Kota Shivaram Karanth

Kota Shivaram Karanth (Kannada: ಕೋಟಾ ಶಿವರಾಮ ಕಾರಂತ)
(October 10, 1902 - December 9, 1997)
Kota Shivaram Karanth was a major Kannada writer, social activist, environmentalist, Yakshagana artist, film maker and thinker. He was described as the "finest novelist-activist of modern India" by Ramachandra Guha. He was the third person among seven recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada the highest literary honour conferred by the Govt. of India. He was conferred Padma Bhushan by Government of India which later he returned in protest against the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi.
Born : 10 October 1902
Saligrama, Udupi district, Karnataka
Died 9 December 1997 (aged 95)
Manipal, Udupi district, Karnataka
Occupation Writer, Film director, Journalist
Nationality India
Writing period 1902-1997
Genres Fiction, Popular science, Literature for children
Literary movement Navodaya
Early life
Shivaram Karanth was born in Kota near Udupi in the Udupi district of Karnataka to a native Kannada family. Being 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 while he was in college. He left his degree half way to participate in the Non-cooperation movement. He worked for khadi and swadeshi for five years, till about 1927. By that time Karanth had already started writing fiction-detective novels, to begin with — as well as plays. [3] He married Leela Karanth when he was well past 30.
Career
Karanth was an intellectual and environmentalist who tremendously contributed to art and culture of Karnataka. He is considered one of the greatest novelists in Kannada. Some of his novels like Marali Mannige, Bettada Jeeva, Alida Mele, Mookajjiya Kanasugalu and Chomana Dudi are widely read and continue to be discussed even today. Other novels like Mai Managala Suliyalli, Ade OOru Ade Mara, Shaneeshwarana Neralinalli, Kudiyara Koosu, Svapnada Hole, Sarsammana Samadhi are also very good novels and of all his novels, Marali Mannige is considered the best. He wrote 47 novels in all and is said to have tried to write at least one novel per year! His contribution to revival of Yakshagana will forever be remembered. Yakshagana-Bayalata (1957) in Kannada, and Yakshagana(1975) are two of his books on Yakshagana. He is the first person to do some serious reserch in Yakshagana, collecting old Prasangas, searching the roots of yakshagana, its musical heritage etc. He tried to revive this medieval semi-folk art and made some experiments in Yakshagana using Ballet and other modern form of dances. He took Yakshagana troops to European countries, a unique effort in those days. He also made experiments in printing during 1930 - 40s and printed his own novels, but incurred serious financial losses. Interestingly, his earlier novels have cover pages of art work made by himself and this fact, that the novelist drawing the cover page of his own books may be a unique record in modern literature! At the age of 95, he wrote a book on birds (published during 2002 by Manohara Grantha Mala, Dharwad) and this may also be a world record of some sorts (for having written a book at that ripe age)!
Karanth was a prolific writer. Apart from the 47 novels, he also wrote 31 plays, four short stories, six books of essays and sketches, thirteen books on art, including a history of world art in Kannada and a work on Chalukyan sculpture and architecture, a standard treatise on the Yakshagana (with which dramatic form, his name is identified), a three volume book of knowledge for children, a four volume encyclopedia on science for grown ups, 240 children's books, six books on travel, two books on birds, three Travelogues, an autobiography. The list is incomplete. Dr. Karanth has 417 books to his credit, which fact may be a unique record for any noted writen in India! And this fact is a less publicised one.
Effect of his works:He was awarded Jnanapith for his book "Mookajjiya Kanasugalu"(literally means "the dreams of a mute grandmother") which tries to unveil the secrets of nature. The story revolves around a Granny and her visions on various aspects of life, from religion to social relationships. Its all about the conversations between granny and Subbanna that runs through out the book on various issues that he encounters in his life. Subbanna being skeptical about blind beliefs that people are having on several religious customs, poses several questions regarding it to his Granny. Granny being a great visionary answers to all of his questions with true substance. Subbanna, to fulfill his desire to know the truth about existence of an old civilization in that village, goes into the surrounding woods in search of any evidence. There he collects bones as part of his evidence from the caves and shows that to his granny. He also explains her, what he had seen in those caves and narrates his horrifying dreams about the same caves. Again his granny reveals the secret behind those bones and caves after looking at them - with shocking facts about the civilization. He has brilliantly carved the story to address many issues like evolution of human life, the origin and after effects of blind beliefs that are being followed in the society, values of human relationships in one’s life. The granny is given a supernatural power to see the past and future , through which she answers to all complex questions about life. Being himself a non science student he has written a series of science related books which are very effective in understanding science even today.
His main literary works are Mookajjiya Kanasugalu, Marali Mannige, Chomana Dudi[Chomana Dudi was made into a movie],Alida Mele, Bettada Jeeva etc. He has written an autobiography, Hucchu Manasina Hatthu Mukhagaluin earlier days and he wrote second part of his autobiography also!
He attempted to improve the lives of common people by entering into politics of his day, by contesting in an election, unsuccessfully, in Kalpathuru, Karnataka on the issues of environmentalism. He led a movement to oppose an Atomic energy plant at Kaiga near Karwar as the plant may pose danger to the lives of people and as it leads to destruction of forest. But the movement failed miserably and ironically, the dome of Kaiga Atomic energy plant collapsed at the time of construction itself! He is also known for strong and sharp tongue and he being a good orator, earned a nick name "Kadala Theerada Bhargava". He used to raise his voice on several issues ranging from conservation work at Hampi to Art forms of Karnataka to environmental issues.
His book "Sarasammana Samadhi" deals with the "sati" system, and the cunningness and hypocrisy of the Indian society. It has some supernatural elements too.
Conservation work
He rescued 2 tiger-cubs from starvation when their mother was killed by poachers. He experimentally built the first children's toy-train in Asia which was later copied in Cubbon Park, Bangalore. His son, Ullas Karanth continues his work in the field of environmentalism with an internationally acclaimed body of research into the ecology, biology and future of the tiger in India.
Foray into Politics
Shivram Karanth plunged into Politics once but was defeated in the Parliament election from Canara Constituency
Further reading
• Malini Mallya, Hattiradinda Kanda Hattu Mukhagalu
• Malini Mallya, Naanu Kanda Karantaru
Awards and honors
Shivram Karanth has to his credit around 87 books written by renowned authors on him. He is the only person in Asia on whom so many books have been written.
• Jnanpith Award - 1978
• Padma Bhushan - He returned his Padma Bhushan honor in protest against the Emergency, imposed by Indira Gandhi.
• Sahitya Academy award - 1958
• Pampa Award
• Tulsi Samman
• Swedish Academy award
• An institution, "Center of Advanced Studies", was established in his name at Mangalore University in 1990.
Conservation work
He rescued 2 tiger-cubs from starvation when their mother was killed by poachers. He experimentally built the first children's toy-train in Asia which was later copied in Cubbon Park, Bangalore. His son, Ullas Karanth continues his work in the field of environmentalism with an internationally acclaimed body of research into the ecology, biology and future of the tiger in India.
Foray into Politics
Shivram Karanth plunged into Politics once but was defeated in the Parliament election from Canara Constituency
Conservation work
He rescued 2 tiger-cubs from starvation when their mother was killed by poachers. He experimentally built the first children's toy-train in Asia which was later copied in Cubbon Park, Bangalore. His son, Ullas Karanth continues his work in the field of environmentalism with an internationally acclaimed body of research into the ecology, biology and future of the tiger in India.
Foray into Politics
Shivram Karanth plunged into Politics once but was defeated in the Parliament election from Canara Constituency
Movies Chomana Dudi
* Chigurida Kanasu
* Maleya Makkalu (from Kudiyara Koosu Novel)