“My Son Aakash is Studying Law, Not Politics,” Says D.K. Shivakumar — Karnataka’s Gen Z Heir Chooses the Courtroom Over Campaigns
Bengaluru, October 25: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, known for his combative political instincts and a long list of legal battles, has revealed that his 20-year-old son Aakash Shivakumar—a Gen Z law student at MS Ramaiah Law College—has chosen the courtroom over the campaign trail.
In a reflective and humorous tone, Shivakumar said,
“Every morning I wake up to a dozen notices — from the Income Tax Department, CBI, ED, GST, you name it. So, I told my son: at least one person in the house should know the law. I asked him to study law instead of joining politics.”
Aakash, currently in his third year of law, completed his schooling at National Public School, Bengaluru, before enrolling at Ramaiah. Belonging to India’s Generation Z, his decision marks a generational shift within one of Karnataka’s most powerful political families — from the battlefield of ballots to the discipline of legal reasoning.
From the Streets to Statutes: Shivakumar’s Unfinished Dream
Recalling his own youth, Shivakumar revealed that he once dreamed of becoming a lawyer.
“When I was a student leader in SRC College, I always wanted to become a lawyer. But fate pulled me into politics. Those were the days of strong student movements — from Devaraj Urs to Gundu Rao’s time. I never became a lawyer, but now my son will fulfill that dream.”
His comments come as a rare personal disclosure from a politician often associated with resilience in the face of relentless legal scrutiny. From Income Tax raids to CBI and ED interrogations, Shivakumar has been under investigation for years, including a Tihar Jail stint in 2019 after his arrest in a money-laundering case.
Political observers note that his remark about Aakash studying law is not just fatherly advice — it reflects the hardened wisdom of a leader shaped by decades of legal warfare.
At Nyaymitra Bank’s Silver Jubilee, a Full Circle Moment
Shivakumar was speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebration of Nyaymitra Cooperative Bank at the Bengaluru City Civil Court premises — a bank he himself inaugurated 25 years ago as the Cooperation Minister alongside then Chief Minister S.M. Krishna.
“It’s a proud moment to see the bank I inaugurated celebrating its Silver Jubilee. Running a cooperative successfully for 25 years with honesty and profit is no small task,” he said, congratulating the management.
He also urged cooperative institutions to stay away from political interference.
“Politics should never be mixed with cooperative banks. Once politics enters, corruption follows. Discipline, transparency, and unity are the real foundations of cooperation.”
Support for Lawyers and Judiciary
Announcing a major financial gesture, Shivakumar declared a ₹5 crore grant for the Bengaluru Advocates’ Association, assuring that land and insurance support would follow.
“File the proposal, and I’ll get it cleared by the Chief Minister. We came to power to help people, not to accumulate enemies. But don’t forget those who stood by you,” he quipped.
A Generational Transition: Politics Meets Law
Political analysts interpret Shivakumar’s remarks as symbolic of a generational transition in Indian politics — from mass mobilization to institutional reform. While D.K. Shivakumar remains one of the Congress’s most battle-hardened strategists, his son Aakash represents a post-ideological generation that values professionalism and legal literacy over partisan aggression.
As the Deputy Chief Minister juggles governance and court hearings, his son prepares for the courtroom in an entirely different capacity — not as a defendant, but as a defender.
“He’s young, he’s focused, and he’s learning to read the very notices that have followed me for years,” Shivakumar said with a grin — a line that drew applause from the audience of lawyers and journalists alike.
A Father’s Strategy or a Political Rebrand?
For a leader often dubbed the “Congress troubleshooter” of Karnataka, Shivakumar’s remarks offer a softer, introspective glimpse — perhaps a rare public acknowledgment that political legacy alone cannot guarantee longevity.
By placing his Gen Z son in law school instead of political rallies, Shivakumar seems to be building both a personal firewall and a symbolic bridge between law and leadership.
Whether Aakash ultimately enters public life remains to be seen — but for now, Karnataka’s power broker has chosen to raise a lawyer, not a legislator.
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