K Shivaram

Shivaramu Kempaiah, widely known as K. Shivramu, was a multifaceted figure in Indian society, excelling as an actor, politician, and former bureaucrat. Kannada actor Pradeep married Shivram's daughter.

Early Life 

Born on April 6, 1953, in Uragalli, Ramanagara District, K. Shivramu was the son of the late S. Kempaiah, a renowned drama master, and Chikkaboramma. He completed his primary education in his village before moving to Bangalore for high school at Malleshwaram Government School. After graduating high school in 1972, he pursued Typing and Shorthand courses in both English and Kannada. Subsequently, he secured a government job, joining the Crime Investigation Department (India) as a Police Reporter in May 1973. While working, he pursued higher education and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from V. V. Puram Evening College of Arts & Commerce.

He later obtained a Master of Arts in History through correspondence from the Mysore Open University in 1982. In 1985, he successfully passed the K.A.S. exam and became Deputy Superintendent of Police. The following year, he topped the Scheduled Caste community in the Karnataka Administrative Service exam, earning the position of Assistant Commissioner of Police (India). During his training at the Karnataka Police Academy, he achieved another milestone by clearing the civil services exam (UPSC) and was selected for the I.A.S., fulfilling his childhood dream. Notably, he became the first person in India to clear the IAS Exam in the Kannada Language.

Film Career

K. Shivram also ventured into the Kannada film industry, marking his debut in Sandalwood with the musical blockbuster movie "Baa Nalle Madhuchandrake" in 1993. He showcased his acting prowess in numerous films, including "Vasantha Kavya," "Sangliyana Part–3," "Prathibhatane," "Khalanayaka," "Yarige Beda Duddu," "Game For Love," "Naaga," and "O Prema Devathe." His last appearance on the silver screen was in his son-in-law Pradeep's "Tiger," released in 2017.

Political Career

After retiring as Bangalore Regional Commissioner, K. Shivramu entered politics, joining the Indian National Congress in 2013. He later became a member of the Janata Dal (Secular) and contested the Bijapur Lok Sabha constituency in 2014, albeit unsuccessfully. In the same year, he returned to the Indian National Congress to support the appointment of a Dalit leader as Deputy Chief Minister, sparking controversy. However, disillusioned with the party's failure to prioritize Dalit representation, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on October 14, 2014.

Death

K. Shivramu passed away on February 29th, 2024, after battling critical health conditions.