One was too much. And now one more was devastating. When GTN passed away, a void was created not only in the cultural world of our city but also in this paper for which he was a columnist on a variety of subjects with special emphasis on music and astronomy. Astrology bashing was another of his pastime with support from this newspaper. Now HSK is no more creating yet another void in the Kannada literary world and also in this paper and its sister publication Mysooru Mithra (Kannada) for which he used to write weekly columns.

HSK's proficiency in both Kannada and English was of high standard which was reflected in his writings, once again on a variety of subjects excluding science and music. Though Economics and Commerce were his forte, he was happy writing brief biographies of distinguished persons of the world. No wonder his column “Varada Vyakti” (Man of the Week) in the widely circulated Kannada weekly Sudha for many decades catapulted him to the position of a journalist par excellence making him forget the bad experience he had in Banumaiah's College which he quit under controversial circumstances.

Prof. D. Javare Gowda (Dejagow), former Vice - Chancellor of Mysore University, the man who had the sixth sense when it came to choosing the right person for the right job, casting aside the caste factor or refusing to relent to pressure from vested interests, indeed came to HSK's rescue, when the venerable Professor appointed him, along with GTN and late Prahlada Rao, as a team to produce Kannada encyclopedia at the Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies. It was both a challenge and an opportunity for this intellectual trio as also an employment opportunity for HSK.

Here is what Prof. Javare Gowda said of these three great academics: "I knew the secret of achieving administrative goals. Put deserving people in proper place for efficiency. Choose people who have keen interest in reaching the goal with a sense of commitment. Realising this, I appointed HSK, GTN and Prahlada Rao to the Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies." These people indeed had all the qualities Prof. Dejagow expected in them and the result is there for all of us to see. Sadly, of late, the standard of quality on this project is seen to be deteriorating. Understandable!

Though I have known HSK through his writings for the last 25 years, I have had no occasion to know him from close quarters. I guess he is basically a shy person, not outgoing kind like those who are voluble at gatherings and seminars. However, given a platform and a microphone, he would speak for hours in his ringing voice that will reach its crescendo as he concludes. His memory is phenomenal, elephantine even at the ripe age. Unexpectedly, the Sudha Kannada weekly terminated his regular column, some say for the reason that he was among those who publicly burnt the sister publication of Sudha, the Deccan Herald English newspaper during a Kannada agitation. Not being a pensioner, HSK found himself at a loose end for a habitual pen pusher, without work and the income that generated with it. Assignments as contributor to newspapers and magazines did not come despite expectations. His self - esteem did not allow him to approach anyone either. That was when GTN called me and asked if I would like to have a regular column from HSK.

I have never said “no” to GTN's requests which are, of course, rare and never personal. This time too my response was positive. As for the honorarium, it was to GTN's satisfaction. And to think HSK wrote without missing an issue till the last (his last column appeared on 2.9.2008 in Star of Mysore three days after his death) speaks eloquently about the qualities Prof. Dejagow spoke about. That despite age (88), he remained agile and active speaking at many functions while at the same time writing his column for this paper. Looking at the voluminous outpouring of his writing, I felt that it was not the moving finger of HSK that was writing but it was a virtual writing machine. I am told that he was admitted to the hospital soon after he completed writing the column for this paper that appeared on 02. 09. 2008. Like GTN, HSK too died in harness, with the pen in hand, in a manner of speaking.

When we wanted to give a name to his column, the one that came to mind was “The moving finger writes...” from Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat. And the moving finger of HSK kept on writing tirelessly till it stopped on the night of 29th August 2008. That such a learned person with such great skills in writing and also in speaking could not make it big for himself to the level he deserved is a sad commentary on our society. It was a small mercy that Prof. Dejagow on his part recognised HSK's scholarship and the beneficiary is the world of Kannada.

HSK was too humble and modest a person for his learning. And true to his life-style, which is gentle and unassuming, he left the world gently without troubling his near and dear ones while sick or during the hospitalisation. That the Chandrakala Hospital of Prof. Dejagow' s daughter and the B. M. Hospital of Dr. C.B. Murthy underwrote the expenses is proof of the high esteem with which HSK was held as also the noble quality of Prof. Dejagow and Dr. C.B. Murthy. In the last few years, it was Dr. M.G.R. Urs, a dilettante man of Chutuku Sahitya (limerick in quatrains) who stood by HSK at all times till the end. Almost like he was a doctor - friend on call for HSK. A dependable staff of support.

I would say that HSK did not die. He simply faded away from our midst. I don't want to say it, but here is my heartfelt farewell to you Sir, HSK.

K. B. Ganapathy
Editor in Chief
Star of Mysore
Mysore