್ಮೀಯ ಮಿತ್ರ ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯನವರ ಸಾವಿನಿಂದ ಆಘಾತಕ್ಕೀಡಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
ಸಾವನ್ನು ಮೀರಿದ
ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಮೂಲಕ ಅವರು ಅಜರಾಮರ.
ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ದುಃಖದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನೂ ಭಾಗಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ. pic.twitter.com/ivXQqgzy84