Veteran statesman, former Council Chairman N. Tippanna passes away at 97
His mortal remains will be kept at his Ballari residence for public homage, and the final rites will be conducted on Saturday (July 12, 2025) in his native village of Turuvanur in Chitradurga district.
Born on November 23, 1928, in Turuvanur, Chitradurga district, Tippanna's career spanned over six decades, during which he played significant roles in Karnataka's legal, political, and socio-cultural spheres.
Tippanna began his journey in public service as an advocate in 1954 in Ballari and steadily rose through the legal ranks, serving as a District Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor in Ballari. He went on to become the General Secretary and later President of the Bellary Bar Association. His leadership extended to the Karnataka Bar Council, where he served as Vice President and later presided over its Silver Jubilee celebration, which was graced by Indira Gandhi.
A close associate of former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, Tippanna unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha elections from Ballari and was actively involved with the Janata Dal (U). Following its merger with Janata Dal (S), he became the State president of JD(S). He was elected multiple times to the Karnataka Legislative Council and served twice as its Chairman.
Tippanna was also a passionate educationist and community leader. As General Secretary of the Veerashaiva Vidyavardhaka Sangha in Ballari, a position he held for over 30 years, he spearheaded the establishment of 40 educational institutions, including colleges and technical schools. His contributions to the academic field earned him a Honorary Doctorate from Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University during its 8th convocation.
A towering figure in the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, Tippanna served as President of the Karnataka State Unit of All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha and held several key positions at both state and national levels. Even in his advanced years, he remained deeply engaged in public service and social reform.
Several dignitaries and public figures expressed their condolences, hailing Tippanna as a committed public servant and a visionary leader who dedicated his life to the upliftment of society and the legal profession.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Indian Express
Lingayat seer forced to leave Karnataka mutt after devotees learn about his Muslim background
A 22-year-old seer was compelled to leave his position at a mutt in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar on Monday after villagers objected to his appointment upon learning of his Muslim background prior to taking the basava deeksha (religious initiation). Nijalinga Swamy, who had served as the seer of the year-old mutt in Gundlupet taluka for just six weeks, took his religious vows five years ago, at age 17. Originally from Yadgir district, he had dedicated himself to spreading the teachings of Lingayat social reformer Basavanna through vachanas or devotional poems across Karnataka. The controversy erupted last week when a local resident discovered the seer's former identity on seeing his Aadhaar card, which revealed his birth name and former religion. This discovery led to opposition from a section of devotees who claimed that they were unaware of his background before the appointment. Speaking to The Indian Express, Nijalinga Swamy said he was born in a Muslim family as Mohammed Nisar. 'At a very young age, I was attracted towards Basavanna and his ideas. I used to perform puja just like any Lingayat. My parents were frightened and they sent me to a madrassa to study. It gave me another dimension, and at the age of 17, I took deeksha (initiation) to become a Lingayat.' Mahadev Prasad, a philanthropist who resides in Australia, had donated land to build a mutt in Chamarajanagar district's Chowdahalli. After establishing Gurumalleshwara Shakha mutt, Nijalinga Swamy was appointed its head as he was already following Lingayat rituals at a mutt in Basavakalyan, Bidar. 'They approached my Guru to suggest a seer for the mutt, and he suggested my name. Some well-wishers told me not to reveal my previous identity (as a Muslim) and to work for the betterment of the mutt,' he said. The seer had two mobiles phone, one of which he used before taking deeksha. One of his employees sought Nijalinga Swamy's mobile phone last week as his device was not working and the seer gave him the old mobile phone. On going through the phone, the employee saw the Aadhaar card, photos of Nisar in a skull cap and another one holding a bottle of beer. He immediately informed the mutt's devotees. On being confronted, the seer admitted that he was a Muslim before accepting the Lingayat faith. He also clarified that he had not engaged in any 'unholy' activity, like drinking beer, after his religious conversion. However, by then, the devotees had forced him to step down. 'I left my parents and Islam only because I believe in Basavanna's ideology. I will continue to do so and nobody can stop me from doing that. A lot of seers and people from the Lingayat community have come to my support. In fact, another Lingayat mutt in Rane Bennur (Haveri district) has given me shelter now. I will continue to follow Basavanna and his ideas,' Nijalinga Swamy said. However, once the matter triggered a controversy, he said some people started spreading rumours against his character and even falsely claimed that he had carried out financial misappropriation. 'I will not give up, but will live the rest of my life to propagate Basavanna's ideas,' he added. Some Muslims, especially in North Karnataka, are ardent followers of the 12th-century social reformer Basavanna, who advocated for equality regardless of caste or religious background. Some of them have also taken deeksha. In 2020, Diwan Sharief Rahimsab Mulla, a 33-year-old former autorickshaw driver, took Deeksha, becoming the fourth Muslim to head a Lingayat mutt in 300 years.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Scholars and seer spar over religion status demand at book release event in Bagalkot
Scholars and a seer entered into a debate over the demand for religion status for Lingayat during the release of Vishwa Samskara Mahayana Volume-3, a book by the former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily, in Bagalkot on Sunday. Director of the M.M. Kalaburagi Research Centre, Dharwad, Veeranna Rajur said that Mr. Moily has misunderstood the character of Lingayat and mistaken it to be the same as Veerashaiva. 'In the book, Mr. Moily mentions the two as a single identity. I think he is mistaken. Lingayat is a unique religion founded in India. It is distinct from Veerashaiva that is practised by some groups of people. It is not right to think that they are one,' Prof. Rajur said. Writer Sarjoo Katkar also said that Mr. Moily is under the impression that the two streams are the same, while they are actually different. Sri Fakir Dingaleshwara Swami of Balehosur in Gadag district objected to this saying that Mr. Moily has only repeated what M.M. Kalburgi propounded in Vachana Samputa, one of his books. He asked, who said that the two are different? Who has decided on that? 'It is only an idea in the minds of a few,' he said. He said that he strongly opposed the idea of another religion when some groups launched an agitation during the last term of Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister. 'I am not opposed to Lingayats trying to get government benefits. But I will not accept anyone trying to meddle with history,' the seer said. Prof. Rajur responded to this saying that the first volume of Vachana Samputa was brought out decades ago when there was not much ideological clarity about the issue and several things were mixed up. 'But now we are bringing out the fifth volume that has essays and notes that clarify Lingayat is a distinct religion,' he said. The seer said that he argued with Mate Mahadevi on the issue in the past and that she accepted that she lacked ideological clarity. 'We faced each other in a TV interview. She accepted before me that she wrote in a book that both Lingayat and Veerashaiva are the same. But later, she changed her argument. She said that it is because she gained clarity. I asked how she can be sure of it but she did not have an answer. 'I told her she has no clarity even now and she walked out of the TV studio. Such arguments by seers or scholars are not acceptable,' the seer said. In his response, Mr. Moily said that in his works he has given priority to global cultures that united minds and not conflicting ideas like the issue of Veerashaiva-Lingayat separation. The former Ministers S.R. Patil and H.M. Revanna, Sapna Book House Managing Director Nitin Shah, K.M. Nagaraj and others were present. The event was organised at the Kala Bhavan in Bagalkot by S.R. Patil Group of Organisations and Sapna Book House.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
KPCC president's post decision left to high command: Minister Satish Jarkiholi
BENGALURU: While his name is doing the rounds for Congress state president, Yamkanmaradi MLA and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi spoke exclusively to TNIE and addressed speculation about his potential appointment. 'It is left to the party high command to decide, but we need to remember that it is very important for the party that all sections have to be taken along,' he said. 'I believe in Basavanna, Ambedkar and Kuvempu's concept of equality and have practised it in my political life.'' Responding to criticism that the Congress was failing to attract youngsters in the below-18 age group nationally, as compared to rival BJP, Satish Jarkiholi said the party has proved it wrong in the Shiggaon bypoll where the Congress candidate defeated a former BJP chief minister's son. In Chikkodi constituency too, the Congress managed to attract the younger segment in large numbers, rivalling the BJP in the parliamentary seat. 'The Shiggaon model of inclusiveness can be used across the state to attract the youth in larger numbers, if the high command gives me an opportunity,' he said. Asked about the 2028 assembly polls in which the Congress is expected to be pitted against the collective might of the NDA (BJP+JDS) and some have voiced criticism about the party's performance in such a scenario, he expressed confidence that it would do well. 'We now have about 140 seats, and need just 120 to form the government, we will do well in 2028 and retain our seats,'' Jarkiholi said. On what he would do for the party's success in North Karnataka if he becomes KPCC president, he said he would be the first president from that region in about 15 years after Dr G Parameshwara, Dinesh Gundu Rao and DK Shivakumar. He said the party has done well in North Karnataka this time, and they will have to ensure that the numbers are retained in 2028 too. Asked about how to increase the party's dominant Lingayat community vote share, considering this has been spoken about at several party fora, he said that just announcing Basavanna as the cultural icon of the state might not be enough. 'We received sizeable Lingayat votes this time as Lingayats are voting Congress in greater numbers than before,' Jarkiholi said. With the party's national Ahinda push after the National Backward Classes meeting in New Delhi, where they are looking at a possible Mandal 2.0, he said, 'Congress has always enjoyed the support of Ahinda, there may have been some communication issues in expressing it.'' During Mandal 1.0, the Congress had come out a big loser. About his reputation as a rational leader, and asked if he would push rationalism into the party space if he became president and also criticism that rationalism may not have many takers in the public space, he said, 'We will stick to the party's priorities in the party space and rationalism in personal space.''
