The book was released by Sandhya S Pai, editor of Taranga, a Kannada weekly. Written by noted film journalist B Ganapathi, the book is a compilation of interviews of Rajkumar conducted over six years.

Speaking on the occasion, litterateur Baragur Ramachandrappa said though Rajkumar rose to become a phenomenon, he never forgot his poor, rustic roots. The late thespian’s sons Shivarajkumar and Puneet Rajkumar were also present at the function.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/june22006/city21546200661.asp

Over 1,000 policemen including KSRP and District Armed Reserve (DAR) platoons, fire brigade personnel, ambulances and emergency services made the offering to the departed soul incident-free and peaceful. Those closely associated with Rajkumar’s family narrated anecdotes about his eagerness to ensure that all the 24 workers of the household ate in silver plates.

One of them recalled how Raj washed his own clothes till the end. The narrations were interrupted with sobs. Inside the farm, Rajkumar’s mother and younger brother are buried beside each other. Special flower offerings were also made in a room adorned with the pictures of Raj’s parents. Kannada film industry people including Jayanti, Shruti, Rajendra Singh Babu, Vijay Raghavendra, Mamata Rao, Rockline Venkatesh, Devaraj, Anu Prabhakar, Sunder Raj and Kumar and Madhu Bangarappa among others attended the ceremony.

Earlier in the day, actress Jayaprada who co-starred with Rajkumar in his last movie Shabdavedhi, met Raj family members at his residence in Sadashivnagar here and offered her condolences. At an informal press conference held at the farm, eldest son Shivarajkumar said a cheque of Rs 50,000 each will be given to the family members of the eight persons who were killed in the violence that erupted after Rajkumar’s death. Second son Raghavendra spoke of the Rajkumar Trust and Shaktidhama voluntary organisation, which will continue to do focused work in the name of Rajkumar. “We will set aside 40 per cent of our time for constructive work like educating the poor, in the name of our father,” he added.

Rajkumar’s three sons also said they would give a week’s time for the release of new Kannada releases of other producers that were put on hold on account of the actor’s death. “Only after that will we release our own films,” Shivrajkumar added. Raghavendra said the family will discuss with the government and industry colleagues on the ever lasting contribution that can be made with Raj’s memorabilia. Raghavendra also recalled how every year on his birthday, April 24, Rajkumar would come out on the balcony of his residence to wave at his fans. “This year we will keep a photograph of his at the gate and serve sweets to those who visit us, appaji would have loved it,” he added.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr232006/index2116482006422.asp