Yashwant Vithoba Chittal

Yashwant Vithoba Chittal (3 August 1928 – 22 March 2014) was a Kannada fiction writer.
He was born in Hanehalli, Uttar Kannada District. He completed his primary school education from his village school and his high school from the Gibbs High School, Kumta (1944).Later he did his Bachelors in science and Bachelors in technology both from Bombay University being a top ranker and gold medalist in the year 1955 and master's degree in chemical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology,United States and simultaneously pursued a career in science and technology along with literature. His contributions in the field of Polymer Science and synthetic resins was well recognized and he was selected as Fellow of Plastics and Rubber Institute, London.

Chittal was known for his many novels and short stories. He also authored literary criticism and essays. His early writing shows the influence of his brother Gangadhar V. Chittal, a poet. His writings, including The girl who became a story, either depict the culture of his village Hanehalli in the Uttar Kannada District or the surroundings of Bandra in Mumbai. His later novels, portraying the themes of urban reality and related complexities of modern Indian life, show the influence of the Radical Humanist M.N. Roy and Erich Fromm. His subjects have always been drawn from contemporary socio-political realities.

G. S. Amur said: "His short stories, many of them were outstanding, and came with his distinct touch.The kind of experimentation he did with language, style and narrative is unparalleled."

Chittal has been honored with number of prestigious awards. Some notable awards were:

• Karnataka Sahitya Academy award:1979,1980,1990
• Sahitya Academy award :1983
• Vardhamana award : 1983
• Maharashtra Gourav Puraskar : 1990
• Dr.Masti award :1993
• Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad award :1995
• Adikavi Pampa award : 2008

The US based Library of Congress acquired fifteen of his titles which includes works translated into English and other languages.

• Ommiya hullu hore - 1949 his first novel
• Sandarshana -1957
• Muru darigalu - 1964 (a movie was made in Kannada)
• Shikaari - 1979
• Benya - 1983
• Purushottama - 1990 (Also translated into English by Penguin books)
• Aata -1969
• Katheyaadalu hudugi- 1980
• Kendra Vrittanta
• Sahityada sapta dhatugalu -2001
• The Boy who Talked to Trees (book)
• Chheda - 1995
• Oodi Hoda Mutti Banda
• Danapeyaacheya Oni Aata
• Puttana Hejje Kaanodilla
• Kumatege Banda Kindari Jogi
• Samagra Kathegalu - Volume 1 & 2
• Koli Kooguva Munna Aivattondu Kategalu
• Sahitya Srujanasheelathe Matthu Naanu
• Anthakarna
• Kathe- Bareyuvavana Anubhavadalli
• Digambara (writing)