U. R. Ananthamurthy

U. R. Ananthamurthy Biography

U. R. Ananthamurthy is a writer and critic in the Kannada language of contemporary times and one of the big names of Navya movement in the language. For his contributions to Kannada literature, he received Jnanpith award in the year 1994. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, Kerala during the late 1980s. In 1998, he received the Padma Bhushan award also. His contributions to Kannada literature are in the forms of novels, short stories, criticisms, poems and plays. A few of his novels like Diksha, Mouni, Bara and Samskara have later become feature films of Kannada.

Ananthamurthy was born in Melige, in Tirthahalli on 21 December 1932. He completed Master of Arts degree from the University of Mysore. He earned his doctorate from the University of Birmingham in 1966. He started his teaching career as a professor and instructor in 1970 in English department of University of Mysore. In 1987, became Vice-Chancellor of MG University, Kerala. Chairman of National Book Trust India and president of Sahitya Academy are other resignations held by Murthy. He has also served as visiting professor of many universities. He has also tried his luck in politics though was not successful.

Important works of U. R. Ananthamurthy are listed as below. His noted short story collections are Endendhigu Mugiyada Kathe, Aidu dashakada kategalu, Eradu dashakada kategalu, Aakaasha mattu Bekku, Mouni, Prashne and Ghata Shradda.His essays and books based on criticism include - Prajne mathu Parisara, Sanamkshama, Sadya Mattu Shashvata, Maatu Sotha Bharatha, Sannivesha and Valmikiya Nevadalli. His collection of poems includes - 15 Padyagalu, Mithuna and Ajjana hegala sukkugalu. Most of his novels are based on the reaction of people and individuals to situations that are unusual and artificial. They also include clashes that exist in the traditional Hindu families of India.

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Updated: November 22, 2013