TS Venkannaiah

Taluku Shamarao Venkannaiah (17 November 1941 – 14 June 2012) was an Indian author and educator. Venkannaiah was born in Shimoga Shimoga district to a native Telugu family. He was named after his father's elder brother T. S. Venkannayya. Residing at Sringeri he had served as principal in JCBM College of Sringeri, Chikmagalur Dist, Karnataka State, South India.

He was a Sanskrit professor in JCBM college Sringeri. He translated many works and was a chief editor of magazines like Bhamathi (JCBM College magazine which won awards for many consecutive years during his time as editor), monthly Sadguru's Blessings of Harihara Pura Mat, and Seva Sadana of Gubbi Chidambarashram for many years. His translations include Will Durant's greatest work the History of Greece volume 9. He served as Sringeri Taluk Kannada Sahitya Parishat president.

Education and career Venkannaiah studied his primary and secondary education in Shimoga and later on moved to Mysore for higher studies. He completed his MA in Sanskrit from Mysore University in 1963 and worked as sub-editor in Adult Education Council, Mysore for six months and started his career as a high school teacher in Deshiya Vidyashala from 1964 to 1965. On 8 July 1965 he became a lecturer in JCBM College in Srigeri (the Sharada Peetham). He retired as principal of the same college on 30 November 1999.

Works and message

For his works Venkannaiah was awarded Sahitya Siri by Kannada Sahitya parishat. He was against meaningless practices and rituals, and he was for true understandings of spiritual texts. His words are expressed in his commemoration volume Sahrudayi. Venkannaiah's writings vary from Sanskrit works to English and Telugu works.