Hassan, 20 July

Chennamma Deve Gowda, the wife of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, was laid to rest with full state honours in Hassan district on Monday.

Chennamma was the mother of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna, a former minister.

She passed away on 18 July at the age of 89 after a cardiac arrest at a hospital in Bengaluru.

Her last rites were performed at the foothills of Ranganatha Swami Betta in Mavinakere village of Holenarasipura taluk in Hassan district.

Political differences took a back seat as senior leaders across party lines gathered at Mavinakere to pay their last respects.

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, ministers and senior Congress and BJP leaders were present to console the JD(S) first family in their moment of grief.

Besides a large number of mourners, religious heads of various mutts, including Adichunchanagiri Mutt pontiff Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji, and senior government officials, including DGP MA Saleem, paid their last respects.

Before the burial, a gun salute was accorded as part of the state honours. After the ceremony, police removed the tricolour draped over Chennamma's mortal remains.

Chief Minister Shivakumar then handed over the tricolour to an emotional Deve Gowda.

Kumaraswamy, Revanna and their sons shouldered the palanquin. Amid Vedic chants, the body was lowered into the grave.

Chennamma married Gowda in 1954, and the couple had four sons, Kumaraswamy, Revanna, HD Balakrishna and HD Ramesh, and two daughters.

Despite being the wife and mother of prominent politicians, Chennamma largely stayed away from public life.