The Story of 'Samyukta Karnataka' in brief

I joined `Samyukta Karnataka’ Daily, Bangalore Edition as Sub Editor, on 1-9-1958, promoted as Chief Sub Editor on 1-7-1964 and as News Editor on 1-7-1970 by Sri R.R.Diwakar, the then Editor of the Daily who headed the paper and Lok Shikshana Trust till October 1974.

The papers were sold by L.S.T. to M/s. Karnataka Patrika (P) Ltd., Sandur, patronised by Sri M.Y.Ghorpade, then Finance Minister in the Devaraja Urs Ministry. After certain political changes in the country, the KPP sold the papers to M/s. Jayakakarnataka Newsprinters Ltd., Bangalore, under the chairmanship of Sri H.R.Basavaraj, then M.P. and staunch supporter of Sri Urs. This changeover took place in December 1977. When Sri Urs lost the 1980 elections, the Bangalore Edition of `Samyukta Karnataka’ was closed without any prior notice on 31-1-1980. With the assiduous struggle and efforts of the employees and with the goodwill and sympathy of the Government, as well as the accomodative gesture of the plaintiffs who had questioned the very sale of the publications, in the Dharwar District Judge’s Court, the Bangalore Edition was restarted w.e.f. 20-12-1980.

With the frequent changes in management, the Editorship has also changed hands as often, since 1974. KPP brought Sri Khadri Shamanna and Sri S.V.Jayasheela Rao, who were appointed as Editor-in-Chief and Joint Editor respectively for both the Editions. Sri K.Janardana was made Resident Editor at Hubli. After JKNP took over, Sri Khadri Shamanna had to leave soon, and Sri P.S.Bhat became Editor, Printer and Publisher of both the Editions and Sri S.V.Jayasheela Rao continued as Joint Editor. Sri H.R.Basavaraj was Managing Editor of both the Editions. Sri P.S.Bhat had to leave the Editorship in the middle of 1980, whose place was filled up by the Resident Editor Sri M.Nagaraja Rao. For a short spell, Sri R.B.Kulkarni was appointed as Editor for Bangalore Edition only, in Sri P.S.Bhat’s place and after he left, the Editor’s post at Bangalore was not filled and the Edition was also closed on 31-1-1980.
Sri K.Janardana left after the closure of the Bangalore Edition. When the Charity Commisioner was asked by the Dharwar Court to take charge of the publications as receiver in September 1980, he assumed the Editorship of the Hubli Edition and he was later replaced by Sri B.V.Jigjinni, another receiver appointed by the court. Bangalore Edition was restarted w.e.f. 20-12-1980 under the editorship of a new person Sri B.S.Gopala Krishna. He was made the editor of the Hubli Edition also in July 1980. The Government took over the administration of the LST by a Special Ordinance w.e.f. 1-9-1981 and its affairs were being managed by an Administrator appointed by Government ever since. Sri S.V.Jayasheela Rao left the service in June 1982 I am now the Assistant Editor since 1-9-1983.

- H.R.Nagesha Rao

[17-4-1984]

[A story published in the 'Samyukta Karnataka', Bangalore Edition in the year 1978 lead to Dr.H.L.Timmegowda of Janata Party filing a case against Congress Leader L.G.Havanur. HRN, as the news editor of the paper, was one of the witnesses summoned by the High Court of Karnataka to be present in the hearings, which went on for six years flat. Though HRN was on leave with prior permission on the day of making that edition, he was held responsible for the publication of that news. However, both the parties amicably settled at the end of the day. An affidavit submitted by HRN to the court briefly describes the story of SK in short.]