Bengaluru, Sep 25 (NationPress) The Congress-led administration in Karnataka has declared plans to erect a memorial in tribute to the esteemed Padma Bhushan awardee and celebrated Kannada author S.L. Bhyrappa.

Bhyrappa passed away on Wednesday due to a cardiac arrest in Bengaluru. His final rites will be conducted in Mysuru with state honors on Friday.

After paying his last respects at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah informed reporters, "I will not establish a memorial solely due to the BJP's insistence. We will construct a memorial, and I am contemplating Mysuru for it. Let us see. I wish to assure that our government will initiate steps to establish a memorial for him in the city of Mysuru, as he spent a significant portion of his life there."

"Bhyrappa began his writing journey during his student days. I am profoundly saddened by his passing," he expressed.

When questioned about their differing opinions, CM Siddaramaiah remarked, "Literature is one aspect, and personal relationships are another. Perspectives may vary. There is no mandate that our views must align. There is no obligation for me to be his admirer or to not be his admirer."

Bhyrappa was honored with the Padma Bhushan, the Saraswathi Samman, and numerous other accolades.

"Bhyrappa earned every one of them. He never sought awards, yet he did not receive the Jnanpith award. In my opinion, he should have been recognized with the Jnanpith," Siddaramaiah stated.

"The loss of S.L. Bhyrappa has diminished the literary community. He authored 25 novels and dedicated most of his life to Mysuru, where he pursued his education from high school to post-graduation. His novels have been translated into 40 languages. I believe Bhyrappa is the only author whose works have enjoyed such extensive translation," the CM noted.

"He had a wide readership in Kannada and other languages. Originating from a remote village, he toiled diligently throughout his life. His emphasis was on philosophy, yet he opted for literature. The remarkable thing is that, even while teaching, he continued to write literature, which is often extremely challenging," Siddaramaiah highlighted.

"Bhyrappa often stated that writing novels was a means to fulfill his heart's desire. He created works that received global acclaim. While I haven't read all his novels, I have gone through a few. His stories were drawn from his life experiences. His passing has left us mourning. He is survived by his wife and children - one residing in Mysuru and another in London," the CM remarked.

"I pray to God for his soul's peace and for strength to his family and admirers to endure this sorrow," he added.

Former CM B.S. Yediyurappa, BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra, the Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also paid their final tributes to Bhyrappa at the Ravindra Kalakshetra.