Kirtinath Kurtakoti

Kirtinath Kurtakoti (13 October 1928 – 31 July 2003) was a Kannada writer and critic who won among other awards, the Central Sahitya Akademi honour of India. Apart from Kannada, he was well-versed in other languages including Hindi and Sanskrit.

Early life Kurtakoti was born in the town of Gadag in the Indian state of Karnataka on 13 October 1928. He won the central Sahitya Akademi Award in 1995 for his book Uriya Nalage. Other books include Chandragupta, Bhringada Benneri, Nadedu Banda Daari and Putta Bangara. He has also written plays like Aa Mani, which have been staged by troupes like Ninasam. His book Nadedu Banda Daari (Path Traversed) is a treatise on the achievement of Kannada literature from the past to the present, while his book Bhringada Benneri provides an overview of the poems of D. R. Bendre.

Later life He spent his retired life at Dharwad. He held certain positions like that of an adviser to Manohara Granthamele, a publishing house and was also nominated to the Jnanpith language panel. He was also a member of the syndicate of the Kannada University at Hampi. On 31 July 2003, aged 75, he died of cardiac arrest, just about three hours after his wife's death.

Works Uriya Nalage Marathi Samskruti-Kelavu Samasyegalu Yugadharma mattu Sahitya Darshana Nadedu Banda Daari Bhringada Benneri Chandragupta Pratyabhijnana Adhyayana mattu Parayana Putta Bangara Rajakeeya mattu Dharma Arthantara Aa Mani