Noted Kannada author UR Ananthamurthy Dies at 82

Legendary Kannada writer and Jnanpith awardee UR Ananthamurthy has passed away on Friday in Bangalore. He was 82.

Ananthamurthy had been admitted in hospital following kidney failure.

Announcing the news Manipal Hospital Medical Director & Chairman – Medical Advisory Board H Sudarshan Ballal said, ” Anantha Murthy has been unwell for a while, he had multiple problems including kidney disease for which he had been on dialysis for the last few years. His condition was critical with both his kidneys infected when he came in 10 days ago.”

“He was one of the few patients who wouldn’t ask many questions and cooperate during treatment. I treated him for the past 12 years and he kept his spirits up. Even as he was undergoing dialysis, he would do his usual work from home as vice-chancellor of Gulbarga Central University,” Dr Ballal said.

“For a person of his stature, we made sure his health didn’t let him down. When he went to England in 2013 as a writer shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize, we made arrangements to make sure he didn’t miss his dialysis,” Dr Ballal added.

Writer and a controversial figure in the literary circle, Ananthamurthy led the Navya movement in Kannada literature. His novel Samskara targeted the Brahmin community. He was stern critic of RSS and BJP and vowed he would leave India if Narendra Modi becoame Prime Minister. However, after Modi became PM, he retracted from his statement by saying it was figure of speech.

Soon after the news surfaced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter, “Shri UR Ananthamurthy’s demise is a loss to Kannada literature. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.”

His last rites will be performed at Bangalore University campus on Saturday.

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