Litterateur Kalburgi shot dead

Gunned down point-blank at his residence

In an incident that shocked the State, two unidentified persons shot dead litterateur and advocate of rationalism Professor M M Kalburgi (77) at his home here on Sunday.

According to family members, Prof Kalburgi was speaking over his cellphone at his residence “Soujanya” at Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad around 8:30 am.

The killer is said to have come in the guise of a student and called out for Kalburgi.
There was a knock on the door, and when he opened it, he was shot on his forehead at point-blank range.

“We heard two gunshots and rushed to the verandah. My father was lying in a pool of blood. Neighbours rushed to our house and rushed him to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival,” said Prof Kalburgi’s daughter Roopadarshi.

There was no lead on  the assailants as only Prof Kalburgi had seen them.
Roopadarshi, Prof Kalburgi’s wife Umadevi and his grandson were in the house when the incident took place.

The neighbours first rushed Kalburgi to a private nursing home and from there to the district civil hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A team of doctors headed by Dr Gajanan Naik conducted the post-mortem.

Of the two bullets fired at his forehead, one was still inside while the other had exited from the back of the head.

As news of the tragedy spread, a large number of Prof Kalburgi’s friends, colleagues, admirers and members of various organisations rushed to the district civil hospital.
Interestingly, Prof Kalburgi was an associate of rationalist Govind Pansare of Kolhapur, who was killed in a similar manner.

Meanwhile, the police suspect the role of fringe elements in the murder. An outspoken scholar, Prof Kalburgi was in the middle of a controversy due to his remarks about idol worship.


Right-wing outfits like the VHP and Bajrang Dal had considered his views “derogatory”and “blasphemous”.

He had also received threat calls after speaking his views during a seminar related to atheism about one and half years ago. Police had given him security after stones were thrown on his house.

On Sunday, Kalburgi’s mortal remains were kept at KCD College grounds for the public to pay last respects. Family sources said the final rites will be performed at Karnatak University ground at 1 pm on Monday.

IGP (Northern Range) Umeshkumar, who came to the spot, said all the CCTV footage in the area would be screened for any leads. Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Ravindra Prasad said some unidentified person had fired at Kalburgi. The investigation into the case has already begun. A special team comprising five inspectors and headed by ACP has been formed, he said.

Police sources said the CCTV camera at a bank in Kalyan Nagar has recorded two youth aged between 24 and 28 years, wearing black attire and riding a motorcycle, moving in the area in a suspicious manner. But it would be premature to say anything at this juncture, they added. Dharwad Vidyagiri police have registered a case and are investigating. DCP (Law and Order) Jinendra Khanagavi and DCP (Crime and Traffic) A S Ghori visited the spot and were supervising the investigation.


Star in literary world

Prof M M Kalburgi was an erudite scholar, renowned researcher and an authority over Vachana literature

An expert on scripture, Halegannada (old Kannada), grammar, literature, culture and folk arts among others

 He was chief editor of Samagra Vachana Samputa published by the State government

Recipient of prestigious awards like Pampa award, Vardhamana award, Karnataka and Central Sahitya Akademi award and Rajyotsava award

Served as a member of Karnatak University senate, syndicate and academic council. He was appointed vice-chancellor of Hampi Kannada University


Possible motive

Kalburgi was known for his outspoken attitude, which stoked controversy several times
n His remarks about idol worship had angered the right-wing outfits

The manner in which Kalburgi was murdered is similar to the murder of rationalist leader Govind Pansare of Kolhapur