Renowned sculptor, Rajyotsava awardee Kanaka Murthy succumbs to Covid-19
Bengaluru, May 13: Renowned sculptor Kanaka Murthy died of COVID-19 at a private hospital here, her family sources said on Thursday.
Kanaka Murthy, 79, had developed COVID symptoms a few days ago and was under home quarantine.
However, her condition worsened and she was rushed to the hospital where she breathed her last.
She leaves her husband Narayana Murthy and daughter Sumathi, the sources said.
Murthy, born to Brahmin parents from Gadag, carved a niche for herself in a field dominated by men.
A visit to a temple in Mysuru made her choose a career in sculpting and thus, hammer and chisel became her friends forever.
Mourning her death, Kannada Development Authority Chairman T S Nagabharana said Kanaka Murthy had to face opposition for taking sculpting as a career but her commitment to her passion led her to her Guru, Vadiraj, who shaped her as a renowned sculptor.
The statues of Kannada litterateur Kuvempu near Lalbagh in Bengaluru, Wright Brothers outside Visvesvaraya Museum in the city, Gangubai Hangal, Bhimsen Joshi and K M Munshi stand testimony to her great work and finesse, he added.
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ASI taking proactive measures to mitigate any damage to Aurangzeb's tomb: Govt in Parliament
New Delhi (PTI): The Archaeological Survey of India has been continuously taking "proactive measures" in coordination with district administration to "mitigate" any damage to the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Maharashtra's Khuldabad, Parliament was informed on Thursday.
Union Culture Minster Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said this in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha.
He was asked whether it is a fact that tomb of Aurangzeb is an ASI-protected monument, and if so, whether these details have been "mentioned in the ASI website or removed on the pretext of recent threats".
"The tomb of Aurangzeb at Khuldabad, district Aurangabad, Maharashtra is an ASI-protected monument. The details are available at ASI's website," Shekhawat said.
The tomb of Aurangzeb is under jurisdiction of Aurangabad Circle of the ASI.
The Union minister was also asked whether it has come to notice of the ASI that this particular protected monument is under threat of demolition from extremist groups; and if so, the actions taken up by the ASI to protect this monument.
"ASI has been continuously taking proactive measures in coordination with District Administration to mitigate any damage to the protected monument. Further, action taken includes providing 12 feet high metal sheet around the tomb, concertina wire over the surrounding walls to check the trespassers, deployment of private security personnel in addition to Multi Tasking Staff and inspection on regular intervals by ASI officials," he said.
