From the fields of Kanakapura to the high-power corridors of Bengaluru, DK Shivakumar’s political journey comes full circle as he prepares to take oath as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka on June 3. India Today travels to his home turf in Doddalahalli to trace his roots. Locals recall a sixth-grade boy who dreamt of leading the state, a vision anchored by his deep devotion to the family deity at Kenkeramma temple. As celebrations erupt across his hometown, we explore the local boy's meteoric rise, his grassroots connection, and the educational legacy he built before taking the state's crown.