Actor K Shivaram, who was the first person to crack the UPSC exam in Kannada, passed away on Thursday. He was 70.
Former IAS officer Shivaram, who also had innings in politics and acting, breathed his last at a Bengaluru hospital. He was undergoing treatment for multiple health problems, reports said sources close to his kin. K Shivaram is survived by his wife Vani Shivaram and a daughter. Kannada actor Pradeep is his son-in-law.
A native of Ramanagar district's Urugahalli, Shivaram was born on April 6, 1953, to drama master Kempaiah and his wife Chikkaboramma. He landed a government job in 1972 but managed to find a better opportunity in the intelligence department of the Karnataka Police the following year, news reports said.
Inspiring journey
While serving as the police reporter, Shivaram attended evening classes to pass UG and PG courses. In 1985, he passed the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) exam and was appointed as the Deputy Superintendent of Police. The following year he came out flying colours in the UPSC exam that he attended in his mother tongue Kannada, reports added.
Shivaram retired as the Bengaluru regional commissioner in 2013, the Deccan Herald said in a report. However, he managed to build an acting career in the meantime. After making his debut in 1993 in 'Baa Nalle Madhuchandrake', Shivaram went on to act in Vasantha Kavya (1996), Prarthibhatane (1999), Khalanayaka (1999), Naaga (0206) and O Prema Devathe (2007) among others.
Political stint
Shivaram joined the Indian National Congress after retirement. However, he switched allegiance to Janata Dal (Secular) and contested the 2014 general elections unsuccessfully from Bijapur seat, the DH report said. He made yet another switch to the BJP, the very party that defeated him in 2014 and was selected to the party's executive committee.
