Indira Lankesh, Literary Figure and Businesswoman, Dies at 83 in Bengaluru

Indira Lankesh, a multifaceted personality who significantly contributed to modern Kannada literature, business, and media, passed away on Monday at her residence in Bengaluru. She was 83.

Indira Lankesh was known for building a successful saree business from the ground up and for her crucial role in the administration and publishing operations of Lankesh Patrike, the Kannada tabloid founded by her husband, the writer and journalist P. Lankesh. While her husband was the public face of the publication, Indira Lankesh was deeply involved in its growth and success, ensuring its place as an influential journalistic venture in the state.

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The achievements of P. Lankesh in the fields of literature, media and cinema would not have been possible without the immense support and contribution of Indira Lankesh.

Her literary contributions include the autobiographical work "Hulimavu Mattu Nanu," which was serialized in Gauri Lankesh Patrike. This memoir, reflecting on her life with P. Lankesh, is regarded as a landmark among women's memoirs in Kannada literature. She also remained engaged in book publishing throughout her life.

Political leaders and members of Karnataka's literary community paid tribute to her. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described her contributions as inseparable from her husband's achievements, stating that P. Lankesh's success in literature, media, and cinema would not have been possible without her immense support. He also recalled Indira Lankesh and her children being close to him and acknowledged her own writing and publishing responsibilities. Her passing comes years after the tragic killing of her eldest daughter, journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, in 2017.

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Indira Lankesh and her children were very close to me. She was involved in writing herself and also efficiently managed responsibilities related to book publishing.