Bengaluru, 03 April(HS): Chennu Mathad, a Delhi-based Kannadiga, has forwarded the following Facebook post:

This morning, while I was standing in line at the Chigari bus stand in Vidyanagar, Hubballi, to attend the Dharwad District Kannada Literary Conference being held in Dharwad, I was surprised to see Prof. I. G. Sanadi—who had served three terms as a Member of Parliament and also as a member of the Legislative Council with distinction—standing right in front of me, buying a ticket like everyone else.

If it had been any other politician who had held such high positions, they would have travelled in a luxurious car. But he was travelling by bus like an ordinary person—what else could this be if not a symbol of his simplicity?

Not only that, since we couldn’t find seats together on the bus, we had to sit separately. However, unable to resist, he requested the person sitting next to me and came to sit beside me. During the half-hour journey, he shared his political journey, experiences, and even memories of his childhood. He also spoke kindly to another passenger seated on the other side, inquiring about their well-being and even guiding them about the stop where they needed to get off.

Prof. I. G. Sanadi rose from extreme poverty. He holds postgraduate degrees in Kannada and Hindi. He served as a lecturer and later as a principal at Nehru College in Hubballi, earning great affection from the people. Kannada literature is his lifeblood, and the vachanas of the Sharanas flow effortlessly from his lips. Later, he entered active politics and was elected as a Member of Parliament from Dharwad South and Haveri constituencies. He also served a term as a member of the State Legislative Council.

Anyone else in his position, having held such offices, might have become a millionaire. But he has an exceptionally simple heart. He can recite verses from the Harishchandra Kavya fluently, and the way he described them so vividly during our half-hour journey deeply moved me.

I personally witnessed how warmly he speaks to everyone he meets on the road—even children—with genuine affection. I was truly amazed by his simplicity and goodness. In this modern age, is it even possible to have such simple leaders? Prof. I. G. Sanadi himself is the answer to that question.

There is much that today’s politicians can learn from him. If we too follow his ideals, society will surely improve.

Spending a few moments with him made me feel:

“Who is a saint? One who has realised divinity—

One who has found happiness in the principle of simplicity.”

May many more people like Prof. I. G. Sanadi emerge and flourish.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti