Dr.Chandrashekhara Kambara

Today is birthday of Dr.Chandrashekhara Kambara

I had the unique opportunity of meeting him in Bangalore book festival 2012. it was one of the unforgattable days of my life.

Right now I am reading his very famous novel 'Shikara Soorya' which according to many critics and readers is a master peice of the author. I am enjoying it.
I have read his folk story collection 'Janpada Kathegalu' and a Play 'Beptakkadi Boleshankara'

Chandrashekhara Kambara was born in Ghodageri village in Belagavi district on 2 January 1937. He was the third son in the family, with brothers Parasappa and Yallappa.From an early age he was interested in folk arts, local culture and ritual. 

Popularly known as Shivapur Kambar Masther in his native district, Kambara had his schooling in Gokak and returned to Belagavi for higher education at Lingaraj College.
After his post-graduation, he did his PhD thesis on Uttara Karnatakada Janapad Rangbhumi (The Folk Theatre of North Karnataka)from Karnatak University, Dharwad.

Dr. Kambara has to his credit 22 plays, 8 anthologies of poems, 3 novels, 12 research works and several scholarly write-ups on folk theater, literature and education. Some of his popular plays include Aramane, Mahamayi, Singaravva and Harakeya Kuri. He was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1991 for another popular play Sirisampige.

Bangalore book festival 2012 : with Dr.Chandrashekhara Kambara

He was a pioneer in introducing Bailahongal's famous Sangya Balya (bayalata) and Jokumaraswamy, a traditional ritual of his native district, to the literary world which have seen thousands of performances, not only in Kannada, but several other Indian languages as well. His most recent novel, Shikhar Soorya, is rated among the best Kannada novels.

Besides being a writer, Kambara has also been involved in film-making. He has directed a number of movies based on the plays written by him. Karimayi, Sangeeta and Kadu Kudure are some of his major films as a director. He has composed the music for all his movies and the title song of Kaadu Kudure won a National Film Award. He has also adopted his play G.K. Maasthara Pranaya Prasanga for television.

List of awards:

 

Akademy Ratna, Central Sangeet Natak Akademy … 2011

Jnaanapeeth … 2011

Devaraj Urs Award. Government of Karnataka … 2007

Joshua Sahitya Puraskaram – Andhra Pradesh … 2005

Nadoja Prashasti, Kannada University, Hampi … 2004

Pampa Prasasti … 2004

Kabeer Samman … 2002

Padmashree … 2001

Maasti Prasasti … 1997

Janapada and Yakshagana Academy Award … 1993

Sahitya Academy Award for ‘Siri Sampige’ (New Delhi) … 1991

Karnataka Sahitya Academy … 1989

Karnataka Government Rajyotsava Prasasti … 1988

Nandikar, Calcutta … 1987

Karnataka Nataka Academy … 1987

Sangeet Nataka Academy Award (New Delhi) … 1983

Kumaran Ashan Award – Kerala … 1982

Kannada Sahitya Parishat Vajramahotsava Festivals … 1975

In his interview to Chandana TV,  He suggested that the Education system in the State should me modified to preserve kannada and to eliminate the difference in the standard of Education among the Students of government schools and private convents.
He said that government should make sure that all the Students must study in Kannada medium till their 10th standard. I don't know how much the government is going to consider his request!

But my regret is that the people comes to know these great writers , only when they get some awards or only when some person is appearing on their TV sets frequently.
They know the serial artist or the reality show people more than the prominent people from various Fields. The Educated people should read our literature and respect our writers despite of the awards which gives them the limelight.

There is so many great writers and so many great literary work is available in Kannada, of course in India. we the educated people should start reading our language books then move on to other languages according to our appetite for knowledge and information.

I think the right kind of respect we can give to Dr.Chandrashekhara Kambara or to all our writers is is to read their work.