Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar

Infobox Writer
name = Maasti Venkatesha Iyengar


caption = © Kamat's Potpourri
pseudonym = Srinivasa, Maasti
birthdate = birth date|1891|6|6|df=y
birthplace = Hongenahalli, Malur taluk, Kolar district, Karnataka
deathdate = death date and age|1986|6|6|1891|6|6|df=y
deathplace = Mysore
occupation = District Commissioner, Professor, Writer
nationality = India
period =
genre = Fiction
subject =
movement = Navodaya
influences = M.K. Gandhi
website =

Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar (Kannada:ಮಾಸ್ತಿ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ ಐಯಂಗಾರ್) (June 6 1891 - June 6 1986) was a popular writer in Kannada language. He was the fourth person among seven recipients [cite web
last =
first =
title = Jnanapeeth Awards
url = http://ekavi.org/jnanpeeth.htm
publisher = Ekavi
accessdate = 2006-10-31 ] of Jnanpith Award for Kannada the highest literary honour conferred in India. He was popularly referred to as "Maasti Kannadada Aasti" which means Maasti is Kannada's Treasure. He is most renowned for his short stories. He wrote under the pen name "Srinivasa". He was honored with the title "Rajasevasakta" by then Maharaja of Mysore Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadeyar.

Early life and education

Masti was born in 1891, at Hossahalli in Kolar district of Karnataka in a Tamil speaking Sri Vaishnavaite family. Due to poverty, he moved from place to place until he obtained a master's degree in English literature (Arts) in 1914 from Madras University. He was a Professor at Presidency College, Bangalore. After joining the Indian Civil Service, he held various positions of responsibility in different parts of Karnataka, rising to the rank of District Commissioner. He retired in 1943. His "Kelavu Sanna Kathegalu" (Some Short Stories) was the first noted work in the modern Kannada literature. Maasti also crafted a number poems on various philosophic, aesthetic and social themes. He composed and translated several important plays. Finally, he edited the monthly journal "Jeevana" (Life) from 1944 to 1965.

A prolific writer, he wrote more than 120 books in Kannada and 17 in English, for over seventy years. He won the Jnanpith Award in 1983 for his novel Chikkaveera Rajendra. The story was about the last Kodava king. Kodava community was displeased with the negative portrayal of their last king. He died in 1986 at the age of 95.

Bibliography

Epics
* Shri Rama Pattabisheka (Coronation of Shri Ram)

Novels
* Chikkaveera Rajendra Historical Novel about the last king of Kodagu
* Channabasava Nayaka Historical Novel about the last king among Nayakas of Shimoga District.
* Subbana

Stories and Anthologies
* Kelavu Sanna Kathegalu (Some Short Stories)
* Dombara Chenni
* Kaagegalu (Crows)
* Rangana Maduve (Ranga's Marriage)

Plays
* Kakanakote
* Kalidasa
* Yashodhara

Autobiography
* Bhava

Other
* Subbann (1928)
* Sheshamma (1976)
* Shanta (1923)
* Talikoti (1929)
* Yashodhara(1933)
* Kannadad Seve(1930)
* Arun (1924)
* Tavare(1930)
* Sankranti (1969)

Notes