Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s wife Chennamma passes away

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Chennamma Deve Gowda. File. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s wife Chennamma passed away following a cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday (July 18, 2026).She had been admitted to Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday night (July 16, 2026) with breathing complications, chest congestion and other age-related complications.“Ms. Chennamma suffered a massive cardiac arrest at 4 p.m. today despite her being on the road to recovery earlier,” said a communique from the hospital.She is survived by her husband, four sons, two daughters and several grandchildren. The last rites are expected to be conducted at Haradanahalli in Hassan district on Sunday.Companionship of seven decadesMarried to Mr. Gowda for 72 years, she was regarded as the pillar of support in the former Prime Minister’s long political career with various ups and downs. People recall her as a calm and composed presence.For Mr. Gowda’s followers across the Old Mysore region, particularly in Hassan and the neighbouring districts, Ms. Chennamma was more than a leader’s wife. When their leader was away travelling, she was often the person they turned to with their requests and grievances.Born in Muttige Hiehalli in Holenarasipur taluk, Ms. Chennamma entered Deve Gowda’s life on May 25, 1954, when the two were married. She was 17 years old then and Mr. Gowda 21. She was the daughter of Patel Deve Gowda, a respected village headman, and Kalamma. Mr. Gowda, who had completed his diploma at L.V. Polytechnic in Hassan, had by then decided to build a career as a civil contractor, turning down a government job. She had studied up to the lower secondary level before marriage.The year they married also marked the beginning of Mr. Gowda’s political career. He was nominated secretary of the Holenarasipur Taluk Industrial Cooperative Society. The following year, he was elected president of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society — the first election he contested.As Mr. Gowda immersed himself in politics and travelled extensively, Ms. Chennamma took charge of the family.Ms. Chennamma and her children began spending time in Bengaluru after Mr. Gowda became Leader of the Opposition in 1972. The family eventually moved to the city when he became a Minister in the 1980s. As Mr. Gowda’s political stature grew, so did the stream of visitors to their home, particularly from Hassan and the surrounding districts. Many in Hassan still recall Ms. Chennamma for her generosity and her remarkable ease in speaking with ordinary rural people about their struggles and everyday lives.An anecdote recorded in Furrows in the Field, a biography of Mr. Gowda written by journalist Sugata Srinivasaraju, offers a revealing glimpse into her character. When news broke that Mr. Gowda was set to become Prime Minister,Ms. Chennamma was consumed more by worry than pride. She spoke to IAS officer S.S. Meenakshisundaram, then Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, seeking to understand what lay ahead.She found it difficult to accept, she told him, that after such a long political struggle to become Chief Minister, her husband would now give up the post for a position in Delhi. She even insisted that the IAS officer accompany Mr. Gowda to the national capital.Acid attack incidentThe darkest chapter of Ms. Chennamma’s life came in 2001. On February 21, during Shivaratri, Ms. Chennamma and her daughter-in-law Bhavani, the wife of H.D. Revanna, visited the Eshwara temple. The two women were attacked with acid. The accused was identified as Mr. Gowda’s nephew, Lokesh. According to reports, under the guise of seeking Ms. Chennamma’s blessings, he poured acid on her head and splashed it on Bhavani.Ms. Chennamma sustained burns over nearly 70% of her body. She spent almost two months undergoing treatment at Mallya Hospital in Bengaluru. The attack was reportedly linked to a family dispute, and a judicial inquiry was ordered into the incident. Published - July 18, 2026 05:36 pm IST