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As expected, on Wednesday, November 15, a cheerful-looking
Dr Rajkumar stepped onto Karnataka soil instead of going to
Chennai first after his 108 day ordeal. He alongwith another
hostage, Nagesh, landed from a special helicopter on Thursday
morning at Jakkur Airport and straight away drove to Vidhana
Soudha to address a crowded press conference.
After SM Krishna, the Karnataka Chief Minister’s address
in which he re-introduced and submitted the icon of Kannada
cinema, Dr Rajkumar, to the Karnataka State, the icon spoke
in Kannada for 25 minutes.
“I am totally thrilled and I can’t believe I am
here. I am yet to come out of the hangover. Yet there is happiness
as well as sadness in my mind. I find a very different and
rare atmosphere now, like a new world is before me. I wonder
now how I stayed there for so many days,” started off
Dr Rajkumar. “Initially, I thought I was being kidnapped
for a brief period, like ten to 15 days. But it continued
in a shocking and sickening way. What do I express? I lived
in a forest, amongst elephants and Veerappan and his gang
were my companions.
They were my relatives there. We were looked after well by
them. There were times when I used to think of my people,
fans, my wife, children and grand children. Those were the
most difficult and stressful days. In the 108 days of my captivity,
I alongwith the others must have moved to more than sixty
hideouts,” the icon disclosed adding, “My son-in-law
Govindaraju also a captive took ill. So I requested Veerappan
to send him back as he has heart problem. At this juncture
Neduraman came. I told Veerappan that I would stay as long
as he wants. Thus SA Govindaraju got released on health grounds.
Then only two of us were left behind. I was eagerly waiting
for my time to come. Now this happened,” told Dr Rajkumar.
“When it was mine and Nagesh’s turn for release,
we were kept in a secret hideout. We were informed that we
would be there for two days. But after that somehow the news
spread. It was like a dream. Travelling in the car on Wednesday,
I began questioning myself. There were strict instructions.
The person who had abducted us was supposed to reach his safe
place first. He wanted secrecy to be maintained as the police
should not barge. I am not aware whether Veerappan has left
his place or not,” Dr Rajkumar disclosed.
He went on to say that the escape of Nagappa, one of the four
hostages, created a lot of tension and raised the anguish
of Veerapan. A group was sent in search of Nagappa. “Our
hands were tied but I told them it was not necessary. It took
a lot of time for us to settle in the jungle,” he said
adding, “As the tension mounted, I told Veerappan and
his gang to free the others and keep me. ‘You can shoot
me, if you want’ I told him. I have enjoyed in my life
to the fullest, won awards and gained popularity. There is
no reason why I shouldn’t die. Just then, Veerappan came
and informed me that there will be no problem hereafter. He
cooled down and pacified all of us. The brigand one day told
me that a person like Nedumaran only can handle this situation.
Nakkeran Gopal came frequently. I met him one afternoon in
the forest itself. Though there were series of talks, I never
learnt the outcome. Then came Nedumaran and two others. Finally
the gang arrived with a doctor. I was told to undergo a medical
check up. The doctor, after checking my pulse rate, told Veerappan
that it was weak. I think it was a brave gesture on the lady
doctor Banu’s part. I realised that this time everything
was going in the right direction.”
Soon after his address, Dr Rajkumar said that it is now left
for the two Governments to take action on Veerappan or give
him amnesty. “But one thing is sure, Veerappan is human.
Otherwise it would not have been so easy for all of us to
come back without any trouble,” he stated.
There were slogans, bursting of crackers and Dr Rajkumar’s
fans thronged his residence at 18th Cross Road in Sadashivnagar.
The police had a very tough time controlling the crowd. Dr
Rajkumar waved to his fans with a flag of Karnataka and addressed
the gathering. “Abimanigalu Devaragule, (My fans are
like God to me) it is your affection and love which I feel
no one can take away. I am also indebted to the Government
of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as well as the Kannada film industry
for showing so much love and affection,” he said. Dr
Rajkumar hoped that the love and affection showered upon him
would also be passed on to his sons and grand children.
After stepping off his car, the icon first touched the ground
in front of his residence and did a namaskar. He was welcomed
with an aarthi. With tears of happiness in their eyes, his
family, relatives and close friends were present there. And
Dr Rajkumar went to each one of them and exchanged pleasantries
and inquired about their health.
Dr Rajkumar’s sons, Shivrajkumar and Raghavendra looked
gleeful while Puneet was offering homa at their residence.
Shivraj and Raghavendra thanked the two governments and the
people of Karnataka for remaining calm during the days of
crisis. Expressing the feelings on seeing Appaji, the siblings
said he just hugged them hard.
Vashistha
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