A man of many faces.This is what i say when i remember of a great writer,thinker,environmentalist,philosopher,educator,artist,film maker,social activist and Yakshagana artiste(is a folk dance drama popular in coastal Karnataka).He is also one of the 7 Jnanpitha award winner for Kannada,a higest award given to any literary works by Govt. of India.
This genius born in Udupi district of coastal Karnataka in Brahmin family.He left his studies to participate in India's freedom fight.At the same time he started to write plays and novels.Later he wrote literary masterpieces like Marali Mannige,Chigurida Kanasu,Chomana Dudi,Mookajjiya Kanasugalu,for which he won Jnanapith award,Hucchu Manasina Hatthu Mukhagalu,an autobiography.Chomana Dudi and Chigurida Kanasu went on to be cinemas.Chomana Dudi movie won the Swarna Kamal,National Award for the best film in 1975.His contribution to Yakshagana is also remarkable.He tried to revive this semi-folk art and made some experiments in Yakshagana using Russian Ballet.He also tried his hand in painting,he wrote books on folks,science,fiction.He also wrote a book on birds at the age of 95!(Craazzzy huh!!!).Apart from the 47 novels, he also wrote 31 plays, 4 short stories, 6 books of essays and sketches,13 books on art, a standard treatise on the Yakshagana, 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.He has 417 books to his credit.He also tried his hand in art and designed cover page for his books.
He won Jnanapitha award for his book 'Mookajjiya Kanasugalu' which means Dreams of mute gandmother.Hucchu Manasina Hatthu Mukhagalu is his autobiography and he also wrote second part of his autobiography called Smrathipataladinda.He built a toy train and it was the first toy train in Asia.He also won Padma Bhushan,the third highest civilian award but returned it in protest against emergency.He also won Swedish Academy award.He is also been awarded as one of the ten makers of India in last 60 years by CNN-IBN.About 87 books were written on him and he the only person in Asia on whom so many books have been written.He is the winner of Sahitya Akademi, as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi also a Jnanpitha and Tulsi Samman.He also won doctarate from many universities in India.A rare achievement.He was rightly called "Walking Encyclopedia".
His son Ullas Karanth too is an environmentalist and tiger expert and working for Newyork based Wildlife Conservation Society.
This genius left his imprint on every cultural arena.This literary giant died in 1997 at the age of 95.He lived all his life quietly in Kota,a small village.Later shifted to Puttur.He never came to big cities in search of fame or money.But this great visionary,activist,humble human being plunged into politics and got defeated!!
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He was very stright forward. He came to SBC Karkala and I had a chance to talk to him. I also have a letter he wrote me when I asked a question on lenses for a telescope. He could be strange at times. He wrote, "You should go buy them in shops. We do not have any lens shop in our village!".
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