T. V. Venkatachala Sastry

Togere Venkatasubbasastry Venkatachala Sastry, commonly known as T. V. Venkatachala Shastry, is a Kannada-language writer, grammarian, critic, editor and lexicographer. He has authored in excess of 100 books, translations and has edited collections of essays, biographical sketches and felicitation volumes. Recipient of the Kannada Sahitya Akademi Award (honorary), Sastry is an authority on Kannada language grammar and its various facets ranging from the metre scale on which he has written extensively to the history of Kannada literature spanning two millennia.

His book Mulukanadu Brahmanaru is a sociological study of the Mulukanadu community since the early 17th century, outlining their origin, migration and embrace of western education. It records in detail their history with over 50 family trees and assumes importance in the field of caste studies. Sastry was a Kannada professor at the University of Mysore and additionally held the post of director at "Kuvempu Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe" before retiring in 1994.

Early life

Origins T. V. Venkatachala Sastry's birthplace (Harohalli Village, Kanakapura, Bangalore)

T. V. Venkatachala Sastry was born on 26 August 1933 at Harohalli village in Kanakapura taluk of Bangalore district to Brahmin parents Venkatasubba Sastry and Subbamma. The family belonged to the Smartha (Advaita) sect who are followers of Adi Shankaracharya and of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. They belong to the Vaidiki Mulukanadu caste of Telugu-speaking Brahmins settled in the Kannada-speaking Mysore kingdom. Sastry's father had received a traditional education in the religious texts and puranas. He had been impressed with the practical work of the Ramakrishna Math in serving the common people. Sastry's mother was a home-maker and a deeply conservative lady.

Education T. V. Venkatachala Sastry during his student years (Also seen, S.Srikanta Sastri, 5th from left, bottom row)

Sastry had his primary schooling at Kanakapura near Bangalore. He finished his Intermediate course in 1947–48 and from 1948 until 1954, he pursued undergraduate and post-graduate degrees at University of Mysore, where he enrolled initially in Yuvaraja College and came under the influence of Kannada professors N. Anantarangachar and U. K. Subbarayachar. In 1950, he joined the B. A. (Honours) course in Kannada at Maharaja College. Among his teaching faculty were renowned scholars like K. V. Puttappa (Kuvempu) who taught "Pampa Bharata" and "Literary Criticism", D. L. Narasimhachar (History of Literature), S. Srikanta Sastri (Cultural History of Karnataka)(see group photograph), K. V. Raghavachar (Kannada classic – "Basavarajadevara Ragale"), N. Anantarangachar (Kannada Grammar – "Shabdamanidarpana"), T. S. Shamarao (Vachanas of Basavanna) and Parameshwar Bhatt (Bharatesha Vaibhava). He worked on Pampa, Ranna, Harihara, Nemichandra, Raghavanka and Kumaravyasa utilizing ancient texts both from Mysore University library and the Oriental Research Institute, Mysore. He completed his Master of Arts (Kannada) degree from Maharaja College, Mysore in 1953–54 under the guidance of D. L. Narasimhachar.

Career

Osmania University Sastry (front row, 2nd from left) with G. S. Shivarudrappa while at Osmania University

Sastry began his career as a lecturer at Kanakapura rural college in 1955. He moved to St. Joseph's College, Bangalore in 1957 and continued as a lecturer there until 1959. Subsequently, he was appointed as lecturer at Osmania University in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh in 1959 where he worked hard to lend shape to the nascent Kannada department. In addition to his teaching duties at the university, he also taught at several Women's and Arts Colleges. He involved himself in the affairs of the "Telugu Sahitya Akademi" and during these years put together his "Mahakavyalakshana". He translated Sophocles' "Trakiya Pengal" during his tenure at Osmania University. Later he translated "Prometheus Bound" by Aeschylus into Kannada. His dictionary titled "Sreevatsa Nighantu" took form while at Osmania University. After being transferred from women's college to the university's Post Graduate department, T. V. Venkatachala Sastry involved himself teaching topics like "Kannada Chandassu", Kannada Grammar and "Suktisudarnava". It was during these years that he set out to do doctoral research and this brought him closer to his former teacher and mentor D. L. Narasimhachar. In fact, D. L. Narasimhachar suggested a doctoral work on "Kannada Neminathapurana Tulanathmaka", which T. V. V. Sastry took up in earnest. In February 1968, University of Mysore's "Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe" embarked on organising a symposium to celebrate eighth centennial of Basavanna and requested T. V. V. Sastry at Osmania University to pen a paper on "Vachana Sahitya". Sastry took up the project, returning a 60-page document that caught the attention of Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe director and his former teacher D. Javaregowda, who with H. M. Nayak persuaded him to relocate to University of Mysore in 1968 to occupy the post of lecturer.

Institute of Kannada Studies, Mysore Mysore University group photo, 1956. T. V. Venkatachala Sastry with A. L. Basham

University of Mysore's Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe's prominent publications such as "Kannada Sahitya Charitre", "Kannada Chandassina Charithre", "Kannada Vishaya Viswakosha", and "Epigraphia Carnatica" owe a great deal to Sastry's erudition, perseverance and steadfast administrative acumen. His skills as an editor helped assemble and streamline many of these volumes in addition to several felicitation volumes for eminent personalities.

Literary contribution

Sastry's writings span over four decades and number in excess of 100. They encompass topics such as the history of Kannada literature, prosody, literary criticism, Kannada grammar, Kannada poetry, dictionary writing and editing, editing, and translations.

He was the first to offer an elaborate discussion on Devachandra's Rajavalikathe and Kempunarayana's Mudra Manjusha, and his PhD attracted considerable attention in literary circles. He has authored close to seven works on Grammar, six on Prosody, two on Aesthetics, six different dictionaries on various subjects, 24 studies on Literary Criticism and Research studies, eleven biographies, twenty two edited volumes and prose works, four translations and four bibliographies. In addition to these, he has penned four plays and four collections of essays. Various articles were collectively brought out in ten volumes under the title of Śāstrīya: Samputagalu 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 which was published in 1999. As an editor Sastry has led such projects as History of Kannada Literature (Mysore University), Revision and Reprint of Epigraphia Carnatica, Kannada Dictionary Project of Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Anthology of Ancient Literature, Revision and Prose Translation of Kumaravyasa Bharata by Kannada Gamaka Parishat and publication of Complete Jaina Literature by Kannada University, Hampi. Significant among the scholars who came to him were Prof Laurie Honke (Finland), Prof Showman (Canada), Prof Karl Johanssen (U.S.A), Prof Sefan Anacker (Switzerland) and the Indologist Prof Sheldon Pollock (U.S.A).

Research and literary criticism

1972 - Sāhitya Manthana 1973 - Kannaḍa Nēminatha Purāṇagaḷa Taulanika Adhyayana 1974 - Chamundaraya 1979 - Shabdarthavihara 1980 - Jaina Bhagavatha Bharathagalu: Ondu Sameekshe 1981 - Prācīna Kannaḍa Sāhitya, Kelavu Nōṭagaḷu 1981 - Muru Sameekshegalu 1982 - Hosagannada Sahitya: Kelavu Notagalu 1983 - Namma Karnataka 1983 - Pampa 1991 - Haleya Honnu 1999 - Śāstrīya: Samputagalu 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 2000 - Mulakanāḍu Brāhmaṇaru: Samudāya, Saṃskrti 2007 - Kanakapura Emba Kānakāna Haḷḷiya Charitre 2009 - Kannaḍa abhijāta sāhitya : adhyayanada avakāśagaḷu, ahvānagaḷu

Grammar 1990 - Hosagannadada Vyakarana 1994 - Keshirajavirachita Shabdamanidarpanam

Poetry 1969 - Mahakavyalakshana 1987 - Kannaḍa Citrakāvya: Svarūpa, Itihāsa, Vimarśe

Plays 1966 - Baddha Prometheus (Greek Original – "Prometheus Bound" by Sophocles) 1971 - Kamsa 1978 - Trakiya Pengal (Greek Original – "Trakiya Pengal" by Aeschylus) 1981 - Hosagannada Mitravinda Govinda

Prosody 1970 - Kannaḍa Chandassu 1978 - Kannada Chandahswarupa 1989 - Kannaḍa Chandōvihāra 2003 - Kannada Chandomimamse 2007 - Chandombudhi 2013 - Kannaḍa Chandaḥkōśa

Lexicography 1971 - Śrīvatsa nighaṇṭu 1977 - Kannada Ratnakosha 1994 - Gajashastrashabdakosha 2004 - Granthasampadhana Paribhashakosha 2018 - Acchagannada Prani Padakosha

Biographies 1980 - Mahamahopadhyaya R. Shamasastry 1983 - Rao Bahadur M. Shama Rao 1985 - Sahitya Shilpigalu 1995 - A. R. Krishnashastry 2002 - Mārgadarśaka Mahanīyaru 2004 - Bhārataratna Sir M. Viśvēśvarayyanavara Pūrvajaru 2005 - Aaptaru Acharyaru 2005 - Sri Sahajanandabharathi Swamigalu 2007 - Dr A. Venkatasubbaiahanavaru

Editorship 1971 - Kavyasanchaya – Part 1 (Co-edited with others) 1973 - Srikanthika: Prof S. Srikanta Sastri Felicitation Volume 1974 - Kannada Adhyayana Samstheya Kannada Sahitya Charitre Samputa 1 – 5 1973–1993 - Epigraphia Carnatica 1975 - Samshodhana Lekhanagalu – S. Srikanta Sastri (Co-edited with others) 1970–1975 - Prabhuddha Karnataka 1976–1995 - Kannada Sahitya Parishattina Kannada Nighantu 1978 - Kavyasanchaya – Part 2 (Co-edited with others) 1978–79 - Karnataka: Kannada Vishaya Viswakosha 1982–92 - Karnataka Lochana 1983 - Swasthi – T. S. Shamarayara Felicitation Volume 1986 - Prakthana – R. Narasimhacharyara Lekhanagalu, Bashanagalu 1986 - Prof D. L. Narasimhacharyara Rudranatakopanyasagalu 1986 - S. G. Narasimhacharyara Kavithegalu 1987 - Gamaka Manjusha 1987 - Chamarasa (Co-edited with others) 1988 - Gadya Kusumanjali (Co-edited with others) 1988 - Bahubhashika Nighantu Yojane – Asian Studies Association (Chennai) 1990 - Kannada Kavigalu Kanda Gommateshwara 1991 - Anukarana Gita Lahari 1991 - Kannada Chennudi 1991 - Kavyavahini: Dasara Kavisammelanada Kavanagalu 1992 - Kavyasriranga: Dasara Kavisammelanada Kavanagalu 1992 - Alauddin mathu Adbuthadeepa 1992 - Janapriya Prachinasahityamale 1993 - Prakrit Adhyayana Mathu Samshodhana Rashtriya Samsthe 1993 - Rashtriya Viswakosha Kendra – Bhubaneswar 1993 - Prachina Bharatiya Sahitya Sankalana Yojane 1995 - Abhijnana – Dr. K. Krishnamurthy Felicitation Volume 1995 - Pampakavi Virachitam Aadipuranam – S. G. Narasimhachar 1998 - Kannada Sahitya Parishathina Kannada–Kannada–English Nighantu (1) 1999 - Mudramanjusha 2000 - Mulukanadu Mahaniyara Granthamale 2001 - Mysore Mulukanadu Sabha (R) & Mulukanadu Charitable Trust 2001 - Dr A. Venkatasubbaiahanavara Samshodhana Lekhanagalu 2002 - Mulukanadu Siri 2003 - Kannada Kavyagala Alankaragalu – Kannada Sahitya Parishathu 2003 - Siribhuvalaya 2005 - Kavyajinashtakagalu 2006 - Boppannapanditana Gommatajinendra Gunastavam 2007 - Pampasamputa 2008 - Karyakarisamithi Sadasya – B. M. Sri Smaraka Pratishthana

Translations 1986 - Vedam Venkataraya Sastri 1987 - Harivamshapuranasaara 2002 - Karnaparyana Neminatha Purana Kathasaara 2002 - Ardhanemi Purana Kathasara, Vastu Vimarshe

Essays 1975 - Kavyachitragalu 1982 - Saddentembara Ganda 1990 - Melugāḷiya Mātugaḷu: Tombattu Cintanegaḷu 2002 - Udāracaritaru Udāttaprasaṅgagaḷu

Bibliographical work 1966 - A Descriptive Catalogue of Kannada Manuscripts in the Osmania University Library (Co-edited) 1978 - A Bibliography of Karnataka Studies – Vol I 1997 - A Bibliography of Kannada Ramayana 1998 - A Bibliography of Karnataka Studies - Vol II

Recognition

Sastry's vast contribution to Kannada Literature has been acknowledged with several awards and accolades. He is also recipient of the "Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award" (Honorary) for 1997. He presided over the Dharmasthala Literary Festival in 2002. Some of the prominent awards are listed here.

"Kannada Chandassu" (Kannada Sahitya Akademi) (1970) "Kannada Chitrakavya" (Kannada Sahitya Akademi) (1987) "Kannada Chandovihara" (Kannada Sahitya Akademi) (1989) "Karnataka State Devaraja Bahadur Award" (1972) "Mysore Viswavidhyalaya Suvarnamahotsava Award" (1978) "Mysore Viswavidhyalaya T. N. Srikantaiah Smaraka Award" (1978) "Dharwad Vidhyavardhaka Sangha Award" (1978) "Karnataka State Devaraja Bahadur Award" (1978) "Mysore Viswavidhyalaya T. N. Srikantaiah Smaraka Award" (1986) Mysore 'Granthaloka' Newspaper "Writer of the year" Award (1987) "Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award" for best written work (1987) "I.B.H Sikhsana Trust, Mumbai Award" (1987) "University of Mysore Golden Jubilee Award" (1987) "Kannada Sahitya Parishathina Vajramahotsava Award" (1977) "Karnataka State Award" (1988) Felicitation from "S. B. Joshi Vicharavedike" (1994) Award for lifetime contribution from Shravanabelagola Vidyapeeta (1996) Honorary Award from "Karnataka Sahitya Akademi" (1997) "Sediyapu" Award, Udupi (1998) "Chidananda" Award, Bangalore (2001) "Bhashasamman" Award from Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (2002) "S. B. Joshi" Award, Karnataka Sangha, Shimoga (2003) "Chavundaraya" Award, Kannada Sahitya Parishath (2003) "Alvas Nudisiri Award", Moodabidri (2005) "Sri Krishna" Award from Pejawar Mutt Swamiji (2006) "Aryabhatta" Award, Bangalore (2006) "Masti" Award, Bangalore (2008) (pictured) "Pampa" Award for Lifetime Contribution (2008) Nadoja Award, Kannada University, Hampi (2022)

Legacy

Sastry currently resides in Mysore, India with his wife Venkatalakshmi and devotes his time to writing, reviewing, editing and critiquing literary works. As part of his felicitation for lifetime contribution to Kannada language and literature, two festschrift volumes "Srimukha" & "Kannada Meru" were presented. Sanskrit scholar Sheldon Pollock called him "greatest living scholar in the field of old Kannada".