S. L. Bhyrappa

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S.L. Bhyrappa

Born Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa
July 26, 1934 (1934-07-26) (age 73)
Santeshivara, Hassan district, Karnataka, India
Occupation Writer, Novelist, Professor
Nationality India
Genres Fiction
Influences

Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa (Kannada:ಸಂತೇಶಿವರ ಲಿಂಗಣ್ಣಯ್ಯ ಭೈರಪ್ಪ) (born July 26, 1934), is a Kannada novelist, whose works are immensely popular both within India and abroad.[1] Bhyrappa is widely regarded as one of India's foremost modern-day writers.[2] His novels are unique in terms of theme, structure, and characterization.[3] He has been among the top selling authors of Kannada, Hindi and Marathi for the past several years.[4]

Bhyrappa's works do not fit into any specific genre of contemporary Kannada literature such as Navodaya, Navya, Bandaya, or Dalita partly because of the range of topics they deal with. His major works have been the centre of several public debates.[1]

Bhyrappa has two sons, one is in UK and other in Bangalore, Bhyrappa himself lives in Mysore along with his wife.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Bhyrappa was born in Santeshivara, a remote village in Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district, about 200 km from Bangalore. He lost his mother to Bubonic plague early in childhood and took on odd jobs to pay for his education. His childhood influences include the Kannada litterateur Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar and Gandhi; Bhyrappa briefly participated in the Indian freedom struggle when he was aged 13.

Bhyrappa completed his primary education in Channarayapatna taluk before moving to Mysore where he finished the rest of his education. His autobiography, Bhitti (Wall) records a break in his high school education. Bhyrappa impulsively quit school, following his cousin's advice and wandered for a year with him. His sojourn led him to Mumbai, where he worked as a railway porter. In Mumbai, he met a group of sadhus and joined them to seek spiritual solace. He wandered with them for a few months before returning to Mysore to resume his education.

[edit] Education

High School: Navodaya High School (now), Channaraya Pattana, Sharada Vilas High School, Mysore
B.A (Hons): Philosophy (Major), Mysore University
M.A : Philosophy, awarded the gold medal by Mysore University
Doctor of Philosophy: Satya mattu Soundarya (Truth and Beauty) written in English, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

[edit] Career

S L Bhyrappa began his career as a lecturer in Hubli, then moved to the Sardar Patel University of Gujarat, NCERT Delhi, and finally to the Regional College of Education, Mysore from where retired in 1991.

[edit] Works

Bhyrappa has produced several significant novels. Starting with Dharmashree, first published in 1961, Bhyrappa has authored twenty novels in a career spanning four decades. His major novels have generated numerous public discussions and debates.

Vamshavruksha, Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane, Matadana and Nayi Neralu have been made into movies and have bagged major awards. Vamshavruksha has received Kannada Sahitya Academy Award in 1966 and Daatu (The Crossing) has received both Kannada and Kendra Sahitya Academy awards in 1975.[5] Parva has been the most discussed and applauded among all of his novels. It narrates the social structure, values and the mystery of mortality in the epoch of Mahabharata very effectively. Bhyrappa reconstructed Mahabharatha from sociological and anthropological angle, through metaphors in this novel.[6]

Apart from novels Bhyrappa has written tomes pertaining to literarature and philosophy such as Sahitya mattu prateeka, Kate mattu katavastu, Naneke bareyuttene?. Bhyrappa was elected as the president of Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Kanakapura in 1999.

[edit] Popularity

Bhyrappa's novels have been translated into most Indian languages and English.[2] Bhyrappa has been the top selling author in Kannada for past 25 years and past 8 years in Marathi. He has also been among the top five best selling authors in Hindi.[4]

Most of his novels have gone for several reprints which is very uncommon in Indian novel world. His latest novel Aavarana was sold out even before its release in Feb 2007. The novel went on to create a record in Indian literary world by witnessing 10 reprints within five months of its release.[7]

Being such a popular novelist, he is facing pressure from various publication houses to give publication rights to them. But still his novels are published by Saahitya Bhandaara located in Balepete in old Bangalore. They have published all his novels starting from Dharmashree to latest controversial hit Aavarana.

[edit] Controversies

Bhyrappa was the center of controversies in certain quarters because of his selection of themes and also because of his stands.[1] Most of Bhyrappa's prominent novels (Vamshavruksha, Tabbaliyu Neenaade Magane, Parva, and Saartha) have strong roots in ancient Indian philosophical tradition, a fact which invited severe criticism initially from the Navya writers and from others later.

Bhyrappa supported N. R. Narayana Murthy when the latter was criticized by media and public regarding the controversy concerning playing instrumental version of national anthem. He also backed N. R. Narayana Murthy regarding Kaveri issue saying riots and protests are not going to solve the issue.[8]

Bhyrappa had a fierce debate with Girish Karnad in Vijaya Karnataka regarding religious tolerance of Tipu Sultan. Bhyrappa accused Karnad of being untruthful in giving a factual account of Tipu Sultan in his plays. Bhyrappa claimed that Tipu Sultan was a religious fanatic who wouldn't stand Hindus in his court.

Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy was an early and prominent critic of Bhyrappa's novels. Bhyrappa has documented his debate with Ananthamurthy in Bhitti, as well as in a few essays in Naaneke Bareyuttene. Recently Bhyrappa's latest novel Avarana which Bhyrappa claims as historical truths about what Islam rule have done to Indian social/cultural life has stirred a major controversy in Karnataka. There has been accusations on Bhyrappa that he's a Hindu fundamentalist who wants to divide society on the basis of history.[9] Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, another big name in Kannada literature has criticised Bhyrappa and his works terming Aavarana novel as dangerous. He said that Bhyrappa was a debater who "doesn’t know what Hindu religion stands for"[10]. However Bhyrappa claims that the novel was result of his search for truth and there was no ulterior motive behind the novel.He urges critics to study the reference books mentioned in the novel before jumping to any conclusion.[11]

[edit] Awards

[edit] Works

[edit] Novels

  • Dharmashree (1961)
  • Doora saridaru (1962)
  • Matadaana (1965)
  • Vamshavraksha (1965)
  • Jalapaata (1967)
  • Naayi Neralu (1968) -
  • Tabbaliyu neenaade magane (1968)
  • Gruhabhanga (1970)
  • Nirakarana (1971)
  • Grahana (1972)
  • Daatu (1973)
  • Anweshane (1976)
  • Parva(1979)
  • Nele (1983)
  • Saakshi (1986)
  • Anchu (1990)
  • Tantu (1993)
  • Saartha (1998)
  • Mandra (2001)
  • Bheemakaaya (2004/2005)
  • Aavarana (2007)

[edit] Autobiography

  • Bhitti

[edit] Philosophy

  • Satya mattu Soundarya (1966) (Doctoral thesis)
  • Saahitya mattu Prateeka (1967)
  • Kathe mattu Kathavastu (1969)
  • Naaneke Bareyuttene? (1980)

[edit] Bhyrappa's works translated to other languages

[edit] Bhyrappa's novels on screen

[edit] Movies

  • Vamshavruksha (1972)
  • Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane (1977)
  • Matadana (2001)
  • Nayi-Neralu (2006)

[edit] Television series

  • Gruhabhanga
  • Daatu (Hindi)

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c Still on top of the charts. Online webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  2. ^ a b S L Bhyrappa. Online Webpage of India book club. The India Club. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
  3. ^ Novelist S.L. Bhyrappa. Vikas Kamat on Kamat's Potpourri. Kamat's Potpourri. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  4. ^ a b Personalities of Mysore. Online Webpage of Dasara Committee. Mysore city corporation. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  5. ^ Sahitya Akademi Awards 1955-2005. Online Webpage of Sahitya Academy. Sahitya Academy of India. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
  6. ^ Bhyrappa to receive Deraje Award. Online Webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
  7. ^ Bhyrappas work speaks volumes; goes for 10th edition. Online Webpage of Deccan Herald. Deccan Herald. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
  8. ^ I stand by NRN: Bhyrappa. Online Webpage of Deccan Herald. Deccan Herald. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  9. ^ Masks of untruth. Online Webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  10. ^ Bhyrappa a debater, not a story-teller, says URA Deccan Herald - May 28, 2007
  11. ^ Bhyrappa hits out at critics. Online Webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  12. ^ Change education system to protect literature: Bhyrappa. Online Webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  13. ^ T Bhyrappa given NTR literary award. Online Webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.

[edit] References

  • Bhitti (Wall) by S.L. Bhyrappa, an autobiography
  • Naaneke Bareyuttene by S.L. Bhyrappa, a collection of essays about writing
  • S. L. Bhyrappa Badaku-Baraha by Nagaraj Neeragunda on S.L. Bhyrappa's life and works

[edit] External links and Further Reading

  • Interview with Bhyrappa on Churumuri
  • Pampa Award to Bhyrappa in 2001
  • Belagere Krishnashastri, Mareyaladeete, for a warm hearted interpretation of the author's experiences with Bhyrappa.
  • Bhyrappabhinandana, a feliciation book on S.L. Bhyrappa
  • S.L. Bhyrappa Avara Krutigala Vimarshe a collection of literary criticism on S.L.Bhyrappa's works compiled by Sumateendra Nadig
  • Mandra-Manthana, a collection of essays about S.L. Bhyrappa's novel, Mandra, by various literary critics