<p>He had spent a day with M P Prakash, who was then a minister in Karnataka, discussing politics of India and relationship between people’s representatives and voters at length. <br />Later in his book, Naipaul wrote, “Prakash wasn't among the top crowd pullers. He had a more sedate reputation as an educated and competent minister, a shrewd and serious politician, yet capable of detachment: someone a little out of the ordinary in state politics.” <br /><br />Prakash breathed his last around 4.30 am on Wednesday. He is survived by his wife Rudramba, a son and three daughters. He was first diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago. He had recovered in recent months and used to participate in Congress party meetings. But he was hospitalised again on February 6, following breathlessness. <br /><br />Governor H R Bhardwaj, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda have expressed grief at the death of Prakash. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has sent a condolence message to Prakash’s son M P Ravi.<br /><br />Prakash was indeed out of ordinary in State politics. He was a socialist, a theatre personality, writer and an actor. He began his career as an advocate in Bellary and was elected to the Assembly from Hadagali in Bellary for the first time in 1983, the year when the first non-Congress government came to power in Karnataka under Ramakrishna Hegde. <br /><br />Since then, he became a minister whenever Janata Party/Janata Dal came to power. He was in the Cabinet of Hegde, S R Bommai, Deve Gowda, J H Patel, Dharam Singh and H D Kumaraswamy. Prakash handled different portfolios including Information, Kannada and Culture, Transport, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Tourism, Revenue and Home. For a brief period, he was the deputy to the then chief minister Dharam Singh in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government. <br /><br />He became minister for Home in the Kumaraswamy government. Prakash was MLA for four terms and MLC for one term. He suffered a defeat in the 2008 Assembly election from Harapanahalli against mining baron Karunakara Reddy.<br /><br />At a very young age, he was influenced by the socialist movement. Prakash was instrumental in setting up many institutions of cultural importance. As minister for Kannada and Culture, he launched Karnataka Nataka Rangayana, the only government-run repertory, in Mysore. <br /><br />As a minister from Bellary district, he played a major role in setting up the Kannada University in Hampi.<br /><br />He built an open-air theatre in Hadagali. Prakash also played a role in the movie Avasthe, based on U R Ananthamurthy’s novel, which featured the life of socialist Shantaveri Gopalagowda. Making the best use of his free time, he translated Utpal Dutt’s popular play Surya Shikari. He also translated Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes’ account of Hampi. <br /><br />Final rites today<br /><br />Prakash will be laid to rest at Hadagali in Bellary district on Thursday. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa said the final rites will be held with State honours. The government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Bellary district on Thursday. The mortal remains of Prakash were kept at Freedom Park in Bangalore on Wednesday for the public and well-wishers to pay their last respects. Later, the body was taken to Hadagali.</p>
<p>He had spent a day with M P Prakash, who was then a minister in Karnataka, discussing politics of India and relationship between people’s representatives and voters at length. <br />Later in his book, Naipaul wrote, “Prakash wasn't among the top crowd pullers. He had a more sedate reputation as an educated and competent minister, a shrewd and serious politician, yet capable of detachment: someone a little out of the ordinary in state politics.” <br /><br />Prakash breathed his last around 4.30 am on Wednesday. He is survived by his wife Rudramba, a son and three daughters. He was first diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago. He had recovered in recent months and used to participate in Congress party meetings. But he was hospitalised again on February 6, following breathlessness. <br /><br />Governor H R Bhardwaj, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda have expressed grief at the death of Prakash. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has sent a condolence message to Prakash’s son M P Ravi.<br /><br />Prakash was indeed out of ordinary in State politics. He was a socialist, a theatre personality, writer and an actor. He began his career as an advocate in Bellary and was elected to the Assembly from Hadagali in Bellary for the first time in 1983, the year when the first non-Congress government came to power in Karnataka under Ramakrishna Hegde. <br /><br />Since then, he became a minister whenever Janata Party/Janata Dal came to power. He was in the Cabinet of Hegde, S R Bommai, Deve Gowda, J H Patel, Dharam Singh and H D Kumaraswamy. Prakash handled different portfolios including Information, Kannada and Culture, Transport, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Tourism, Revenue and Home. For a brief period, he was the deputy to the then chief minister Dharam Singh in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government. <br /><br />He became minister for Home in the Kumaraswamy government. Prakash was MLA for four terms and MLC for one term. He suffered a defeat in the 2008 Assembly election from Harapanahalli against mining baron Karunakara Reddy.<br /><br />At a very young age, he was influenced by the socialist movement. Prakash was instrumental in setting up many institutions of cultural importance. As minister for Kannada and Culture, he launched Karnataka Nataka Rangayana, the only government-run repertory, in Mysore. <br /><br />As a minister from Bellary district, he played a major role in setting up the Kannada University in Hampi.<br /><br />He built an open-air theatre in Hadagali. Prakash also played a role in the movie Avasthe, based on U R Ananthamurthy’s novel, which featured the life of socialist Shantaveri Gopalagowda. Making the best use of his free time, he translated Utpal Dutt’s popular play Surya Shikari. He also translated Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes’ account of Hampi. <br /><br />Final rites today<br /><br />Prakash will be laid to rest at Hadagali in Bellary district on Thursday. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa said the final rites will be held with State honours. The government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Bellary district on Thursday. The mortal remains of Prakash were kept at Freedom Park in Bangalore on Wednesday for the public and well-wishers to pay their last respects. Later, the body was taken to Hadagali.</p>
