Vaidehi

Vaidehi Biography

Vaidehi is a well-known writer of modern Kannada language and one of the most successful women writers of Karnataka. Her real name is Janaki Srinivasa Murthy (born as Vasanthi) who writes with the pen name, Vaidehi. She has won many literary awards including Sahitya Academy award in the year 2009, for her collection of short stories titled, Krouncha Pakshigalu. She writes in Kundapur dialect of Kannada, her mother tongue. Her pen name was given by a Kannada weekly magazine Sudha.

Vaidehi was born on February 12, 1945 in Kundapur of Karnataka (Udupi district). She was born as the daughter of A.V.L Hebbar and Mahalakshmi and brought up in a joint family. Her father was a lawyer. Vaidehi speaks a dialect of Kannada, called Kundapur Kannada. She took a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Bhandarkar's college, Kundapur. She married K. L. Srinivasa Murthy at the age of 23. The couple has two kids. After marriage Janaki changed her name to Janaki Srinivasa Murthy. The couple later moved to Shimoga, Udupi and finally got settled at Manipal. Vaidehi’s daughter Nayana Kashyap is a noted Kannada writer and translator. She has translated many works of her mother to English.

Vaidehi’s collection of short stories include - Mara Gida Balli, Samaja Shastrajneya Tippanige, Ammacchi Yemba Nenapu, Antharangada Putagalu, Krouncha Pakshigalu, Hagalu Geechida Nenta and Gola. Her essay collections include - Mallinathana Dhyana, Jatre and Meju Mattu Badagi. She has also written a single novel published in the year 1992 – Asprushyaru. Her collection of poems includes - Bindu Bindige (1990), Parijatha (1999) and Hoova Kattuva Haadu (2011). She has also written numerous plays for children. Vaidehi has won Karnataka State Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993 and 1998 for the works, Five children's dramas and her collection of essays - Mallinathana Dhyana respectively.

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Updated: March 17, 2014