The secular vs saffron tussle over naming the 100-ft road in Indiranagar after noted folklorist and freedom fighter Dr S K Karim Khan has gained new life, with his family knocking on the doors of the BBMP to implement a 2006 resolution on the issue.
In 2010, the BJP, which is the ruling party in the BBMP, created a ruckus and demanded that the same road be named after former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Result: BBMP officials and representatives are “inconclusive” over implementing the resolution.
The family points out that Khan’s contribution to Kannada folklore and culture has been immense, resulting in several awards. He single handedly collected thousands of oral epics and ballads and recorded them.
Though a follower of Islam, Khan had profound respect and deep understanding of local mythology and was best remembered for his devotional songs in Kannada which even won state and several other awards. He lived the life of an ascetic as he spent considerable years of his life in a hotel room in Basavanagudi.
Khan’s grand nephew Tanveer Ahmed told Bangalore Mirror, “It has been six years since his death. Yet, posthumous recognition for the literatteur has remained elusive. This is not the way to treat a person who devoted all his life for the language and culture. Not the just folklore, but he was the first to chronicle the history of Bangalore’s founder Kempe Gowda and wrote three books on the life of Kempe Gowda. His song Natawara Gangadhara… won state award. He was presented with the Nadoja award along with Jnanpeeth Awardee Dr Shivarama Karanth. But still nobody knows about his contribution in Bangalore. Should it take six years to name a street after him?”
‘No Personal Interest ‘
Ahmed pointed out that the family members neither have any personal interest nor benefit from the move. “We only hope that a kind gesture by BBMP would help future generations remember a man who did great work for Kannada and culture of the land.”
The state government, which promised several things upon his death, is also yet to deliver on its promises. “During the final rites of Khan, then home minister M P Prakash announced a trust in Khan’s name. Further, the then CM H D Kumaraswamy responded positively. This also has not happened,” Ahmed said.
Khan was born to parents with Afghan-Arab lineage. Despite being a high school dropout, Khan mastered Kannada and Sanskrit and developed indepth knowledge about Hindu mythology and Sanskrit texts. “In fact his works on Kempe Gowda served as major evidence for the union government to rename the BIAL as Kempe Gowda International Airport,” he added.
The family wants the Kannada Development Authority to profile Khan’s life and works and bring it out in the form of a compendium accessible to all. They also suggest a state award to foster communal harmony in Khan’s name.
source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Civic / by Niranjan Kaggere, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / November 22nd, 2013