The usual tumult of the theatre artistes died down and the air in the Rangayana campus was filled with grim and sorrow.
For many artistes, tears rolled down when they recalled the successful organising of Bahuroopi theatre festival and children’s summer camp, Chinnara Mela under the leadership of Halemane.
While, others spoke of his future programmes and vision for Rangayana through Karanth’s museum and other additions to its valuble infrastructure - all seemed to hang in the air on Wednesday with the master of these dreams having walked out on life, right in the middle of his journey.
Halemane was among the directors who maintained good rapport with the artistes and knit together as a team, setting aside the differences. Only a few directors could achieve it so far.
The director had a dream to develop the Dharwad unit of Rangayana on par with Mysore repertory.
On Wednesday, his residence in Kanakadasanagar was flooded with who’s who of the literary and academic circles of the city. His academic and theatre friends thronged to pay their last respects.
Early in the evening, the body was shifted to Rangayana campus where the public and the Rangayana staff and artistes paid last respects to their master.
Apart from Halemane’s wife Nanda and daughter, many among the artistes along with deputy director of the repertory Nirmala Mathpathi seemed to be in a state of disbelief and deep sorrow with the sudden demise of Halemane. The Director had arrived from his visit to Shimoga on Tuesday night, sources said.
The journey
Halemane joined the Central Institute of Indian Languages as an Assistant Professor in 1973 and served as a researcher and head of the department of Kannda and Linguistics.
He was the director of State Resource Centre between 1987 and 1991 and member of Karnataka Sahitya Academy in 1995. He received Rajyothsava award in 2005 and was given the Nataka Academy award in 1997.
According to family sources, Halemane experienced difficulty in breathing and acute chest pain at around 11 pm. Just as he was rushed to a private hospital in city, he was declared brought dead.
The last rites of Halemane will be carried out at his native village, Haalugona in Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumkur. He is survived by his mother, wife Nanda, two daughters, two brothers and a sister.
District Incharge Minister S A Ramdas, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta visited Rangayana to pay their homage to the departed soul. Hundreds of his followers, admirers and students also paid their respects. Prof H S Shivaprakash, president designate for Rabindranath Tagore chair, Berlin has also condoled the death of Lingadevaru Halemane.
In his condelence message, Shivaprakash said Halemane carved a niche in the field of academics, literature and theatre.
