Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar (59), who died early on Monday in Bengaluru, had a storied political career that began with the Emergency when he was just a teenager and saw him rise to be a passionate lobbyist for Karnataka at the Centre.
Kumar, who had been battling lung cancer, died at a private hospital in Bengaluru. According to sources, Kumar was taken to the US for treatment of lung cancer. But he returned to India on October 20 as treatment was not very effective. Kumar was admitted to the Sankara Hospital in Bengaluru, where he breathed his last.
Kumar, who was also the Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the Narendra Modi government, had represented the Bangalore South constituency in the Lok Sabha since 1996.
Born to H.N. Narayan Shastry and Girija Shastry on July 22, 1959, in Bengaluru, Kumar graduated in law from Karnatak University.
As a PU student, Ananth Kumar joined the Jayaprakash Narayan Movement and spent 40 days in jail during the Emergency. According to sources, Kumar was so greatly inspired by JP that he visited the latter's home town every year on his birth anniversary.
A master political strategist
Kumar was hand-picked by the BJP to contest from Bangalore South constituency for the first time, after then sitting MP Venkatagiri Gowda was suspended for speaking critically about Atal Behari Vajpayee.
BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa, a leader perceived to be a perennial rival of Ananth Kumar, became emotional on Monday as he stated that their bond was special and largely misunderstood by people.
"We have worked together and built the BJP in the state. He was a leader who responded to everyone. It is a great loss to the party, state and country. You cannot imagine our bond. He was the one who guided me, even advising me, on taking the finance portfolio when I became the deputy chief minister.”
BJP leaders recalled Ananth Kumar's progressive initiatives like introducing subsidised stents, neem-coated urea and "Jan Aushadi Kendra". As the civil aviation minister in the Vajpayee government, he brought the national civil aviation policy. Kumar's profile as a persistent lobbyist for Karnataka was helped by his fluency in Hindi.
While Ananth Kumar will be remembered as the man who lobbied for Karnataka in the Cauvery and Krishna water rows, he was also instrumental in bringing the international airport and Metro projects to Bengaluru.
According to his close friends, at the time of the Cauvery riots during S.M. Krishna's tenure as the chief minister, the Centre stood by Karnataka owing to intense lobbying by Ananth Kumar.
More recently, when the Supreme Court ordered the formation of the Cauvery Management Board, it was Kumar who convinced the Modi government to argue before the apex court, stating such a decision was the prerogative of the Parliament.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy also expressed his condolences over the demise of Ananth Kumar.
"Our families had a friendship beyond politics. He always valued and had given priority to friendship. I have lost a great friend in his death,” Kumaraswamy acknowledged.
Kumaraswamy described Kumar as a value-based politician, who made a significant contribution to the country as an MP and Union minister. “His pro-people attitude and activities had made him the apple of the eyes of Bengalureans," Kumaraswamy said.
President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted, "Sad to hear of the passing of Union minister and veteran parliamentarian Shri H.N. Ananth Kumar. This is a tragic loss to public life in our country and particularly for the people of Karnataka. My condolences to his family, colleagues and countless associates."
Modi, too, took to Twitter to condole the death of his colleague. "Extremely saddened by the passing away of my valued colleague and friend, Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. He was a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion. He will always be remembered for his good work,” noted Modi.
Modi recalled Kumar as an able administrator, who handled many ministerial portfolios and was a great asset to the BJP organisation.
"He worked hard to strengthen the Party in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. He was always accessible to his constituents. I spoke to his wife, Dr. Tejaswini Ji and expressed condolences on the passing away of Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. My thoughts are with his entire family, friends and supporters in this hour of grief and sadness. Om Shanti," tweeted Modi.
Ananth Kumar is survived by his wife, Dr. Tejaswini and his two daughters, Aishwarya and Vijeta.
Funeral tomorrow
The public can pay their respects to Ananth Kumar at his residence on Monday. On Tuesday, the body of Ananth Kumar will be kept at the BJP office in Bengaluru from 8am to 9am for viewing and from 9am to 12pm at the National College. His funeral is expected to be conducted shortly after 12pm at the Chamrajpet Crematorium.
