Karnataka Minister Kimmane Rathnakar displays great valour

Valour is Courage / Bravery……….. we were brought up and live in an age, where we have seen valour – more on screen rather than in real life…  the hero can do nothing wrong ~ he will have the moral anger to fight the evil – he will display – power, courage, action all in adversity and will fight for the poor and downtrodden………… is that what heroism is all about…

Read somewhere that the elements of heroism are : voluntary action, involves taking some risk; act made not with any particular benefit or material gain but for others.  It is the concern for those in need, the righteous anger to defend the moral cause taking personal risks and accomplishing it enduring great risk………………

Thirthahalli, a remote town in Shimoga district located on the banks of river Tunga can feel happy; it residents can take reasonable pride in electing a person who is presently the Minister for Primary and Secondary education in the present Govt of Karnataka.  There are administrators and Ministers and what makes their representative miles apart….. the man is - Kimmane Rathnakar, an advocate by profession……….. it is heroic act that is worth mention in all National media – in the top news.   

The Minister has just saved the life of five persons in a car that had slipped into a roadside tank near Beguvalli village in Tirthahalli taluk on Tuesday. Newspaper reports state that Uday Kumar, who runs an electrical shop in Bhadravathi had been to his in-laws’ house in Karkala in his four-wheeler. While returning to Bhadravathi, he failed to negotiate a bend near Beguvalli and the car fell into the water tank. Mr. Kumar and five other members of his family had thrust their hands out of the sinking car for help.

Mr. Rathnakar was travelling to Bangalore from his hometown Tirthahalli on the route. On noticing the car sinking in the water tank, minister ordered his driver to stop. Drivers Chandrashekhar, Krishnamurthy and gunman Halaswamy jumped into the tank and rescued Mr. Kumar, his wife Suma, mother Geetha, his eight-year-old son and his three-year-old nephew.

The Minister and his accompaniment cared to stop, reach for those in distress, pulled them out, called for medical attention, provided clothes – virtually did everything that we can only dream of doing.  On top of that, he did not boast, gave due credit to his team as also the locals who cooperated in the grand rescue.

Naturally, it is sort of rebirth to the family of those who were in the car.  The owner is quoted as stating that after the car fell in to the tank, water began to gush in and they were unable to open the doors too.  On seeing them drowning, Kimmane, his gunman Halswamy, driver Chandrashekar and his escort vehicle driver Krishnamurthy jumped into the water immediately for rescue. All the inmates of the car were rescued.

One newspaper suggests that the incident started around 7 AM when a Maruti Swift overtook Ratnakar’s car at about 20 kms away from Thirthahalli. After 15 minutes later Ratnakar found the same Maruti Swift sinking in Beguvalli lake……….. somebody driving faster than bigger car driven by professionals………… probably this Minister was not instructing his driver to hurry ~ more importantly had the care and concern to stop on the way upon noticing a distress……….. really humane and good. 

Mr. Ratnakar belongs  to Indian National Congress and beat RM Manjunatha Gowda (KJP) by 1343 Votes in 2013 assembly elections from Thirthahalli Constituency in Shimoga.

Hats off to you Sir

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

19^th Sept. 2013.

Car photo courtesy : dainikbhaskar