Veteran Gandhian Karim Khan died

Bangalore, July 29: Veteran freedom fighter and Gandhian S K Karim Khan died here today at the Jain Hospital following prolonged illness.

Mr Khan was admitted to hospital on July 10 with multiple complaints and the end came at 1150 hrs today, Dr Azam, treating him, told UNI.

Though the blood pressure was brought to normal, the infection to his lungs could not be cured, he added.

He was 98 years and a bachelor.

He was Born in 1908 in on the banks of Hemavathi River in Hassan District of Karnataka. His father Rehman Khan had migrated from Kabul, while mother Jainabi was originally from Saudi Arabia.

He was attracted to Gandhian philosophy at a very early age and entered the freedom movement. He was imprisoned eight times during the freedom movement. He had written more than 80 play for professional Kannada theaters of this Krishna leele, Humayun, Liala Majnu are still very popular. Despite being a Muslim, he had been a keen follower of Karnataka and Indian Culture.

Mr Khan, lived in Chennai for over a decade picking threads of film world and became a lyric and dialogue writer and excelled as film lyric writer. Many of his songs written for films were evergreen hits including 'Satyameva Jayate', 'Natavara Gangadhara' 'Nudimana Shivaguna', 'Chilipili Guttuva Hakkia Kandare'.

A multifacted personality, Khan was also a Journalist he had Editred Lokamitra of Dharwad, Antaranga of Udupi.

Mr Khan served in royal Indian Navy for a brief period and he served as Chairman of Kannada Janapada and Nataka Academy.

Mr Khan was awarded ''Janapada Sri'', the highest Folklure award in Karnataka, 'Jeeshampa' award besides Gulbarga and Hampi Universities had honoured him conferring honorary doctorates.

UNI