Fifteen years ago, I had the opportunity to accompany my late father, MV Venkatappa, the then Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, to Siddaganga Mutt. There, our family was blessed to meet His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamiji.

We were particularly impressed by what we saw at the Mutt. There were thousands of children being given free education, food and shelter (Trivida Dasohi), irrespective of their caste, creed and religion. That was what Swamiji had dedicated his life to, the education of the poor and the marginalised. He succeeded in transforming the lives of lakhs of children.

It is, therefore, a huge loss to humanity itself that such an inspirational figure, a living deity, is no more with us. He passed away on Monday, 21 January, in Tumkur at the ripe age of 111.