Dr. Rajkumar passed away on April 12, 2006

It's a mourning day for the entire State, the film industry and for millions of Kannadigas around the world. The legendary Dr. Rajkumar who never lived for himself passed away early afternoon today (April 12, 2006) after a heart attack. He breathed his last on the way to M.S. Ramaiah hospital, says the sources. He was 78.

Rajkumar in film Hosabelaku

The body of Rajkumar was brought to his residence at Sadashivnagar. By then, several thousand fans and followers flooded the whole area who desperately wanted to see their idol. The body was kept at his residence for a brief while but immediate arrangements were made by the government to keep the thespian's body at Sri Kanteerava Stadium for fans and public to pay their last respects. Ambulance carrying his body literally crawled on Bangalore roads that were choked up by innumerable fans and followers. It took a few hours for them to reach Kanteerava Stadium from Sadashivanagar via Vidhana Soudha.

As per the wishes of this legendary, his eyes were donated to the Eye Bank. Dr Bhujanga Shetty of Narayana Nethralaya performed the surgery to remove the eyes soon after he died. A statewide holiday has been declared by the CM. Both the CM and Parvatamma Rajkumar have appealed to public to maintain peace.

Dr. Rajkumar was highly disturbed by the death of his brother Varadaraju recently. Varadaraju was an integral part of Vajreshwari Combines. Like in most stereotype film climax where death of the hero leaves many with moist-eyed, real life climax of this unprecedented hero too witnessed of teary-eyed family member, friends, industry people and thousands of fans and followers.

Rajkumar in film Bedara Kannappa

It was with deep sorrow and grief that we heard the death of Dr. Rajkumar, the unprecedented hero. Even though it is a natural factor for any human being to die, the death of our beloved hero brought sorrow and grief on us. It is not only the family, friends and relatives of Rajkumar that are grieving but the whole State and thousand and thousands of Kannadigas around the world. Hence, we extend our heart-felt condolence to the family, relatives, friends and fans of Dr. Raj.

Even if death is a common phenomenon that exists among human beings, the death of certain individuals is very lacerating. There are individuals, even if they die, who will be remembered in history forever. The death of Dr. Rajkumar is undoubtedly of this type. Once again, we extend our heart-felt condolence to the family, relatives, friends and fans of Dr. Rajkumar - the legendary.