A Leader B S Y (Who Saw Tomorrow) Inner Pages Single Up111_reduce

BSY: A LEADER WHO SAW TOMORROW A LEADER WHO SAW TOMORROW THE MAN WHO CHALLENGED LIFE AND WON

2

3

WLIINFE ONF AER On February 27, 1943, Bookanakere agriculture. This is the zeitgeist the young 4 village of Mandya district signed BSY breathed in, the ethos he dedicated his a pact with the future. To safeguard life to pursuing...striving hard, failing, but and revivify the legacy left behind by the always rising again to meet the challenge greats....Karnataka looks back in reverence of time. To dedicate power to its real at figures from another cusp of time, figures mission of building lives, building futures. like Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, who Ploughing and watering the world, like a took the world as they found it and worked farmer at his field. on it like a potter at his clay. It falls upon the This coffee-table book is an attempt to leaders of today to navigate the complexities showcase his life, how its beginnings of modern politics, while staying true to its moulded his situated worldview, the essential purpose: of dedicating their lives plough-marks he seeks to leave on Karna- to moulding the presentandbuildingafuture. taka's rich soil. The New Indian Express Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurap- has sought to cover the ground comprehen- pa was born into an epoch that was sively, with articles, biographical insights, changing around him. Five years before photographs, viewpoints gleaned from in- his birth, one of Visvesvaraya's signature teractions with him, his family members projects — the Krishnarajasagara dam — and close associates. It is our tribute to one had changed the face of Mandya, and its of India's uniquely grassroots leaders.

5

6

I have a vision — to 7 change lives, and I do not believe that talk matters. I have seen Karnataka from the ground and from the top. I know its problems and its challenges. My whole life has been a preparation to bring change. It is a vision, not a dream

8 CHAPTER ONE FOREWORD Grit & WHAT MAKES Triumph A GREAT Mahadev LEADER Prakash, political There are two domains of action — analyst and separate but related — where the idea Media Adviser to of a ‘leader’ can be applied. One can be a Chief Minister, mass leader. Bookanakere Siddalingappa writes about his Yediyurappa has been that for almost journey with all his political career BSY Page14 Page 24 The Grassroots Man A peek into BSY's life from his early years with notes from his family Page 36

CHAPTER TWO Drive & CHAPTER THREE The Determination Persona CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE 9 BSY's strong In BSY, there is the belief is to bring capacity to create change in the a compelling vision life of the and translate it common into action. Some people perspectives on his ideology, politics Page 68 and policies The Page 86 Chief A New As Chief Minister, Dawn BSY took decisions which were ahead During his first of times. His 100 days, BSY was budget presentations confronted with signalled a new unprecedented era for Karnataka natural calamity. While he handled Page 118 the crisis as an ideal leader, he also CHAPTER SIX ensured that other areas of governance 164were not neglected Page Frames of Time Precious moments captured from BSY's life. From childhood to his growth as one of the most charismatic leaders of the state Page176

10

THE 11 VISIONARY Every great accomplishment begins with a dream. B S Yediyurappa dared to dream, and dream big to change the lives of the poor. Also translate that dream into reality. He knew that passion, patience, perseverance and strong ideals would win in the end. He never gave up on what he really wanted to do. He worked towards his goals. His political career graph is a testimony to this. Yediyurappa has shown how dreams can come true if one realises that dreams are the seedlings of the future — of a vision.

THE ACHIEVER When BSY took oath as the Chief Minister on May 30, 2008, a dream became reality. Thus began a journey of taking the state on the path to progress. 12

13

14

FOREWORD 15 WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEADER T here are two domains of action— separate but related — where the idea of a ‘leader’ can be applied. One can be a mass leader. Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa has been that for almost all his political career. That is already a rare gift. It calls for a two-way connect with the people who accept you as a leader. One has to be intimately aware of, and connected with, their lives, their concerns, their trials and dreams. One also needs to be able to harness that in the public sphere; to craft a language that speaks to them, to articulate their expectations in novel and creative ways, to be their voice, to be able to employ powerful symbols to which they respond.

It is a mark of BSY’s success in that can be said that he has managed to do sphere we see him expand the social base exactly that — investing high office with that accepts him as a leader. Originally a a rare humility and purpose that can only Lingayat leader, with unflinching loyalty come from being true to one’s roots. A son from his constituency that has stood the test of Indian democracy, who started humble of time, we now see his footprint expanding and was associated with farmers’ struggles way beyond his native Shivamogga district but now governs a state that’s a global IT — the gateway to Malnad, tending to the hub and is at ease in both Davanagere north — to all across Karnataka and its and Davos. social/caste geography. He now straddles His political journey, from his early days, political space as much as he does time: one is charted in one of the following essays who spans generations of BJP stalwarts, — the association with the Rashtriya from Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, to A.B. Swayamsevak Sangh, the imprisonment Vajpayee, to the Narendra Modi era now. during Emergency, the fight for freeing But there is another domain where a bonded labour, the padayatras, the leader is tested. That is when he is invested hands-on flood relief, the many electoral with formal power, placed in high office — victories. But the true mettle of a leader in a place where one has the capacity to is not shown in reaching the top, or in make policies that touch lives. exercising one’s political craft to stay at the 16 The qualities that takes may seem simple top — it is shown in what one does while enough: a sincerity of intent, a commitment having the power to make policies that to a social-political-economic programme. touch people’s lives. Another piece here But the difficulty is in managing to surveys BSY’s tenures as Chief Minister blend the two sets of qualities after in terms of actual policymaking. And having attained power. To be able to use even the briefest scan of his work as CM power for the public good, a capacity to shows a commitment to both the common turn high office into an instrument to weal and to his political ideology. realise a definite plan for growth and That is what qualifies him to be called socio-economic well-being. a great leader, an enduring as well as If one scans the political life of BSY, it endearing one.

17

I believe in integrity. Intelligence and patience follow. If these three elements are 18 embraced and worked towards, there is real success. And in that success, we can evolve as a society which believes that change is definitely possible

19

200820 B S Yediyurappa taking oath as Chief Minister at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, BJP national leaders L K Advani, Rajnath Singh, H N Ananth Kumar greeting 21 the crowd a er the swearing-in ceremony at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru SERVEPROMISE TO Chief Minister BSY salutes NCC cadets as they take part in march past

201922 BS Yediyurappa with his party MLAs shows victory sign a er HD Kumaraswamy lost the vote of confidence during Assembly session at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru

BSY and party leaders meet Governor Vajubhai Vala to stake claim 23 to form the government in Bengaluru PERLOMEISVE ATOTE With Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah

GRIT & TRIUMPH T hese lines from the poem “On Memories” (Nena- pugalannu Kurithu) by Dr G S Shivarudrappa -- 24 the poet laureate who hails from Shikaripura, the same place where BY MAHADEV PRAKASH, Yediyurappa hails from -- hold great sig- MEDIA ADVISER TO CHIEF MINISTER nificance. Our existence is in our memory. & POLITICAL ANALYST Each event, each experience shapes our persona and endlessly perfects our per- Our existence survives... sonality. We are a sum of our past. When In our memories, for as long as we glance over the life of one such as BS I can remember... Yediyurappa, who has led a long public Me within you, you within me... life, we encounter a whole rich archive: Me and you, all of this shall exist. a few grim incidents that were crucially Beyond this, neither you nor me survive. formative, and also any number of good Every person’s memories people who fashioned his life. retain their world... Mandya’s soil is known for inherent Everyone harbours a fetish to frame as virtues such as innocence, sincerity and many memories as possible.This is why a deep conviction to the credo of never art-literature-sculpture amaze us... forsaking those who believe in you. They make us pine for that elusive grasp Krishnaraja Pete, from that very same

Mandya, is the place Yediyurappa’s par- 25 ents hail from. Yediyurappa was born as a fond son of this family on February 27, 1943. When he was just four years old, a young mind embodying all the innocence who should have been rejoicing in the love of his parents, Yediyurappa had to face a deep loss. His mother, Puttathayamma, passed away -- he was too young to remember the trauma, and Yediyurappa retained only a faint memory of her. Unaware of the deep separation that had marked his life, he grew up as a kid who believed whoever embraced him was his mother. His father Siddalingappa’s love, and all the affection- ate supervision by grandfather Sangappa Shetti’s younger sister Girijamma, helped him tide over his childhood without feeling the loss. It was only as time passed that he became aware of the harsher as- pects of life. The blessings of his family’s idol, Yediyur Siddalingeshwara, ensured that Yediyurappa’s life journey carried on this initial phase without any further trauma, and with enough familial affec- tion to not make him feel the vacuum. It was this cultured environment at home which saw to it that values and goodwill became integral parts of Yediyurappa’s personality right from the earliest stages of his journey, when he was just making his strides towards a broad- er spectrum. Spotting his strong kindred feelings towards others, Yediyurappa’s father remarked, “You have a bright future. I have a strong feeling that you are going to become a popular man, a leader.”

26 One would think fathers are prone to mak- order to make more profit, he used to go ing such evaluations of sons out of affec- to Mysuru, buy lemons at wholesale price tion, but this was more than that: all those and sell them at retail back in Mandya. who saw Yediyurappa during his child- During festivals, they would go to their hood could clearly perceive that the boy hometown of Bookanakere to get banana had a naturally outgoing, community-ori- boles and sell them on Mandya’s main ented spirit, and had everything in him to roads. be cut out for something great. It was in these formative years that a mo- Yediyurappa, who studied up to fifth mentous encounter happened: he came in grade at Bookanakere, had to move to Man- contact with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak dya to continue his education after a rift Sangh (RSS), the organisation committed between Yediyurappa’s father, Siddalin- to protecting Hinduism, patriotism and gappa, and Girijamma. He started a new a united India. During his teenage days, life in his grandfather’s home. Yediyurap- Yediyurappa came across teachers and pa studied there until intermediate. In his mentors who had devoted their lives to the spare time, he would sit at his grandfather principles of the RSS. Yediyurappa’s in- Sangappa Shetti’s shop and sell lemons. In born ideals of achieving something great

and meaningful in life found a perfect en- a full-time activist of the Sangh? The RSS 27 abling tool in this ideology. He was fasci- office is located in Sheshadripuram itself. nated by the principles of RSS, founded by We live there and carry out our activities. Dr Keshava Baliram Hedgewar. Another Why don’t you shift there too? You can car- great leader of the association, Golwalkar, ry out the organisation’s work and attend had built up the organisation from the to your personal work as well. Your per- grassroots, an idea that fascinated Yedi- sonality will evolve and you will be able to yurappa because of how it connected to understand the organisation closely.” his circumstances. His mind had started leaning towards this path that held the Meanwhile, Yediyurappa got a job at the vision of idealism, a lifelong commitment, Addison Company. Leaders of the Sangh a community-oriented ethos and disci- Parivar such as Mai Cha Jayadev, Yadav pline. Eventually, he joined the RSS. Vol- Rao Joshi and Ajit Kumar Ji were closely unteering with the organisation brought guiding him. In later days, the headquar- about deep-going changes in Yediyurap- ters of the Sangh became a huge support pa’s personality. Every day, he would get system to Yediyurappa. Here, he learnt actively involved in Sangh activities. He qualities such as discipline and time-con- started to understand its principles and sciousness. These qualities are still a big ideologies. Under the guidance of respect- ed RSS elders, his strong and aggressive personality began to shine like refined gold. The relationship between Yediyurappa and the RSS, which bloomed in Mandya, started taking stronger roots in Bengalu- ru. When Yediyurappa was in Mandya, he had developed close ties with a Special DC, Basappa, who was now transferred to the post of director, department of so- cial welfare. Basappa got Yediyurappa a job as a typist in the department. During this period, Yediyurappa was housed in a car shed at Sheshadripuram. Meanwhile, he continued his studies in an evening college. By this time, Yediyurappa was a full-time activist of the RSS. Some seniors of the Sangh Parivar told him: “Why do you need to live in a car shed while being

part of Yediyurappa’s public life. Thus, daughters — Padmavathi, Arunadevi and his thought processes underwent quali- Umadevi — and two sons — Raghavendra tative changes, thanks to the companion- and Vijayendra. ship of peers devoted to the ideology of The political part of his life flowered the Sangh. He regularly participated in as well, though not without challenges. training camps of the RSS. On many oc- Yediyurappa soon established the RSS casions, he would conduct RSS camps as a in Shikaripura in accordance with his Mukhya Shikshak. He adhered to the code ideologies. This irked several locals, and of conduct of the organisation. many tried to foil his attempts. Howev- Such was the nature of the guided con- er, he dismissed all negativity and went duct of Yediyurappa’s life that it became on to build a strong branch of the RSS. an example of veteran philosopher-po- Many open-minded youngsters lent their et DV Gundappa’s famed lines: “Life is a support to his endeavours. Day by day, the horse-drawn carriage owned by fate”. Sangh grew more and more powerful. A Yet, fate had more plans for him. Yedi- Ganesha festival was organised to further yurappa had hoped that Bengaluru would strengthen the association. It garnered eventually become the centre of his ca- great response. The sequence of events in reer. However, the fast-paced events un- this new habitat gave Yediyurappa a new, folding in his life ensured he had to resign strong base he had himself created — and 28 from his job in Bengaluru and move to led the path on to higher realms. Yedi- Shikaripura, a prosperous countryside in yurappa was eventually appointed as the the Malnad area. In the following years, executive of the Shikaripura unit of the Shikaripura transformed into the epicen- RSS. And, in 1972, he finally was to enter tre of Yediyurappa’s life, political as well active politics as the president of Shikari- as personal. It was here that he married pura Jan Sangh. And eventful time it was Mythradevi, in 1967. His mother-in-law, — 1974-1976, he served in the cooperative Gangamma, and father-in-law, Veerab- field as director of the Veerashaiva Socie- hadra Shastri, never expressed any reluc- ty and was elected to the municipality as tance over a complete stranger taking over a candidate for the Jan Sangh in 1975 (he the responsibility of their family. They was to be finally elected Shikaripura mu- welcomed Yediyurappa with affection nicipal president two years later). and trust. He soon had to shoulder huge It was also a fateful time for a political responsibilities: running a large house, baptism. It was the tenure of Prime Min- managing land, hundreds of oxen and ister Indira Gandhi, and the Emergency cattle, rice mills in Shikaripura and Hon- was soon to be declared in the country. nali, as well as a tiles factory. Mythradevi Yediyurappa was jailed for defying the and Yediyurappa had five children: three Emergency along with other leaders of

Jan Sangh. He was initially kept in the 29 Shivamogga jail but was later shifted to Ballari. During this period, Mythradevi was supposed to be arrested as well but was pardoned as she was pregnant. Even at such a critical juncture, Yediyurappa did not shy away from fighting. In the af- termath of the Emergency, Yediyurappa started strengthening the party in Shika- ripura. Displeased over this, a few sup- porters of Shikaripura’s MLA K Yenkat- appa physically assaulted Yediyurappa brutally -- it was a battle for life and death, but the indomitable man was to survive. While building the RSS in Shikaripura, Yediyurappa understood one fact very clearly – that the Bharatiya Janata Party cannot thrive as a mere urban-centric, up- per-class party. For the party to grow vig- orously, it had to take root in rural areas. He understood the reality that the BJP could aim for power only if it responded to the hardships of the peasantry on the one hand and the Dalits as well as back- ward classes on the other. This became the basis of the political trajectory he then followed, forming a work index for Shika- ripura and Shivamogga. In 1981-82, he initiated a massive strug- gle to rehabilitate the Jeethamuktha la- bourers of Shikaripura. He conducted a month-long, day-and-night protest and marched along with 1,700 labourers, which ended in front of the DC’s office. Eventual- ly, Yediyurappa’s fight was rewarded. Dur- ing the same period, he also exposed the irregularities in a government scheme

wherein labourers were hired for govern- rated by Lal Krishna Advani, an eminent ment projects in exchange for food grains. leader of the BJP. In 1988, he successfully In 1983, the government decided to take organised farmers’ marches from Basava- over the Bagair Hukum land cultivated by na Bagewadi, Basavakalyana and Banava- the poor, backward and Harijans. In the si to Bengaluru, demanding the waiver 30 same year, Yediyurappa fought hard to get of farmers’ loans. After being elected as these lands regularised. In the same year, the BJP’s president for the second time, he was elected as an MLA. He picketed for he organised a massive women’s conven- the backward classes in the assembly. He tion in Shivamogga. He also conducted a insisted that he would not stop protest- rally in front of the Shivamogga MPMC ing until the bill was withdrawn. As he with thousands of farmers, demand- recounted how millions of backward and ing a sustainable supply of electricity to Dalit families would come to streets if the the farmers, a protest which continued Forest Act was amended to acquire the through to an all-night rally in Bengaluru. Bagair Hukum lands, he was in tears. Fi- He also organised the ‘Save Kaveri’ jatha nally, the then forest minister, B. Rachai- of farmers, from Kannambadi to Kaveri. ah, withdrew the Forest Amendment Act. He was the strength behind the farmers’ This prevented millions of families from Sankalpa Yatra from Nanjangud to Hub- becoming destitute. balli. He also unearthed a fake Chhapa pa- Next, he conducted a march from Shiva- per scam, saving the state government a mogga to Bengaluru spanning over 25 days loss of thousands of crores of rupees. demanding that panchayat elections be Through these numerous struggles, Yedi- held immediately. The event was inaugu- yurappa set the stage to build the BJP up

from Karnataka’s very soil. In addition, isational abilities that expanded the sup- 31 he also eliminated the notion that the BJP port base for BJP by 1994. In this election, was partisan to upper class and urban ar- BJP won in 40 constituencies with voting eas. His work in Shikaripura was a huge of 16.99 per cent. After this, BJP never success. From 1983 to 2018, nine assembly looked back. In the 1999 assembly elec- elections have been conducted. All these tions, it won 44 seats, with a 20.69 voting nine elections, except for 1999, were won percentage. By the 2004 election, the BJP by Yediyurappa representing the BJP. Af- had further strengthened its power — bag- ter becoming the president of Shivamog- ging 28.83 per cent of the votes and 79 con- ga BJP, Yediyurappa went on to apply stituencies. the same model throughout the district, achieving more success. In Shivamogga, For the first 20 months after this election, where the socialist movement was strong, the BJP was in the opposition, with Yedi- the BJP, which had a divergent ideology, yurappa as its leader. N Dharam Singh, of grew in strength. In 1986, Yediyurappa or- the JDS-Congress alliance, was the chief ganised a massive convention for farmers minister. That government collapsed in in Shivamogga. The event was inaugurat- just 20 months when the JDS-BJP alliance ed by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the then came into being. According to an agree- chief minister of Rajasthan. He openly ment between the two parties, JDS lead- praised Yediyurappa’s organising abili- er HD Kumaraswamy would be the chief ties and predicted that he would one day minister for the first 20 months and, for become the chief minister of Karnataka. the next 20 months, BJP’s Yediyurappa would take over. However, Kumaraswamy, After being appointed as the BJP’s after having completed term as the chief state-level president in 1988, Yediyurappa minister for the first 20 months, did not went on to apply the Shikaripura mod- vacate the chair for Yediyurappa. Deve el across the state. The BJP, no longer Gowda and his sons retracted their sup- confined to the upper classes and urban port within seven days after completion of areas, started to spread its roots in Kar- their term. As a result, the 2008 assembly nataka from election to election under elections became inevitable. This election Yediyurappa’s leadership. In 1985, the par- generated a wave of sympathy for Yedi- ty had won in only two assembly constitu- yurappa. The BJP, led by him, won 110 encies, with a voting percentage of a mere seats in the assembly and secured 33.86 per 3.88. Under the leadership of Veerendra cent votes. With the support of non-par- Patil, the Congress won the 1989 election. tisans, it succeeded in steering itself to In this election, BJP won four seats, with power. For the very first time, the saffron voting percentage of 4.14. It was the effect flag became victorious in Southern India. of Yediyurappa’s unquestionable organ- Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurap-

pa, who was the pioneer of the BJP’s mo- Eventually, he returned to the BJP, where mentous victory in the state, took oath as he was welcomed with open arms. He was the chief minister of Karnataka. made the party’s state president again and During his tenure as the deputy chief declared the chief ministerial candidate. minister, Yediyurappa, who held the fi- In the 2018 assembly elections, under his nance portfolio, had implemented several leadership, the BJP won a whopping 104 pro-people programmes, including bicycle seats. Although that was nine short of a distribution to school children, Sandhya full majority, the BJP was decidedly back Suraksha, Bhagyalakshmi Bond, loans to in the game. Yediyurappa was sworn in farmers at low interest rates, increasing as the Chief Minister for a third time as funding for Ashraya houses from Rs 25,000 BJP had the most number of seats. How- to Rs 1.25 lakh, establishment of separate ever, he resigned after being unable to departments for the backward classes, es- pass the floor test. Nevertheless, through tablishment of Ambedkar and Valmiki this churn, the BJP had also expanded its Bhavans in each district, reserving about support base by winning 36.6 per cent of 26 per cent funding for Scheduled Castes the vote. This is what bore fruit when the and Scheduled Tribes in accordance with BJP won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in their numbers, encouragement for Kanna- 24 constituencies under Yediyurappa (and da literature and culture initiatives, grants a BJP-backed candidate won in one more.) 32 for development of temples, mosques and The mood of positivity was to flow back churches, state holiday on Valmiki and to state-level politics. Yediyurappa man- Kanaka Jayanti, establishment of the aged to win the support of seventeen Kaginale Development Authority, devel- MLAs who were tired of the bad, anti-peo- opment of several temples including Male ple regime of the Congress-JDS alliance. Mahadeshwara and Yediyur Siddalinge- Yediyurappa then became the Chief Min- shwara temples, and ban on illegal ore ister for the fourth time. In the by-elec- shipping. He planned to take Karnataka tion held for fifteen constituencies, twelve to the peak of development. However, as a seats were won by BJP candidates, once result of political conspiracy, Yediyurap- again proving Yediyurappa’s insurmount- pa was sent to jail on petty charges, all of able strength. which he was eventually acquitted from. This is the story of the political journey Dejected, Yediyurappa left the Bharatiya of an ordinary young man who sold lem- Janata Party and founded the Karnataka ons in Mandya in the 1960s. Yediyurappa is Janata Party (KJP). The BJP lost the Kar- a shining example and proof that a person nataka assembly elections held in 2013. born into a regular family can rise to great This election was a clear demonstration heights with hard work, dedication, perse- of Yediyurappa’s colossal power. verance and extraordinary resilience.

BSY Improving farmers' economy, AS FINANCE MINISTER irrigation, Bengaluru HAS PRESENTED infrastructure, 6 BUDGETS tourism, housing sector and industries Budget outlay and date of is my government's presentation are as follows; focus area March, 20 2006-2007 33 F35,875 cr February, 24 March, 16 2011-2012 2007-2008 GENERAL BUDGET AGRICULTURAL BUDGET F40,762 cr F66,313 cr F17,857 cr July, 17 2008-2009 F47,240 cr Feb, 20 2009-2010 F48,389 cr March, 5 2010-2011 F53,639 cr

34

Every victory 35 of mine has had a share of joy and sorrow. It took many miles to win but fewer to be disappointed. But that is how victory has to be treated – you live it bittersweet

36

37 THE GRASSROOTS MAN P erseverance, patience, a clear focus and a dogged pursuit of one’s goals….these are the hallmarks of every good leader. But it is when that is combined with a capacity to link politics to people’s concerns that you cross a higher threshold. In BS Yediyurappa’s case, this capacity can be seen to flow from his early, humble beginnings. A firm grounding in the soil of Karnataka, which he has never forgotten. From his life, we can see how his connect with the grassroots is not some political artifice or slogan, but an umbilical link.

THE BIRTH OF CHANGE 38 Yediyurappa spent his early days in Bookanakere village, where he studied at a government school. After he completed his pre-university education from Mandya Government Intermediate College, all the landmarks of his long political journey are a testament to the fact that he was never bound by the horizons of his own community (the Banajiga sub-sect of Lingayats) but forged a wider comity, shot through with a concern for universal welfare.

39 A portrait of BSY's family Filing nomination for Assembly elections accompanied by his wife Mythradevi

40 I have always believed that memories are windows of wisdom. They might be closed for a long time, but when you finally brush off the dust and peep back into your past, you learn a lot more than from walking out of the door which you see always open

41 Snaps from early political undertakings in Shikaripura

With younger sister Prema Leela THE42 BOOKANAKERE PLAYGROUND “I, Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yedi- BSY during his school days (second from right) yurappa”…these are the first few words BSY utters every time he takes oath at Raj Bhavan. He started his political career from Shivamogga — and that has over the years become his political turf — but Yedi- yurappa’s love towards his native Mandya

43 has never ebbed. After taking oath, Bookanakere is the place BSY visits first to offer pooja. Yediyurappa also offers pooja at Siddalingeshwara temple. During his schools days, Yediyurappa was involved a lot in sports, mainly volleyball and football. Many of his classmates, who are still at Bookanakere, remember him as a dynamic boy who showed signs of being a born leader right at that early age. “We both studied together till Class 7. He had leadership qualities, and knew how to translate his promises into reality even then. We knew he would reach heights, we are proud to say we studied together,” says Thirumala Gowda, 79. BSY remembers most of their names, another marker of the kind of man he is.

44 BSY's children — Padmavathi, FAMILY Arunadevi, Umadevi, Raghavendra, and Vijayendra — share a close relationship with their father and mother, Mythradevi. They reminisce on the loving, inspiring and guiding role they played to build their individual personalities.

45

46 OMURORODLEEL RAGHAVENDRA & VIJAYENDRA — SONS OF BSY

Our father is our hero. When we What I admire about my father, 47 open the basket of memories among many other things, from our childhood, one of is his handwriting -- very the many unforgettable inci- neat and legible. He would dents is the Ganapati festival write impeccably even while in Shikaripura. To instil a sense of unity, equality and brotherhood in the locality, our travelling on a bus. Irrespective father was the first man to install the Gana- of how far he travelled, he pati idol in a shamiana. He would spend days and nights there and organise many pro- would always carry a pen and grammes. For around 15 days, people from a small notepad with him all castes and religions would come together and participate actively in the festivities. Vijayendra, Son He has influenced us through his daily had been to jail to meet my father. My el- actions — right from the way he would do der brother was born with the blessings of pooja sincerely to his style of dressing to Sri Raghavendra Swami of Mantralaya, of even the way he neatly combed his hair. All whom my father is a great devotee. Hence, he this subconsciously had an impact on us. was named Raghavendra. With the blessings of Sri Raghavendra Swami’s guru, Vijay- We learnt the meaning of discipline from endra Sarasvati, I was named Vijayendra.\" him. He has a strong work ethic. For instance, we observed how he would list the tasks in “During summer vacations, when I his day planner and complete all of them on (Raghavendra) would come to Shikaripura priority. This is one of the things we have al- from Bengaluru, father and I would cycle to ways admired. our paddy fields. He had taught me the A, B, C of farming — from tilling the land and plant- People who know us say that we have the ing seeds to large-scale management of the same grooming routine, sense of style and farm. We used to mainly cultivate betel nut, way of handling things as our father -- some- coconut and banana — and I learnt a great thing that we have learnt over four decades of observing him. He loves reading. His room at our hometown was a mini library, and had the best collection of books. \"If I (Vijayendra) recall the way he used to read books during free time, I can tell you this: even for exams, I haven’t done as much reading as he would do normally.\" “I was born in 1975, the year Emergency was declared in India. My father was jailed. My mother who was pregnant with me then

deal about these crops. I also learnt to respect the soil and the farmer’s toil because of him. Although father was away managing the state, he would always remember the crops we grew on our land at Shikaripura, the ap- proximate yield and their market price.\" Dad taught us the value of food. His dream was to 'serve through politics'. For that, he was committed through his During meals, if we ever spilled words and deed and he would put his mind, even a grain of rice, he would body and soul into it. There have been in- stances earlier where our entire year’s get angry and teach us about crop yield had been used for political caus- the value of each grain and the es. Similarly, once he had taken our moth- er’s gold jewellery to Bengaluru to sell and price the farmer pays to grow it he used that money for organising political rallies. This did not mean that he did not Raghavendra, Son care for us. He gave all his children the best education. He ensured that we were ad- mitted to a hostel in Bengaluru so that we not indulge in habits he frowns upon. We would get greater exposure. have never seen his friends, party work- 48 \"My (Raghavendra) interest in politics ers or MLAs chew pan or smoke cigarettes and social work stemmed from watching around him. \"Even Viji and I (Raghaven- dad. Shivamogga’s political realm is differ- dra), whenever we were up to mischief ent from other regions. I have learnt to tack- in school, we were more concerned about le Shivamogga’s issues and understand its being reported to our father than being intricacies under my father’s guidance. Be- caught by the teachers.\" ing elected as an MP thrice was due to the He has taught us to treat all people with skills I acquired from observing and follow- respect and welcome guests with a smile. ing in his footsteps throughout my career.\" There used to be bags full of puffed rice Our father is a man of few words, but his and mixture at home. Mother would chop words have immense weight. If we ever some onions, add it to the mixture and approach him for advice, he gives us his make tasty snacks. She was a pillar of sup- opinion and leaves it to us to decide. He port for our dad. She worked tirelessly for does not prod us or interfere in anything. us and we all love and respect her deeply. There have been times when we have been There was no compromise on food offered in difficult situations and he has always to guests, which we all five siblings still fol- given us sound advice. He is also a man of low. Even the grandchildren have grown up strict discipline. Even those around him do enjoying being amidst a constant stream of

people at our house. 49 Our father has had equal share of wins and Our house used defeats. From the municipal council member to be a hub of political to being the CM, if you reflect on his journey and social gatherings in and his contribution to the people of this state Shikaripura. We don’t and its development, you can say that he is the remember a time when there embodiment of the saying, ‘No barriers can were no people around us. It stop a person with a fixed noble goal’. is this early exposure that has made us what we are today He has dedicated his entire life to bring- ing a smile on people’s faces. He is our role Raghavendra and Vijayendra model. We have learnt so much from him and continue to do so today. His resilience and uncompromising nature are some- thing we try to emulate in our personal and political lives. It is impossible for anyone to fill his shoes, but we will try very hard to come anywhere close to it. He is a true lead- er and a visionary and we are immensely proud to have him in our lives.

50 AINDOL WithArunadevi,Padmavathi,PremaVijayendra,UmadeviandTejaswiniRaghavendra FAMILYWITHIN THE PADMAVATHI, ARUNADEVI, UMADEVI — DAUGHTERS OF BSY