P. Lankesh

Palegar Lankeshappa (Kannada: ಪಿ. ಲಂಕೇಶ್, better known as P Lankesh March 8, 1935–2000) was a major Indian writer and journalist, writing in the Kannada language. He is probably the only writer who can be credited with bringing magical realism to Kannada literature apart from innovative use of the language. He was also an award-winning filmmaker.

Early career

Lankesh began his writing career with Kereya Neeranu Kerege Chelli, a collection of short stories published in 1963. He followed this with several more collections of short stories and poetry, three novels, critical essays, translations (including Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal and Oedipus Rex and Antigone of Sophocles) and several plays and films. His 1977 film Pallavi [a cinematic narration, from the female protagonist's point of view, of his novel "Biruku" ] won India's national award for best direction. Lankesh quit his profession as a professor to direct his debut movie,Pallavi.

Lankesh Patrike

He founded the famous tabloid Lankesh Patrike in 1980. The tabloid gained tremendous popularity among the youth for its no-holds-barred attack against the corruption, nepotism, superstition and religious fundamentalism which had become widespread in Indian politics during the 1970s and early 1980s.

P. Lankesh often used the newspaper to campaign on behalf of the oppressed and the minority groups. His articles attacking the politicians, bureaucrats in bitterly laced sarcasm became hugely popular among the public, and gave them a forum to express their anger towards the establishment. Patrike was instrumental in bringing down the governments of late R Gundu Rao and subsequently that of late Ramakrishna Hegde.

It was the political class and the bureaucracy in general that bore the brunt of Lankesh's vituperative articles in the tabloid. Ironically, during his last days, he showed a definite tilt towards the Congress Party, against which his weekly waged the war in the beginning. He tried to start a political party 'Pragati Ranga' along with other writers and intellectual friends before he supported congress.

Nonetheless, he was the most influential writer in Kannada language during the 1980s and 1990s in Karnataka state history.

Death

After his death in 2000, his property was divided among his three children: Gauri, Kavitha, and Indrajit Lankesh. Gauri Lankesh took over the editorship of Lankesh Patrike although the ownership went to her brother Indrajit Lankesh. However, Indrajit later expelled Gauri from the newspaper citing Gauri's support to the Naxalite movement in Karnataka. Gauri then started her own tabloid titled Lankesh. Incidentally Indrajit and Kavitha Lankesh are both acclaimed film directors.

Bibliography

Kereya Nirannu Kerege Chelli(1963) Nanalla(1970) Umapathiya Scholaship Yatre(1973) Ullangane(1996) Biruku(1967) Mussanjeya Katha Prasanga(1978) Akka(1991) Teregalu Haagu Ethara Aaru Sanna Naatakalagu(1964) Sankrati(1971) Gunamukha(1993) Paapada Huvugalu(1974) Dore Oedipus (1971) Anthigone(1971) Hulimavina Mara (1997) Prasthutha Kandaddu Kanda Haage Teeke-Tippani-Volume 1(1997) Teeke-Tippani-Volume 2(1998)

Filmography

Pallavi-Best Director (1977) Ellindalo Bandavaru(1980)

External links

• Profile
• A Door - a short story by Lankesh
• The Hindu - book review of Lankesh's short stories
• Tehelka 'Lankesh Patrike' splits

Persondata
Name	Lankesh, P.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 08,1935
Place of birth	Konagavalli
Date of death	2000
Place of death