Shivaram Karanth

Shivaram Karanth
Kota Shivaram Karanth (10 October 1902 – 9 December 1997), also abbreviated as K. Shivaram Karanth, 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". He was the third writer to be decorated with the Jnanpith Award for Kannada, the highest literary honor conferred in India. His son Ullas is an ecological conservationist.
Early life
Shivaram Karanth was born on 10 October 1902, in Kota near Kundapura in the Udupi district of Karnataka to a Kannada-speaking Smartha Bhramin 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, for five years till 1927. By that time, Karanth had already started writing fiction novels and plays.
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.
Karanth was an intellectual and environmentalist who made notable contribution to the art and culture of Karnataka. 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. 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. 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. His Mookajjiya Kanasugalu novel won Jnanpith award.
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 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.
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 he 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. The government of Karnataka declared a two-day mourning in the State as a mark of respect.
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.
Memorial
Shivarama Karantha Balavana
Shivarama Karantha Balavana is notable for its fame under the name of the Jnanapeeta awardee Dr. K. Shivarama Karantha, who lived in Puttur. In his memory his home now houses a museum, a park, and a recreation center.
Literary and national honors
Jnanapith Award – 1978
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship – 1985
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship – 1973
Padma Bhushan – 1968 (He returned his Padma Bhushan honour in protest against the Emergency imposed in India)
Sahitya Akademi Award – 1959
Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award
Rajyotsava Prashasti – 1986
Sangeet Natak Award
Pampa Award – 1989
Swedish Academy award
Tulsi Samman – 1990
Dadabhai Nauroji Award – 1990
Honorary Doctorates from Mysore University, Meerut University, Karnatak University and others.
Film Awards
1975 – National Film Award for Best Story Writer – Chomana Dudi
2010 – National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention – Bettada Jeeva
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")
Dharmarayana Samsara ("Family of Dharmaraya")
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 Cinema
Chomana Dudi
Chigurida Kanasu
Maleya Makkalu (from Kudiyara Koosu Novel)
Bettada Jeeva
8 September (Tulu)
Mookajjiya Kanasugalu
See also
Kannada
Kannada literature
Yakshagana.
References
Further reading
Malini Mallya, Hattiradinda Kanda Hattu Mukhagalu
Malini Mallya, Naanu Kanda Karantaru
1902 births
1997 deaths
20th-century Indian poets
Indian atheists
Indian environmentalists
Indian male dramatists and playwrights
Indian male novelists
Kannada poets
Kannada-language writers
People from Udupi district
Recipients of the Jnanpith Award
Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education
Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Kannada
Novelists from Karnataka
20th-century Indian novelists
Poets from Karnataka
Dramatists and playwrights from Karnataka
20th-century Indian male writers
Special Mention (feature film) National Film Award winners
Best Story National Film Award winners
Magic realism writers
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship