Kalburgi's wife declines Basavashri award

Umadevi, wife of slain scholar M M Kalburgi, has declined to accept the Basavashri award from Murugha Mutt in Chitradurga.

In a letter to the Mutt, Umadevi has stated that the family was unable to overcome the shock of Kalburgi’s death and under such circumstances, receiving the Basavashri award would not be proper.

On October 7, the Mutt had decided to confer the prestigious Basavashri award posthumously on Kalburgi who was killed by two unidentified persons on August 30.

In her written reply to the Mutt on October 9, Umadevi refused to accept the award. However, she expressed her gratitude to the Mutt for selecting Kalburgi for the award.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Kalburgi’s son Srivijay said the Mutt had wanted to send a representative to Kalburgi’s house and convince the family to accept the award. “But we are in deep shock and in no condition to accept the award,” he added.