Shantaveri Gopala Gowda
Shantaveri Gopala Gowda (14 March 1923 – 9 June 1972) was a socialist politician who was thrice elected to the legislature of Karnataka, in 1952, 1962 and 1967.[1]
He was born in Sagar. He was considered a "famed socialist leader" in Karnataka.[2] He was influenced by Ram Manohar Lohia. His leadership began as early as 1951. He was considered "charismatic" and he "gained many followers".[3]
He mentored several socialists in Karnataka including J.H.Patel,[4] Bangarappa, S. M. Krishna and D. Devaraj Urs,who became the chief ministers of the state. Urs was inspired and understood the depth of Gopala Gowda's mind and life which was devoted to the poor and working classes, especially the farmers. The Land reforms act and renaming of the state from Mysore to Karnataka are thanks to his association with Gopala Gowda.
Upon the publication of a biography of him, N. Dharam Singh, chief minister of Karnkata, said that "the agitation and the political contribution of the late Shantaveri Gopala Gowda are significant in the history of the Legislature".[5]
He was a firebrand politician who knew the culture of the land, and being a villager himself was appealing to the ‘Raitha Samudaya’(Farmer community) of Karnataka. A well read person with a strong love for the Kannada language, he had been a friend to many intellectual and sensitive literary figures of Karnataka like poet Gopalkrishna Adiga, Jnanapith awardee Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, versatile journalist Late P. Lankesh, and Ryot leader M. D. Nanjundaswamy. In fact, Dr. Ananthamurthy wrote the novel by name ‘Avasthe’ meaning ‘state of life’. It was also made into a sensitive movie, with actor Anant Nag playing the main role. A real idealist, dare devil leader; and the famous ‘Kagodu satyagraha’ is evergreen in the minds of people, more so in the minds of farmers of Karnataka. His death at an early age actually brought an almost abrupt end to the socialist movement in Karnataka. M. D. Nanjundaswamy, to some extent carried on his shoulders what Gopala Gowda would have done. Gowda’s political role was pivotal in a country like India which boasts to be the country of Farmers.
References
- ↑ "Araga Jnanendra set to do a hat trick?". The Hindu (Chennai). April 23, 2004. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ↑ "Bangarappa pulls a favourite son act". India Today. 1992. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ↑ Naik, Murahari D. (1989). Agrarian Unrest in Karnataka. Volume 4 of Sociological Publications in Honour of K. Ishwaran. New Delhi: Reliance Publishing House. ISBN 9788185047454.
- ↑ "Patel was a flamboyant politician known for sharp wit". The Indian Express (Mumbai). 13 December 2000. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ↑ "Books on three parliamentarians released". The Hindu (Chennai). January 2, 2005. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
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