U. R. Ananthamurthy
U.R. Ananthamurthy was a prominent Indian writer and critic who wrote primarily in the Kannada language. He was born on December 21, 1932 in Melige, Thirthahalli Taluk, Shivamogga District, Karnataka State, India.
Ananthamurthy started his education in a traditional Sanskrit school at ‘Durvaspurm’ and then continued his education in Thirthahalli, Mysore. He graduated from Mysore University with an MA in English Literature and went to England for further studies.
Ananthamurthy was a versatile writer and wrote novels, short stories and essays on various subjects. His literary works often dealt with issues of caste, gender and identity and were noted for their philosophical depth and social consciousness. Some of his famous works include “Samskara,” “Bharatipura,” and “Avaste.”
In addition to his literary works, Ananthamurthy was also a noted academic and public intellectual. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala and as the President of the National Book Trust of India.
Ananthamurthy was the recipient of several awards for his literary contributions, including the Padma Bhushan, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Jnanpitha Award, considered one of India’s highest literary honours. He died on August 22, 2014 in Bangalore, Karnataka.
Thirthahalli is surrounded by beautiful natural spots including waterfalls, forests and hills, making it a favorite destination for nature lovers and trekkers. The serene atmosphere and pleasant climate of this region attracts tourists from different parts of the country.