A. N. Krishna Rao

Dr. A. N. Krishna Rao ( _kn. ಅ.ನ.ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯ) (1908-1971) - popularly known as Anakru, was one of Karnataka's famous novelist. He was popularly known as Kadambari Sarvabhouma (Emperor of Novels).

Life

Anakru was born in Arakalagudu in Hassan District of Karnataka, India. His father was Narasingaraya and mother Annapurnamma.

Literature

His literary output exceeded 80,000 pages. The period Anakru entered the literary world, was one when there was not Kannada readership, nor sale of books. From such shackles of literary traditionalism, Anakru liberated the Kannada reader. Through his first novel was Jeevana Yatre.Subsequently, he wrote Udayaraaga, Sandhyaaraagaa, Mangalasutra, Natasarvabhouma, Sahithyarathna, Thayiya Karulu, Grihalakshmi, Thayi Makkalu, Aasheervada and Anugraha which won him great popular name Kadambari Sarvabhouma.

His aim was to reach the common man. Firstly, he had to inculcate the habit of reading Kannada books by the people. This he achieved marvelously. The readership brought to its fold the factory labor, hotel workers, riksha pullers and millions from the lower strata of society. Then came the social reform when he wrote Nagna Sathya, Shani Santaana and Sanje Gaththalu, that threw light on the issues of prostitution, the traditionalists and protagonists of religion were shaken and called him a "vulgar writer" for writing on such a subject. "if telling the truth is vulgar, then I am a vulgar writer; if the act of covering with a cloth, a downtrodden, helpless, naked woman on the street is vulgar, then I am a vulgar writer" was Anakru's reply. It is an irony that the very same people who criticized Anakru, wrote on the same subject later.

Contribution to Kannnada

Anakru’s contributed significantly to the growth of Kannada culture. He inspired an entire generation of Kannadigas and was the pioneer who instilled the Kannada reading habit and a value for Kannada. He also worked towards Integration of Karnataka. Once introducing him to an audience, one of Kannada's other major writer Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar said “I am a Tamil Kannadiga, Sir Mirza Ismail is a Muslim Kannadiga, and Anakru is a pure Kannadiga”. This tribute from a literary like Maasti mirrors of Kannada fervor Anakru was known for.

Awards and honours

A. N. Krishna Rao acted as the president of the 43rd Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Manipal. Anakru was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Karnataka State award. Mysore University awarded Anakru a honorary doctorate in literature.

Based on Anakru's fiction Sadhyaraga, the Kannada movie Sandhyaraga released in 1966 was a hit movie.

His work

* Sahitya and Kamprachodane
* Sahitya mattu jeevan
* Porake (Harate)
* Kaman Billu
* Nannannu nanekande
* Maduveyo Manehalu
* Raj Nartaki
* Bannad Bisanike
* Rasikagrani
* Samra Sundari
* Ran Vikram
* Anna Tangi
* Sandhyaraga

External links

* [http://www.baraha.com/anakru.htm Anakru on Baraha's Website]