Dharwad: Writers remembered slain rational researcher Prof. M M Kalburgi on his 79th birth anniversary by releasing books and holding lectures in his memory in the twin cities on Tuesday.
In Dharwad, the Dr. M M Kalburgi Samshodhana Sankula remembered the slain researcher by bringing out Marga-8 (the eighth volume in the series) and other books on Monday evening. In Hubballi, the Dr. M M Kalburgi Sahitya Sampada Vedike organised a lecture on Kalburgi to mark his birth anniversary.
Presiding over the book release function in Dharwad, researcher Prof. S Shettar used the occasion to express his displeasure over the inability of the authorities concerned to trace out culprits behind Prof. Kalburgi’s killing. “Neither politicians nor the police are interested in bringing out the truth. They also lack the willpower and strength to reveal the truth,” he said.
Dr Kalburgi was shot dead at his residence 18 months ago. None of the investigation agencies of the government have been so far successful in cracking this sensational murder nor will they trace the murderers ever, he said. Introducing the book, writer Prof. Siddhalinga Pattanashetti termed the murder of Kalburgi as the “murder of truth and principles”.
In Hubballi
“Kalburgi always advised his students and researchers to understand that the light before you is far more important than the fire beneath your feet and asked them to go for the light,” Prof. Vijayashree Hiremath said here on Tuesday, recalling her association with her mentor.
In a programme organised by the Dr. M M Kalburgi Sahitya Sampada Vedike in association with the Sri Kadasiddheshwara Arts and H S Kotambri Science Institute and the Karnataka Nava Nirmana Vedike, she said Kalburgi’s nature to reveal harsh realities became the reason for his death.
Dr. Kalburgi was a follower of truth and always preached progressive ideas. He was a creative writer and had thrown light on various aspects of history which is a boon to Kannada literature, she remembered.
“He had a hunger for knowledge and this helped him to take up research on interesting facts of history. There is no other research scholar who could match the calibre of Dr Kalburgi”, she added.
‘Murder of ideology’
Senior writer Siddhalinga Pattenshetti said Narendra Dabolkar’s was a murder of progressive thoughts, Govind Pansare’s was murder of ideology and Dr Kalburgi’s was murder of truth and philosophy. Erasing the difference of opinions, the entire literary field condemned the murder of Dr Kalburgi. The government has assured that the murderers would be traced soon but nothing has happened so far, they lamented.
