Padma Bhushan awardee and veteran Kannada writer SL Bhyrappa (Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa) passed away on Wednesday, September 24, at a hospital in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bengaluru. The 94-year-old novelist had been suffering from age-related ailments and a brain condition. For the past three months, he had been living in Bengaluru after leaving Mysore due to his health.
Bhyrappa, regarded as one of the greatest Kannada novelists and philosophers, was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2023. He authored several acclaimed works including Parva, Varanasi and Griha Bhanga. Born in Santeshwara village of Hassan district, he also dedicated efforts to rejuvenating lakes in his native place.
PM Modi expresses condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on the demise of Bhyrappa, calling him a towering stalwart who stirred our conscience and delved deep into the soul of India. He further said that the novelist inspired generations to reflect and question more deeply with society.
"In the passing of Shri S.L. Bhyrappa Ji, we have lost a towering stalwart who stirred our conscience and delved deep into the soul of India. A fearless and timeless thinker, he profoundly enriched Kannada literature with his thought-provoking works. His writings inspired generations to reflect, question and engage more deeply with society," PM Modi wrote in a post on X.
"His unwavering passion for our history and culture will continue to inspire minds for years to come. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti," he added.
Bhyrappa's life and career
Known for his disciplined childhood and commitment to studies, Bhyrappa later settled in Mysore, where he led a peaceful life and expressed support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His readers and admirers had long urged that he be conferred the Jnanpith Award, though he received the prestigious Saraswati Samman, often seen as an alternative to it.
Bhyrappa, was not only a novelist but also a thinker who wrote extensively on aesthetics and philosophy. His body of work includes celebrated novels such as Vamshavruksha, Daatu, Tantu, Angu, Parva, Grihabhanga, Anveshan, Mandra, Sartha, Naineralu, Dharmashri, Doorasaradde and Voting, among many others.
Over the years, Bhyrappa received several prestigious honours, including the Saraswati Samman in 2010, the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2015, the Padma Shri in 2016, and the Padma Bhushan in 2023. His novels, which span a wide range of subjects, are known for sparking thought-provoking public debates and discussions.
