M. M. Kalburgi

M. M. Kalburgi Biography

Malleshappa Madivalappa Kalburgi, shortly called M. M. Kalburgi was a famous writer of Kannada literature. Lived through several controversies during his writing career, his death has also invited nation-wide attention, intolerance and controversies. This progressive writer of Lingayat community was shot dead at his residence in Dharwad district by two unidentified men 30 August 2015. As a mark of protest, many noted writers and artists are giving back their literal awards including Sahitya Academy Awards and National awards. Earlier Kalburgi won Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards (2006) for Marga 4, a collection of his research articles. He is also regarded as a renowned scholar of the Vachana sahitya, Kannada epigraphist and edited numerals works apart from authoring 103 books and over 400 articles.

Kalburgi was born on 28 November 1938 in Yaragal village of present day Bijapur district into a family of farmers. He completed his school education and graduation from Bijapur and completed his PG in Kannada from Karnatak University, Dharwad, in 1962 as a gold medalist. He started his career as a lecturer in Karnatak University and became HOD in 1982. He also received a PhD in Kannada. He served as the vice-chancellor of the Kannada University, Hampi before his retirement.

A renowned scholar of the Vachana Sahitya, Kalburgi is best known for his Marga series of books. Marga 1 invited a lot of controversies from Hindu organizations. He was accused of making "derogatory references" to Basava, his wife and sister. But later he had to recant his views stating that he committed intellectual suicide on that day. In July 2014, his speech on idol worship invited controversies and he began to get life threats. He received protests from right-wing groups, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sena. On 30 August 2015, he was shot by two unidentified persons at his residence. Though rushed to the nearby hospital, he was declared dead. Whole literal world, many political leaders and social activists condemned over the death of this progressive writer and still the silent protests are going on from intellectual side, in the form of returning Sahitya Academy Awards.  

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Updated: June 15, 2018