Credit: DH Photo
Shivamogga: Former chief minister SM Krishna, who passed away on Tuesday had a special connection with the Kudumallige village in Thirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district.
SM Krishna's wife, Prema, is the daughter of Chennappa Gowda and Kamalakshamma from Kudumallige village, located on the Shivamogga-Thirthahalli road.
By the time of their marriage in 1966, SM Krishna was already a legislator from Maddur in Mandya district, representing the Praja Socialist Party.
Kadidal Manjappa's Mediation:
"The marital alliance between SM Krishna from Maddur and Prema from Malenadu's Kudumallige was facilitated by former Chief Minister Kadidal Manjappa. Manjappa's wife Lakshmidevi's brother was married to Prema's sister. Upon learning that SM Krishna was seeking a bride, Manjappa himself informed Krishna's family about Prema. SM Krishna mentioned this in an interview," recalled Prema's relative Devangi Manudev.
"The bride-seeing ceremony took place in Kudumallige. During this occasion, SM Krishna expressed a desire to speak privately with Prema, stating, 'I don't know what changes life will bring. I am in politics, so life will not be easy. Being in the opposition, I might even go to jail.' To this, Prema responded, 'I am ready for all this,' as SM Krishna recounted in the interview," he said.
S.M. Krishna rarely visited Kudumallige. He came when his father-in-law Chennappa Gowda and both brothers-in-law (Prema's brothers) passed away, according to Ramesh Hegde, president of the Shivamogga District Areca Growers' Association.
Upon hearing the news of SM Krishna's demise, a pall of gloom descended on Kudumallige village.