Girish Karnad apologises for Tipu controversy

November 11, 2015 18:01

Under severe attack for his remarks that Bengaluru International airport should have been named after 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan rather than the city founder Kempegowda, Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad on Wednesday offered his apology.

As he remained in the eye of a storm, the noted playwright and actor sought to end the controversy, saying, "If anybody has been hurt by my remarks, I apologise... what will I gain by doing it (by giving such comments)."

He said he had only expressed his view and there was no ulterior motive, as his remarks drew strong criticism and protests from different quarters.

In a controversial remark, Karnad had said that it would have been "apt" had the Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli near Bengaluru been named after Tipu Sultan rather than Kempegowda, a feudatory ruler under the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire who founded Bengaluru in 1537.

"It is true that Kempegowda was great, he founded Bengaluru. But he was not a freedom fighter, so naming Bengaluru airport after Tipu Sultan would have been apt," Karnad had said.

In another controversial remark at the same function, Karnad had said that Tipu Sultan would have enjoyed the same status as of Maratha king Chhatrapathi Shivaji, if he was a Hindu and not a Muslim.

BJP, JDS and various Kannada outfits slammed Karnad's remarks on naming the international airport after Kempegowda.

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