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U.R. Ananthamurthy
U.R. Ananthamurthy
	;
Born	21 December 1932; Melige, Tirthahalli taluk, Shimoga District, Karnataka
Occupation	Professor, Writer
Nationality	India
Genres	Fiction
Literary movement	Navya
	Influences Ram Manohar Lohia, Gopalakrishna Adiga, Shantaveri Gopalagowda, M.K. Gandhi

Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy (Kannada: ಯು. ಆರ್. ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿ; born December 21, 1932), is a contemporary writer and critic in the Kannada language and is considered as one of the pioneers of the Navya movement. He is well known among Indian authors.^[1] He is the sixth person among seven recipients of the Jnanpith Award for the Kannada language, the highest literary honor conferred in India.^[2] In 1998, he received the Padma Bhushan award from the Government of India.

[edit] Early life

Ananthamurthy was born in Melige, in Tirthahalli taluk in the Shimoga District. His education started in a traditional sanskrit school in Doorvasapura and continued in Tirthahalli and Mysore. After receiving a Master of Arts degree from the University of Mysore Ananthamurthy went to England for further studies on a Commonwealth Scholarship. He earned his doctorate from the University of Birmingham in 1966 for his dissertation thesis entitled "Politics and Fiction in the 1930s".^[3]

[edit] Career

U R Ananthamurthy in an interview

Ananthamurthy's career started as a professor and instructor in 1970 in English department of University of Mysore. He was the Vice-Chancellor in Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, Kerala in 1987. Ananthamurthy served as the president of National Book Trust India for the year 1992. In 1993 he was elected as the president of Sahitya Academy. Anantamurthy served as a visiting professor in many renowned Indian and foreign universities including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, University of Iowa, Tufts University and Shivaji University.^[1] At present Ananthamurthy is serving as the second time chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India.^[4]

Ananthamurthy has participated and delivered lectures in numerous seminars as writer and orator both in and outside the country. He was the member of the committee of Indian writers and visited countries like Soviet Union, Hungary, France and West Germany in 1990. He visited Moscow in 1989 as board member for a Soviet newspaper. Ananthamurthy was the leader for the committee of writers who visited China in 1993.

Ananthamurthy is well known for his famous interviews of notable Kannada writers for Mysore radio. He has interviewed personalities like K. Shivaram Karanth, Gopalakrishna Adiga, R.K. Narayan, R. K. Laxman and K. M. Cariappa.

[edit] Literary Works

U R Ananthamurthy in his reading room

Ananthamurthy's works have been translated into several Indian and European languages and have been awarded with important literary prizes.^[1] His main works include Samskara, Bhava, Bharathi Pura, and Avasthe. He has written numerous short stories as well. Several of his novels and short fictions have been made into movies.

Most of Ananthamurthy's literary works deal with psychological aspects of people in different situations, times and circumstances. His writings supposedly analyze aspects ranging from challenges and changes faced by Brahmin families of Karnataka to bureaucrats dealing with politics influencing their work.

Most of his novels are on reaction of individuals to situations that are unusual and artificial. Results of influences of socio-political and economic changes on traditional Hindu societies of India and clashes due to such influences - between a father and a son, husband and wife, father and daughter and finally, the fine love that flows beneath all such clashes are portrayed by Ananthamurthy in his works. This is evident in his stories like Sooryana Kudure (The Grasshopper), Mowni (Silent Man), Karthika' etc. It does not mean that Ananthamurthy is just clinging to portraying only such somewhat standard subjects of Indian literature of his period. His novelette "Bara" (Drought) portrays the dynamics of a drought-striken district of Karnataka and the challenges and dilemmas a bureaucrat may face in such situations.

The central figure of the novel Sooryana Kudure - Venkata is shunned by his son and wife for his easy-going attitude that does not take him anywhere. Venkata is a non-achiever who could not achieve any material or monetary success in his life. However, he is a simpleton that does not take life's suffering to his heart too much. He likes to see life as living in the love of Amma (or mother-goddess). In all sufferings of life, he has the child-like curiosity about the smallest things in life - like a grasshopper (Sooryana Kudure). The evening after his son revolts and leaves the house, he would be engrossed in a sight in his yard - a grasshopper shining in the sun's light.

[edit] Controversies

Many Kannada scholars had been accusing Ananthamurthy for criticizing issues without having no prior knowledge on the subject. One such issue was the controversy which sparked in Vijaya Karnataka daily for heavily criticizing the novel Avarana written by S. L. Bhyrappa. Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa had been a prominent novelist and Dr. U R. Anantamurthy had been his all time critic, and accused the fellow novelist as a fascist, which eventually made Dr. U. R. Ananthamurthy embarrassed by his remarks. He is also accused for writing books for the sake of awards only.

Dr. U. R. Anantamurthy is also being an avid blog writer, discusses his issues only through blogs and not in live debates, this is because of his inefficiency in understanding the subject and to escape from being embarrassed in front of an audience due to lack of knowledge.

[edit] Political life

U. R. Ananthamurthy made an unsuccessful run for the Lok Sabha in which he stated that his

“

prime ideological objective in opting to contest the elections was to fight the BJP.^[5]

”

A Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Prime Minister of India H. D. Deve Gowda had made an offer for Murthy to contest for his party. However, after the Janata Dal (Secular) worked a power sharing agreement with the Bharatiya Janata Party Murthy said

“

I will never forgive my friends in the Janata Dal (Secular) for joining hands with the BJP.^[6]

”

Ananthamurthy also contested for the Rajya Sabha elections from state assembly in 2006.^[7]

In June 2007 Ananthamurthy declared that he will not take part in literary functions in future in the wake of strong criticism for his reaction on S.L. Bhyrappa’s controversial novel Aavarana.^[8]

The idea proposed by Ananthamurthy to rename ten cities in Karnataka including Bengaluru from their colonial forms to actual native forms was accepted by Government of Karnataka and the cities were renamed on the occasion of golden jubilee celebrations of formation of Karnataka.^[9]

[edit] Awards

Jnanpith award in 1994
Padma Bhushan in 1998^[10]
Rajyothsava award in 1984
Sahitya academy award in 1983^[11]
Maasti award in 1994

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Short Story Collections

Endendhigu Mugiyada Kathe
Mouni
Prashne
Clip Joint
Ghata Shradda
Aakaasha mattu Bekku
Eradu dashakada kategalu
Aidu dashakada kategalu

[edit] Novels

Samskara
Bharathipura
Avasthe
Bhava
Divya

[edit] Plays

Avahane

[edit] Collection of Poems

15 Padyagalu
Mithuna
Ajjana hegala sukkugalu

[edit] Literary Criticism and Essays

rajne mathu Parisar
Sannivesha
Sanamkshama
Poorvapara
Yugapallata
Valmikiya Nevadalli
Maatu Sotha Bharatha
Sadya Mattu Shassvata

[edit] Journalism

Editor - Rujuvathu

[edit] Ananthamurthy's novels in media

[edit] Movies

Samskara
Bara
Avaste
Mouni
Diksha

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

^ ^a ^b ^c "U.R. Ananthamurthy". International literature festival Berlin. Foundation for Art and Politics and the Berliner Festspiele, German UNESCO committee. http://www.literaturfestival.com/bios1_3_6_404.html. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ "Jnanapeeth Awards". Ekavi foundation. Ekavi. http://ekavi.org/jnanpeeth.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ Prasad, Amar Nath (2006). Indian Writing in English. Sarup & Sons. p. 78. ISBN 8176257176.
^ "Ananthamurthy re-nominated FTII chief". Online webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/02/stories/2005090204511400.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ Ananthamurthy awaiting Congress's response to his offer The Hindu - March 16, 2004
^ Ananthamurthy in favour of reservation The Hindu - May 21, 2006
^ "Kumaraswamy hits out at Ananthamurthy's candidature". Online webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/20/stories/2006032006070600.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ "'Hounded' URA to give literary meets a go-by". Online webpage of Deccan Herald. Deccan Herald. http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jun12007/district200706014949.asp. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
^ "More State cities and towns can be renamed, says Ananthamurthy". Online webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/14/stories/2005121406080400.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ "Bharat Ratna given to CS". Online webpage of Indian Express. Indian Express. http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980413/10350324.html. Retrieved 2007-06-29.
^ "Sahitya Akademi Awards 1955-2005". Online Webpage of Sahitya Academy. Sahitya Academy of India. http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/awa10307.htm#kannada. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: U. R. Ananthamurthy

[eminent-0] "U.R. Ananthamurthy". International literature festival Berlin. Foundation for Art and Politics and the Berliner Festspiele, German UNESCO committee. http://www.literaturfestival.com/bios1_3_6_404.html. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[jnanpith-1] "Jnanapeeth Awards". Ekavi foundation. Ekavi. http://ekavi.org/jnanpeeth.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[2] Prasad, Amar Nath (2006). Indian Writing in English. Sarup & Sons. p. 78. ISBN 8176257176.

[chairman-3] "Ananthamurthy re-nominated FTII chief". Online webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/02/stories/2005090204511400.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[4] Ananthamurthy awaiting Congress's response to his offer The Hindu - March 16, 2004

[5] Ananthamurthy in favour of reservation The Hindu - May 21, 2006

[rajyasabha-6] "Kumaraswamy hits out at Ananthamurthy's candidature". Online webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/20/stories/2006032006070600.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[goby-7] "'Hounded' URA to give literary meets a go-by". Online webpage of Deccan Herald. Deccan Herald. http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jun12007/district200706014949.asp. Retrieved 2007-06-23.

[rename-8] "More State cities and towns can be renamed, says Ananthamurthy". Online webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/14/stories/2005121406080400.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[padmabhushan-9] "Bharat Ratna given to CS". Online webpage of Indian Express. Indian Express. http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980413/10350324.html. Retrieved 2007-06-29.

[academy-10] "Sahitya Akademi Awards 1955-2005". Online Webpage of Sahitya Academy. Sahitya Academy of India. http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/awa10307.htm#kannada. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

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