Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 29: K Shivaram, a former IAS officer who ventured into acting and politics, passed away at a hospital in Bengaluru on Thursday at the age of 70.

Born on April 6, 1953, to drama master Kempaiah and his wife Chikkaboramma in Urugahalli village, Ramanagar district, Shivaram wore many hats and found success in bureaucracy and acting, although his political career never fully materialized.

One of his most notable achievements was being the first person to clear the UPSC exam in Kannada.

After completing his matriculation from Government High School in Malleswaram and a course in typing and shorthand, Shivaram secured a job in the state government in 1972. The following year, he joined the police department's intelligence wing as a police reporter.

While working, he pursued BA and MA degrees through evening and distance learning. In 1985, he passed the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) exam and was appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Shivaram made history in 1986 by becoming the first person to clear the UPSC exam in Kannada, fulfilling a childhood dream.

His film career took off with the 1993 hit 'Baa Nalle Madhuchandrake,' a musical and romantic thriller directed by Nagathihalli Chandrashekar. However, most of his subsequent film ventures didn't fare well, leading him to refocus on his bureaucratic career. He retired in 2013 as the Bengaluru regional commissioner.

Post-retirement, he joined the Congress party, later switching to JD(S) and contesting in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Bijapur, where he lost to the BJP's Ramesh Jigajinagi. Eventually, he joined the BJP and was appointed to its state executive committee.

He is survived by his wife Vani Shivaram and a daughter, who is married to Kannada actor Pradeep.