K. Shivaram Karanth

Kota Shivarama Karanth (10 October 1902 – 9 December 1997) was an Indian polymath, who was a novelist in Kannada language, playwright and an ecological conservationist. Ramachandra Guha called him the "Rabindranath Tagore of Modern India, who has been one of the finest novelists-activists since independence".[4] He was the third writer[5] to be decorated with the Jnanpith Award for Kannada, the highest literary honor conferred in India.[6] His son Ullas is an ecological conservationist.[3]

For other uses, see Karanth (disambiguation).

K. Shivarama Karanth
Born(1902-10-10)10 October 1902
Kota, Udupi, British India
Died9 December 1997(1997-12-09) (aged 95)
Manipal, Karnataka, India
OccupationNovelist, playwright, conservationist[1][2]
NationalityIndian
Period1924–1997[3]
GenreFiction, popular science, literature for children, dance-drama
Literary movementNavodaya
Spouse
Leela Alva
​
(m. 1936⁠–⁠1986)​
Children4; including Ullas

Early life

Shivaram Karanth was born on 10 October 1902,[7] in Kota near Kundapura in the Udupi district of Karnataka to a Kannada-speaking family. The fifth child of his parents Shesha Karantha and Lakshmamma, he completed his primary education in Kundapura and Mangalore. Shivaram Karanth was influenced by Gandhi's principles and took part in Indian Independence movement when he was in college. His participation in the Non-cooperation movement did not allow him to complete his college education which he quit in February 1922. He canvassed for khadi and swadeshi in Karnataka led by Indian National Congress leader Karnad Sadashiva Rao,[8] for five years till 1927.[7] By that time, Karanth had already started writing fiction novels and plays.[7]

Career

Karanth began writing in 1924 and soon published his first book, Rashtrageetha Sudhakara, a collection of poems. His first novel was Vichitrakoota. Subsequent works like Nirbhagya Janma ("Unfortunate Birth") and Sooleya Samsara ("Family of a Prostitute") mirrored the pathetic conditions of the poor. His magnum opus Devaddhootaru, a satire on contemporary India, was published in 1928.[3]

Karanth was an intellectual and environmentalist who made notable contribution to the art and culture of Karnataka.[7] He is considered one of the most influential novelists in the Kannada language. His novels Marali Mannige, Bettada Jeeva, Alida Mele, Mookajjiya Kanasugalu, Mai Managala Suliyalli, Ade OOru Ade Mara, Shaneeshwarana Neralinalli, Kudiyara Koosu, Svapnada Hole, Sarsammana Samadhi, and Chomana Dudi are widely read and have received critical acclaim.[7] He wrote two books on Karnataka's ancient stage dance-drama Yakshagana (1957 and 1975).

He was involved in experiments in the technique of printing for some years in the 1930s and 1940s and printed his own novels, but incurred financial losses. He was also a painter and was deeply concerned with the issue of nuclear energy and its impact on the environment.[9] At the age of 90, he wrote a book on birds (published during 2002 by Manohara Grantha Mala, Dharwad).

He wrote, apart from his forty-seven novels, thirty-one plays, four short story collections, six books of essays and sketches, thirteen books on art, two volumes of poems, nine encyclopedias, and over one hundred articles on various issues.[9]

Personal life

Karanth married Leela Alva, a student in the school that Karanth taught dance and directed plays in. Leela belonged to the Bunt community and was the daughter of a businessman, K. D. Alva. They married on 6 May 1936. The couple subsequently attracted ridicule from people in the region over their inter-caste marriage; Karanth belonged to an orthodox Brahmin community. Leela, who had her early education in Marathi language, re-learnt Kannada after marriage and translated the Marathi novel Pan Lakshat Kon Gheto into Kannada. As a dancer, she participated in Karanth's operas. The Karanths had four children together: sons, Harsha and Ullas, a conservationist; and daughters, Malavika and Kshama. His mother's influence on Karanth was described by Ullas as: "It was our mother who shaped Karanth's life... She was the backbone of all his endeavours. She was also quite well-read, and she dedicated all of her talents to her husband. She took care of all household responsibilities." The family lived in the Puttur town of Dakshina Kannada, a district in the South Karnataka region, before moving to Saligrama, a town 2 miles (3.2 km) from Karanth's birthplace Kota, in 1974. A few years prior to this, their eldest son Harsha died leaving Leela suffer from "depression and hallucinations". Leela died in September 1986. It was also the year that Karanth's final novel was published.[8]

Karanth was admitted to Kasturba Medical College in Manipal on 2 December 1997 to be treated for viral fever. He suffered from a cardiac respiratory arrest two days later and slipped into a coma. On 8 December, his kidneys began to fail and subsequently developed severe acidosis and sepsis, following which he was put on dialysis. Efforts to revive him failed and he died at 11:35 a.m. (IST) the following day, aged 95.[3][10] The government of Karnataka declared a two-day mourning in the State as a mark of respect.[10]

Popularity

Many of Karanth's novels have been translated into other Indian languages. Marali Mannige got translated to English by Padma Ramachandra Sharma, has been conferred the State Sahitya Akademi award.

Literary and national honors
Karanth on a 2003 stamp of India

Film awards

Writings

Novels

  • Mookajjiya Kanasugalu ("Dreams of Mookajji Granny") (Jnanpith award winning novel)
  • Marali Mannige ("Back to the Soil")
  • Chomana Dudi ("Drum of Choma")
  • Mai Managala Suliyalli ("In the Whirlpool of Body and Soul")
  • Bettada Jeeva ("Life in the Hills")
  • Sarasammana Samadhi ("Grave of Sarasamma")
  • Dharmayana Samsara ("Family of Dharmaya")
  • Alida Mele ("After Death")
  • Kudiyara Kusu ("Infant of Kudiya")
  • Mailikallinodane Matukate ("Conversation with the Milestone")
  • Chiguridha Kanasu"
  • Mugida Yudda" ("Completed War")
  • Moojanma
  • Dharmarayana Samsara
  • Kevala Manushyaru
  • Illeyamba
  • Iddaru Chinthe
  • Navu Kattida Swarga
  • Nashta Diggajagalu
  • Kanniddu Kanaru
  • Gedda Doddasthike
  • Kannadiyalli Kandatha
  • Antida Aparanji
  • Halliya Hattu Samastharu
  • Sameekshe
  • Moga Padeda Mana
  • Shaneeshwarana Neralinalli
  • Nambidavara Naka Naraka
  • Oudaryada Urulalli
  • Onti Dani
  • Odahuttidavaru
  • Swapnada Hole
  • Jaruva Dariyalli
  • Ukkida Nore
  • Balveye Belaku
  • Ala Nirala
  • Gondaranya
  • Ade Uru Ade Mara
  • Innonde Dari
  • Jagadoddara Na
  • Bathada Thore


Science Books

  • Nature, Science and Environment
  • Vijnana prapancha ("The World of Science")
  • Adbhuta jagattu ("Wonderful World")
  • Prani Prapancha
  • Prani Prapanchada Vismayagalu
  • Pakshigala Adbhuta Loka

Plays

  • Yaksagana – English translation, Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (1997)
  • Yakshagana Bayalata

Children's books

  • Dum Dum Dolu
  • Oduva Ata
  • Vishala Sagaragalu
  • Balaprapancha – Makkalavishwakosha – Vol 1,2,3
  • Mailikallinodane Matukathegalu
  • Mariyappana Sahasagalu
  • Nachiketa – Ack
  • Ibbara Gaja Panditaru
  • Oduva Ata – Sirigannada Pathamale
  • Mathina Sethuve
  • Jatayu Hanumanta
  • Huliraya

Autobiography

  • Hucchu Manasina Hatthu Mukhagalu (English translation: "Ten Faces of a Crazy Mind", by H Y Sharada Prasad)
  • Smriti Pataladinda (Vol 1–3)

Travelogue

  • Abuvinda Baramakke
  • Arasikaralla
  • Apoorva Paschima ("Incomparable West")
  • Paataalakke Payana ("Travel to the nether world")

Biography

  • Panje Mangesharayaru : Kannada Nadu Mattu Kannadigara Parampare
  • Sri Ramakrishnara Jeevana Charithre

Art, Architecture and Other

  • Kaladarshana
  • Bharatheya Chitrakale
  • Jnana ("Knowledge")
  • Sirigannada Artha Kosha
  • Kala Prapancha
  • Yaksharangakkagi Pravasa
  • Arivina Ananda
  • Life The Only Light – A Guide To Saner Living
  • Chalukya Shilpakale

Kannada and Tulu cinema

See also

References
  1. "Karanth: Myriad-minded "Monarch of the Seashore"". The Indian Express. 10 December 1997. Archived from the original on 8 October 1999. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  2. Dutt, Kartik Chandra (1999) [1999]. Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M. New Delhi: Sahitya Academy. p. 575. ISBN 81-260-0873-3.
  3. "Shivarama Karanth is dead". Rediff on the Net. 9 December 1997. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  4. The Arun Shourie of the left. Thehindu.com (26 November 2000). Retrieved on 2018-11-15.
  5. "Jnanapeeth Awards". Ekavi. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2006.
  6. "Jnanpith Laureates Official listings". Jnanpith Website. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007.
  7. Guha, Ramachandra (13 October 2002). "The Kannada colossus". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 November 2006.
  8. Rāmacandran, Si En (2001). K. Shivarama Karanth. Sahitya Akademi. p. 7–22. ISBN 9788126010714. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  9. A walk through the life of Karanth – KARNATAKA. The Hindu (26 February 2013). Retrieved on 2018-11-15.
  10. "Literary legend Karanth dead". The Indian Express. Press Trust of India. 10 December 1997. Archived from the original on 17 August 2003. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  11. Kāranta, Śivarāma (1997) [1997]. Yakshagana. Abhinav Publications. p. 253. ISBN 81-7017-357-4.
  12. "Fellow and Honorary Fellows". Sahitya Akademi-National Academi of Letters. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  13. "Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna Puraskar (Akademi Fellows)". Sahitya Natak Akademi-National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2014.

Further reading
  • Malini Mallya, Hattiradinda Kanda Hattu Mukhagalu
  • Malini Mallya, Naanu Kanda Karantaru
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