Bangalore: The mortal remains of eminent Kannada poet G S Shivarudrappa, who passed away on Monday, were cremated on Thursday with full state honours at Kalagrama on Bangalore University's Jnanabharati campus as per his wishes.
Shivarudrappa's body was kept at his residence and also at Kannada Sahitya Parishat and Ravindra Kalakshetra for public to pay their last respects. It was later taken to Jnanabharati campus in a procession. According to family sources, the veteran poet had desired that no religious or caste-specific rituals should be followed and he should be cremated at Jnanabharathi campus that was so dear to him.
Shivarudrappa's son Jaidev lit the funeral pyre, after the renowned poet was given a musical adieu as poems penned by him were sung. The funeral was delayed as his family waited for the poet's son Shivaprasad to arrive from London. Shivarudrappa (87) had been ailing for some time. He was a recipient of the Central Sahitya Akademi Award, Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award, besides others, including the Soviet Land Nehru award.
