Niranjana (kannada Writer)

Niranjana (kannada Writer) Biography

Niranjana is the penname of Kulakunda Shiva Rao, the popular Kannada writer, known as a playwright, novelist and a freedom fighter. Niranjana wrote more than sixty books, with first published book in 1953. Chirasmarane, and Mrityunjaya are among his noted books. He also translated a number of works into Kannada language. He edited Vishwa Katha Kosha, a 25-volume work which made stories from around the world available in Kannada. He was a recipient of Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award and Nehru Soviet Land Award.

His real name was Kulakunda Shiva Rao. He was born on 15 June 1924. His first published novel, Vimochane got published in 1953. Chirasmarane (1955), Mrtyunjaya (1976) and Kalyaanaswamy (Kannada Novel) are other major works. He also served as the editor of Vishwa Katha Kosha, a collection of short stories from around the world. Since young he got attracted to the principles of Marxism. He was an active member of the Communist Party of India. He was also associated with India’s freedom struggle movement during his younger days as a youth leader. Niranjana is regarded as a leading novelist of the Progressive school of modern Kannada literature.

Though he was attracted to Marxism in the youth and worked for it, he left the party later. Yet he stood for the rights of poor till his end. Chirasmarane, one of his major works was inspired from true events and revolt of peasants against landlords in the Kasaragod district of Kerala, and historic Kayyur incident of the 1940s. He was married to Anupama Niranjana, a writer and physician. She advocated the woman's point of view and authored many novels. The couple had two children. Anupama died of cancer in 1991, and Niranjana one year later.

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Updated: July 02, 2018