Bangalore : Distinguished Kannada poet, writer and researcher G.S. Shivarudrappa (87) passed away on Monday morning at his residence in Bangalore.
The writer, who was awarded title of Rashtrakavi by the Government of Karnataka in 2006, November 1, was ailing for some time.
He was the third Kannada poet to be honoured with the prestigious title of “Rashtrakavi”, after his mentor and guide Kuvempu and Manjeswara Govinda Pai. He was known for his writings which offered a fine combination of artistry and social commitment.
In the period between 1951 (the year when his first collection of poems “Samagana” was published) to 1999 which saw the publishing of his last collection “Vykatamadhya”, he has published 13 collections of poems and continued to write poetry. The Karnataka government honoured him with prestigious Pampa Prashati for the year 1996 in recognition of his excellence as a poet.
G.S. Shivarudrappa was born in Shikaripura of Shivamogga district on February 7, 1926. His father was a school teacher. He was a student and follower of Kuvempu and was inspired by Kuvempu’s literary works and life. Mr. Shivarudrappa has worked as a Kannada professor at the Maharaja College of Mysore and later at the Postgraduate Kannada Department of Bangalore University.
He received the Central Sahitya Akademi Award in 1984 for his literary contribution. He has also bagged several awards including the Karnataka State Sahitya Academy and Soviet Land Nehru Award. He presided over the Akhila Bharatiya Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Davanagere in 1992.
He had published 13 poetry collection and equal number of prose and research works, besides four travelogues.
