Karnataka: Confusion over Kempe Gowda's date of birth, Jayanti put off

Bengaluru: In what could well be termed a major embarrassment to the state government, Nirmalananda Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri math has advised postponement of Kempe Gowda Jayanti scheduled for April 17.

Maintaining that the date was not Kempe Gowda’s precise date of birth, the pontiff advised the government to call off programmes planned by the government.

Heeding promptly to the pontiff’s advise, energy minister D.K. Shivakumar, in-charge of the celebrations, issued a statement cancelling the event. Besides, the minister said the government would indicate a date later on.

The pontiff, before arriving at this decision, consulted researchers and litterateurs and many reportedly advised the pontiff that April 17 was not the precise date of birth. These experts observed that Kempe

Gowda’s date of birth could be sometime in June. They drew the pontiff’s attention to ongoing research on the issue.

Meanwhile, sources in the government said a committee of experts would be constituted shortly and asked to submit a report within a month. "Hopefully, the committee will a give report within a month and then we would decide the date," sources added. Sources said going by literature and other evidence available know, Kempe Gowda’s date of birth could be June 27.