U. R. Ananthamurthy

Infobox Writer
name = U.R. Ananthamurthy


caption =
pseudonym =
birthdate = 21 December 1932
birthplace = Melige, Tirthahalli taluk, Shimoga District, Karnataka
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation = Professor, Writer
nationality = India
period =
genre = Fiction
subject =
movement = Navya
influences = Ram Manohar Lohia, Gopalakrishna Adiga, Shantaveri Gopalagowda, M.K. Gandhi
influenced =


website =

Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy (Kannada: ಯು. ಆರ್. ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿ; born December 21, 1932), is a leading contemporary writer and critic in Kannada language and considered as one of the most important representatives of the Navya movement. Ananthamurthy is counted among the most eminent Indian authors.cite web|url=http://www.literaturfestival.com/bios1_3_6_404.html|title= U.R. Ananthamurthy|work=International literature festival Berlin|publisher=Foundation for Art and Politics and the Berliner Festspiele, German UNESCO committee|accessdate=2007-06-28] He is the sixth person among seven recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada language, the highest literary honor conferred in India.cite web|url=http://ekavi.org/jnanpeeth.htm|title= Jnanapeeth Awards|work=Ekavi foundation|publisher=Ekavi|accessdate=2007-06-28] He was conferred Padma Bhushan by Government of India.

Early life

Ananthamurthy was born in Melige, in Tirthahalli taluk in Shimoga District. His education started in traditional sanskrit school in "Doorvasapura" and continued in Tirthahalli and Mysore. After receiving Master of Arts degree from University of Mysore Ananthamurthy went to England for further studies on a Commonwealth Scholarship. He earned his doctorate from University of Birmingham in 1966 for his dissertation thesis of "English and literary criticism".

Career life

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. At present Ananthamurthy is serving as the second time chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India.cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/02/stories/2005090204511400.htm|title= Ananthamurthy re-nominated FTII chief|work=Online webpage of The Hindu|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2007-06-28]

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.

Literary Works

Ananthamurthy's works have been translated into several Indian and European languages and have been awarded with important literary prizes. 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 philosophical aspects of people in different situations, times and circumstances. The writings analyze aspects ranging from challenges and changes faced by Brahmin families of Karnataka to bureaucrats dealing with politics influencing their work. Ananthamurthy has deep insight into Indian and Western philosophy and life and that shows in his writings.

Most of his novels are based on the duality of politics and morality in human society and reaction of individuals in such situations. Right, wrong and change clash in his work with one another while giving the reader a kind revealation and food for further thought.

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 brilliantly 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 his understanding and concern about the socio-political dynamics in a drought-striken district of Karnataka and the challenges and dilemmas a bureaucrat may face in such situations.

What is good—old traditions or new outlook—politicking or duty-bound - traditional or modern - revolution or status quo ? We don't know. Ananthamurthy also does not pretend to know. However, he explores the influence of both aspects of life.

Especially touching is the central figure of the novel "Sooryana Kudure - Venkata "- who 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.

Political life

U. R. Ananthamurthy made an unsuccessful run for the Lok Sabha in which he stated that his cquote|prime ideological objective in opting to contest the elections was to fight the BJP [ [http://www.hindu.com/2004/03/16/stories/2004031614930500.htm Ananthamurthy awaiting Congress's response to his offer] The Hindu - March 16, 2004]

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 cquote|I will never forgive my friends in the Janata Dal (Secular) for joining hands with the BJP [ [http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/21/stories/2006052115500300.htm Ananthamurthy in favour of reservation] The Hindu - May 21, 2006] . Ananthamurthy also contested for the Rajya Sabha elections from state assembly in 2006.cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/20/stories/2006032006070600.htm|title= Kumaraswamy hits out at Ananthamurthy's candidature|work=Online webpage of The Hindu|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2007-06-28]

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".cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jun12007/district200706014949.asp|title= 'Hounded' URA to give literary meets a go-by|work=Online webpage of Deccan Herald|publisher=Deccan Herald|accessdate=2007-06-23]

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.cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/14/stories/2005121406080400.htm|title= More State cities and towns can be renamed, says Ananthamurthy|work=Online webpage of The Hindu|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2007-06-28]

Awards

* Jnanpith award in 1994
* Padma Bhushan in 1998 cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980413/10350324.html|title= Bharat Ratna given to CS|work=Online webpage of Indian Express|publisher=Indian Express|accessdate=2007-06-29]

* Rajyothsava award in 1984
* Sahitya academy award in 1983cite web|url=http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/awa10307.htm#kannada|title=Sahitya Akademi Awards 1955-2005|work=Online Webpage of Sahitya Academy|publisher=Sahitya Academy of India|accessdate=2007-06-28]
* Maasti award in 1994

Bibliography

hort Story Collections

* Endendhigu Mugiyada Kathe
* Mouni
* Prashne
* Clip joint
* Ghata Shradda
* Aakaasha mattu Bekku
* Mooru dashakada kategalu

Novels

* Samskara.
* Bharathipura
* Avasthe
* Bhava
* Divya

Plays

* Avahane

Collection of Poems

* 15 Padyagalu
* Mithuna
* Ajjana hegala sukkugalu

Literary Criticism and Essays

* Prajne mathu Parisara
* Sannivesha
* Sanamkshama
* Poorvapara
* Yugapallata

Journalism

*Editor - Rujuvathu

Ananthamurthy's works translated to other languages

* Samskara - Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Urdu, Marathi, Oriya, Gujarati, Konkani, English, French, Russian, Hungarian, German and Kazak.
* Several of his other works have been also translated into English and other Indian languages.

Ananthamurthy's novels in visual media

Movies

* Samskara
* Ghatashraddha (1977)
* Bara
* Avaste
* Mouni

ee also

* Kannada
* Kannada literature

Footnotes

External links

* [http://rujuvathu.sampada.net U R Ananthamurthy's writings and Blog]
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_380/ai_n14795007 I, a Brahmin: Ananthamurthy's article]
* [http://www.literaturfestival.com/bios1_3_6_404.html Biograpy from the international literature festival berlin]