Daijiworld Media Network – Bidar
Bidar, Jan 17: Former minister and honorary president of the Veerashaiva Mahasabha, centenarian Dr Bheemanna Khandre, passed away due to age-related ailments on Friday. He was 103.
A towering public figure from the Bhalki constituency, Dr Khandre had been active in public life for over six decades and was widely respected for his people-centric initiatives. He had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bidar for the past several days following breathing difficulties and fluctuations in blood pressure. He was shifted home a few days ago, where he breathed his last.
Dr Khandre is survived by his son Eshwar Khandre, who is currently serving as Karnataka’s minister for forests, ecology and environment and Bidar district in-charge minister. His grandson Sagar Khandre is the sitting Member of Parliament from Bidar.
Dr Bheemanna Khandre entered public life in 1953 after becoming the first elected president of the Bhalki municipality. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1962 and went on to serve four terms as an MLA and two terms as a Member of the Legislative Council. He also served as transport minister in the cabinet of former chief minister M Veerappa Moily.
Known as a stalwart of the cooperative movement and a champion of farmers’ welfare, Dr Khandre served as the founding president of the Bidar Cooperative Sugar Factory at Hallikhed and the Mahatma Gandhi Sugar Factory at Hunaji. He also played a key role in the implementation of the Naranja and Karanja irrigation projects.
A freedom fighter and a participant in the Hyderabad Liberation Movement, Dr Khandre actively opposed the atrocities of the Razakars. During the reorganisation of states, he worked relentlessly to ensure that Bidar district remained part of Karnataka. In recognition of his contribution, he was honoured with the Suvarna Ekikarana Rajya Award.
As president of the Shantivardhak Education Institutions, Dr Khandre made significant contributions to education, particularly for women, by establishing the Akkamahadevi College in Bidar and an engineering college in Bhalki. Notably, he even relinquished his ministerial position to fulfil his dream of setting up an engineering college in his constituency.
He also served as the national president of the Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha and was instrumental in uniting the community. Under his leadership, the organisation’s membership grew from a few thousand to nearly one lakh, reflecting his strong organisational abilities and leadership.
Dr Bheemanna Khandre’s demise marks the end of an era in Karnataka’s political and social landscape, with leaders across parties and sections of society expressing deep condolences.