Karnataka: Tahsildar turns sanyasi

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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MYSORE: Tahsildar Nagaraj, an upright officer known for his commitment to serve the poor, stunned everyone by renouncing the world..

MYSORE: Tahsildar Nagaraj, an upright officer known for his commitment to serve the poor, stunned everyone by renouncing the world at a deeksha ceremony held during the Guru Poornima celebrations at Adichunchanagiri Mutt.
H L Nagaraj is now Sri Nishchalananda Swamiji, a seer of Adichunchanagiri Mutt headed by Sri Balagangadharanatha Swami. Nagaraj's decision to take up sanyas was strongly opposed by his parents, friends and wellwishers. Even the head seer had advised him to address his family's problems and convince his parents before renouncing the world.Nagaraj, 38, who had joined as tahsildar on July 15, 2006, quit service to take up Deeksha in the presence of thousands of devotees on Friday, coincidentally on July 15, 2011. Nagaraj had served in Holenarsipur in Hassan district, Nagamanagala and K R Pet. The public had opposed his transfer last year. Fed up with political pressure and corruption, Nagaraj had sought solace in the mutt for a couple of weeks.

Hailing from a poor farmer family at Yaraganahalli in Kunigal taluk of Tumkur district, Nagaraj, son of Gangamma and Lingaiah, studied in Sidhaganga Mutt's school at Hirehalli in Kyathasandra. Interested in spirituality, he came in contact with mutts after doing his Masters in Economics and Doctorate in Micro Economics from Bangalore

University.

"We conducted classes for SDC, FDC and KAS examinations at Vijayanagar, Bangalore. I secured good marks to get the tahsildar's post without paying bribe or influence."

"As tahsildar, I had limited scope to serve people. But, as a Swamiji, I will serve the society, particularly students from rural background," he said.