Radio gaga — Someone still loves you

More than 20 messages were aired on the radio during the 107-day-long drama, the first one on August 1 and the last on November 10. Everybody had a message to send: the Government, Rajkumar, and the other hostages’ families. They sought refuge in the radio to pass on messages of hope from well-wishers, messages of courage, of concern and assurance to their loved ones.

Though Veerappan may not have reacted by immediately letting Rajkumar go, the messages did have an effect. Like on Rajkumar’s assistant and one of the hostages, Nagappa. “Over the radio, when I heard Akkavaru (Parvathamma) cry, I couldn’t control myself. I felt like seeing her. And so I ran away,” he said after escaping from Veerappan’s clutches after two months of confinement.

“Ri naanu Parvathi matadtidini. Hegiddira ri (I am Parvati speaking. How are you)?,” Parvathamma said in her first message to her husband on August 1, her voice tinged with pain and concern. In their first message, Rajkumar’s children each identified themselves by their pet name, and all expressed concern about their Appaji’s health.

Rajkumar’s yoga teacher, Honnappa Fakeerappa Naikar, too encouraged his shishya with a message. “Don’t worry,” he said. “Everything will be alright. We would always joke about the proverb `Karla (a God) karedaga barla (Shall I come when you call?)’. Remember that and forget your pain.”

Venugopal, who appeared in court for Veerappan’s TADA friends, had an appeal for the bandit too. “I am a lawyer. I am fighting for the release of your associates in Mysore. Release Rajkumar, respect my word. It is not fair to keep an old man like him in captivity for long.”

Parvathamma’s appeals to Veerappan became more fervent as the days passed and the ordeal seemed to see no end. “I have called you my brother. Respect your sister’s word and release him. I cannot live without seeing him,” she appealed in a later message, her voice quivering. “Release him. If not, we will all come to the forest. Hold us hostage too.”

The last radio message was aired on November 10, a day before the final trip for negotiating Rajkumar’s release was made. And here’s Parvathamma’s last message to Rajkumar: “This time the goal will definitely be fulfilled. Whoever you expected to come for negotiations is on his way. Everything will end soon.”