Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar

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Maasti Venkatesha Iyengar

© Kamat's Potpourri
Born 6 June 1891(1891-06-06)
Hongenahalli, Malur taluk, Kolar district, Karnataka
Died 6 June 1986 (aged 95)
Mysore
Pen name Srinivasa, Maasti
Occupation District Commissioner, Professor, Writer
Nationality Indian
Genres Fiction
Literary movement Navodaya
Influences

Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar (Kannada:ಮಾಸ್ತಿ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ ಐಯಂಗಾರ್) (Tamil:மஸ்தி வெங்கடேஷ் அய்யங்கார்) (June 6, 1891 - June 6, 1986) was a popular writer in Kannada language. He was the fourth person among seven recipients[1] of Jnanpith Award for Kannada the highest literary honour conferred in India. He was popularly referred to as Maasti Kannadada Aasti which means Maasti is Kannada's Treasure. He is most renowned for his short stories. He wrote under the pen name Srinivasa. He was honored with the title Rajasevasakta by then Maharaja of Mysore Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadeyar.

[edit] Early life and education

Masti was born in 1891, at Hossahalli in Kolar district of Karnataka in a Tamil speaking Sri Vaishnavaite family. Due to poverty, he moved from place to place until he obtained a master's degree in English literature (Arts) in 1914 from Madras University. He was a Professor at Presidency College, Bangalore. After joining the Indian Civil Service, he held various positions of responsibility in different parts of Karnataka, rising to the rank of District Commissioner. He retired in 1943.

His Kelavu Sanna Kathegalu (Some Short Stories) was the first noted work in the modern Kannada literature. Maasti also crafted a number poems on various philosophic, aesthetic and social themes. He composed and translated several important plays. Finally, he edited the monthly journal Jeevana (Life) from 1944 to 1965.

A prolific writer, he wrote more than 120 books in Kannada and 17 in English, for over seventy years. He won the Jnanpith Award in 1983 for his novel Chikkaveera Rajendra. The story was about the last Kodava king. Kodava community was displeased with the negative portrayal of their last king.

He died in 1986 at the age of 95.

[edit] Bibliography


Epics

  • Shri Rama Pattabisheka (Coronation of Shri Ram)


Novels


Stories and Anthologies

  • Kelavu Sanna Kathegalu (Some Short Stories)
  • Dombara Chenni
  • Kaagegalu (Crows)
  • Rangana Maduve (Ranga's Marriage)


Plays


Autobiography

  • Bhava


Other

  • Subbann (1928)
  • Sheshamma (1976)
  • Shanta (1923)
  • Talikoti (1929)
  • Yashodhara(1933)
  • Kannadad Seve(1930)
  • Arun (1924)
  • Tavare(1930)
  • Sankranti (1969)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Jnanapeeth Awards. Ekavi. Retrieved on 2006-10-31.