Indira Lankesh, Mother of Slain Journalist Gauri Lankesh Passes Away in Sleep
Indira Lankesh was the wife of Late journalist, editor and poet P. Lankesh. She is survived by her daughter Kavitha Lankesh and son Indrajith Lankesh
Bengaluru: Noted author and entrepreneur Indira Lankesh passed away at her residence in Bengaluru on Monday. She has reportedly suffered from a heart attack during sleep. She had been under treatment for age-related health issues preceding her death, family sources said.
She was the wife of Late journalist, editor and poet P. Lankesh, who founded the Kannada newspaper Lankesh Patrike and mother of Journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead by Hindutva assailants at her residence in September 2017.
Indira Lankesh is survived by her daughter Kavitha Lankesh with whom she was residing at Uttarahalli at the time of her death, and son Indrajith Lankesh. Both Kavitha and Indrajith are renowned Kannada film makers.
When P. Lankesh had quit his salaried job as a professor to pursue film production, Indira Lankesh was his pillar of support, stepping in as the matriarch of the Lankesh family. She contributed financially by selling sarees at her house, and later went on to start her own saree store, Mayur Silks, at Bengaluru’s Gandhi Nagar. As a writer, she was noted for her autobiographical novel Hulimavu Mattu Naanu, where she explores the conflicts and memories in her life.
Several well-known across the fields of literature and cinema expressed grief over her loss, actor Prakash Raj, activist and journalist Teesta Setalvad being among them.
Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, took to X to pay tribute to her. Recalling his close association with the Lankesh family, he said, “From the early days, Indira Lankesh and her children have been dear as family to me. Indira had not fully recovered from the shock of Gauri Lankesh’s murder.”
Recognizing her contributions, he said, “It is beyond doubt that Indira Lankesh’s greatest contribution lies in the unwavering support she provided to Lankesh in his achievements across the fields of literature, media and cinema. Additionally, Indira, who herself engaged in writing, also took on the responsibility of book publishing.” Siddaramaiah lamented, “I too share in the family’s grief over Indira Lankesh’s passing. I pray that her soul finds peace.” He added.
(This article is written by Hridya Lakkadi, a student of CBIT, interning at Deccan Chronicle.)
