K. Shivaram Karanth

Shivaram Karanth was born on 10 October 1902, in Kota near Udupi in the Udupi district of Karnataka to a Kannada speaking family. The fifth child of his parents Shesha Karantha and Lakshmamma, he completed his primary education in Kundapura and Mangalore. Shivaram Karanth was influenced by Gandhi's principles and took part in Indian Independence movement when he was in college. He did not complete his education and went to participate in the Non-co-operation movement and canvassed for khadi and swadeshi for five years up to 1927. By that time Karanth had already started writing fiction novels and plays.

Karanth was an intellectual and environmentalist who made notable contribution to the art and culture of Karnataka. He is considered one of the most influential novelists in the Kannada language. His novels Marali Mannige, Bettada Jeeva, Alida Mele, Mookajjiya Kanasugalu, Mai Managala Suliyalli, Ade OOru Ade Mara, Shaneeshwarana Neralinalli, Kudiyara Koosu, Svapnada Hole, Sarsammana Samadhi, and Chomana Dudi are widely read and have received critical acclaim. He wrote two books on Karnataka's ancient stage dance-drama Yakshagana (1957 and 1975).

He was involved in experiments in the technique of printing for some years in the 1930s and 1940s and printed his own novels, but incurred financial losses. He was also a painter and was deeply concerned with the issue of nuclear energy and its impact on the environment. At the age of 95, he wrote a book on birds (published during 2002 by Manohara Grantha Mala, Dharwad).

He wrote, apart from his forty seven novels, thirty one plays, four short story collections, six books of essays and sketches, thirteen books on art, two volumes of poems, nine encyclopedias, and over one hundred articles on various issues.

• Jnanpith Award – 1978
• Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (1985)
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (1973)
• Padma Bhushan (He returned his Padma Bhushan honour in protest against the Emergency imposed in India)
• Sahitya Academy award – 1959
• Karnataka state Sahitya Akademi Award
• Sangeet Natak Award
• Pampa Award
• Swedish Academy award
• Tulsi Samman (1990)
• Dadabhai Nauroji Award (1990)
• Honrary Doctrate from Mysore University, Meerut University, Karnatak University and others.

• National Film Award – (Posthumously)
• National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention Writer – Bettada Jeeva – K. Shivaram Karanth – 2011

Novel

• Mookajjiya Kanasugalu ("Dreams of a Silent Granny") (Jnanpith award winning novel)
• Marali Mannige ("Back to the Soil")
• Chomana Dudi ("Drum of Choma")
• Mai Managala Suliyalli ("In the Whirlpool of Body and Soul")
• Bettada Jeeva ("Life in the Hills")
• Sarasammana Samadhi ("Grave of Sarasamma")
• Dharmayana Samsara ("Family of Dharmaya")
• Alida Mele ("After Death")
• Kudiyara Kusu ("Infant of Kudiya")
• Mailikallinodane matukate ("Conversation with the Milestone")
• Chiguridha Kanasu"
• Mugida Yudda" ("Completed War")
• Moojanma
• Dharmarayana samsara
• Kevala Manushyaru
• Illeyamba
• Iddaru chinthe
• Navu kattida swarga
• Nashta diggajagalu
• Kanniddu kanaru
• Gedda doddasthike
• Kannadiyalli kandatha
• Antida aparanji
• Halliya hattu samastharu
• Sameekshe
• Moga Padeda Mana
• Shaneeshwarana Neralinalli
• Nambidavara Naka Naraka
• Oudaryada Urulalli
• Onti Dani
• Odahuttidavaru
• Swapnada Hole
• Jaruva Dariyalli
• Ukkida Nore
• Balveye Belaku
• Ala Nirala
• Gondaranya
• Ade Uru Ade Mara
• Innonde Dari
• Jagadoddara Na

Short story

• Nature, Science and Environment
• Vijnana prapancha ("The World of Science")
• Adbhuta jagattu ("Wonderful World")
• Prani Prapancha'
• Prani Prapanchada Vismayagalu
• Pakshigala Adbhuta Loka

Plays

• Yaksagana - English translation, Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (1997)
• Yakshagana Bayalata

Children's books

• Dum Dum Dolu
• Oduva Ata
• Vishala Sagaragalu
• Balaprapancha - Makkalavishwakosha - Vol 1,2,3
• Mailikallinodane Matukathegalu
• Mariyappana Sahasagalu
• Nachiketa - Ack
• Ibbara Gaja Panditaru
• Oduva Ata - Sirigannada Pathamale
• Mathina Sethuve
• Jatayu Hanumanta
• Huliraya

Autobiography

• Hucchu Manasina Hatthu Mukhagalu (English translation: "Ten Faces of a Crazy Mind", by H Y Sharada Prasad)
• Smriti Pataladinda (Vol 1-3)

Travelogue

• Abuvinda Baramakke
• Arasikaralla
• Apoorva Paschima ("Incomparable West")
• Paataalakke Payana ("Travel to the nether world")

Biography

• Panje Mangesharayaru : Kannada Nadu Mattu Kannadigara Parampare
• Sri Ramakrishnara Jeevana Charithre

Art, Architecture and Other

• Kaladarshana
• Bharatheya chitrakale
• Jnana ("Knowledge")
• Sirigannada Artha Kosha
• Kala Prapancha
• Yaksharangakkagi Pravasa
• Arivina Ananda
• Life The Only Light - A Guide To Saner Living
• Chalukya Shilpakale

• Chomana Dudi

• Chigurida Kanasu
• Maleya Makkalu (from Kudiyara Koosu Novel)
• Bettada Jeeva
• September 8 (Tulu)