Mangalore: As state mourns Ananthmurthy's demise, right wing group 'celebrates'
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SHS)
Mangalore, Aug 22: Even as the state government announced three days of mourning as a mark of respect to eminent writer U R Ananthamurthy who passed away on Friday August 22, some activists reportedly belonging to a right wing outfit 'celebrated' his demise by bursting crackers.
It is said as soon as news of Ananthamurthy's death was flashed in the media, around 10 people, allegedly belonging to a right wing group, gathered at Kadri welcome arch and burst crackers for about 10 to 15 minutes.
They refused to identfy themselves or give any statement to the media.
No one complained about the incident, and no untoward incidents were reported.
U R Ananthamurthy had recently courted controversy with his anti-Modi remarks that he would leave the country if Modi were to be elected Prime Minister. He later retracted, saying the comments were made out of emotion. Nevertheless, the remarks had invited anger and protest from Modi supporters and right wing groups, even prompting some to send him flight tickets after Modi became the PM. Ananthamurthy was also provided security folllowing threat calls. Moreover, his atheist leanings and certain remarks on religious issues and practices too had spurred controversies.
Earlier Report
Bangalore, Aug 22: Jnanpith awardee and renowned Kannada writer U R Ananthamurthy died here on Friday, according to reports.
Karnataka government announced a three-day state mourning and holiday on Saturday for its offices and educational institutions as a mark of respect to Ananthamurthy, one of the seven Kannada writers to get the coveted the Jnanpith honour.
Condoling the death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "U.R Ananthamurthy's demise is a loss to Kannada literature. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace."
The final ceremonies would be conducted with full state honours in consultation with his family.
82-year old Ananthamurthy is survived by his wife Esther, a son and a daughter. "He had a cardiac arrest. We tried to resuscitate but it was not successful. So we with great regret announce that he is no more with us", Manipal Hospital Medical Director & Chairman - Medical Advisory Board H Sudarshan Ballal told reporters here.
Ananthamurthy is considered one of the pioneers of the "Navya (new) movement" in the Kannada literary world. His most famous literary work "Samskara" (ritual) was made into a film, that was considered a pioneering venture in parallel cinema movement in Kannada.
He has written five novels, one play, eight short-story collections, three collections of poetry and eight more of essays with his works translated into Indian and European languages.
In his several decades of literary life, he has won the Padma Bhushan in 1998, Jnanpith award in 1994 and the state Rajyothsava award in 1984.
His nomination for the 2013 Man Booker International Prize brought him to the attention of a Western audience. He was also the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala during the late 1980s.
A multi-faceted personality, Ananthamurthy had tried to dabble in politics, unsuccessfully contesting the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha polls once.
Known for socialist leanings, Ananthamurthy often courted controversies for his vociferous "anti-BJP, anti-Sangh Parivar" stance.
His remark in the run-up to Lok Sabha poll that he would not live in India if Narendra Modi were to be elected Prime Minister had stirred up a huge controversy but he later did a U-turn, saying it was made out of emotion.
Earlier, Ballal said Ananthamurthy was on multiple support system including dialysis, support for blood pressure, antibiotics for his infection, and other measures. "...Anantha Murthy has been unwell for while, he had multiple problems including kidney disease for which he had been on dialysis for the last few years...," Ballal said.
Inspite of his illness, Murthy was very active both physically and mentally including extensive travelling and lot of assignments but in the last 10 to 15 days his condition worsened "to some extent" and was hospitalised, he said.
Ananthamurthy was born in Melige, in Tirthahalli taluk in the Shimoga District. His education started in a traditional Sanskrit school in Doorvasapura and continued in Tirthahalli and Mysore. After receiving a Master of Arts degree from the University of Mysore, he went to England for further studies on a Commonwealth Scholarship. He earned his doctorate from the University of Birmingham in 1966 for his dissertation thesis entitled "Politics and Fiction in the 1930s.
Ananthamurthy's career started as a professor and instructor in 1970 in English department of University of Mysore. He became the Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in 1987. He served as the Chairman of National Book Trust India for the year 1992. In 1993 he was elected as the president of Sahitya Academy. He 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 wass serving as the second time chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India.
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 the 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'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 psychological aspects of people in different situations, times and circumstances. His writings supposedly analyse aspects ranging from challenges and changes faced by Brahmin families of Karnataka to bureaucrats dealing with politics influencing their work.