Writer Amresh Nugadoni delivered the inaugural address at a workshop on Shantarase’s literary world at Gulbarga University on Saturday. | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Writer Amresh Nugadoni said on Saturday that ghazal poet Shantarasa played a key role in nurturing Kannada literature in the Kalyana region of Karnataka (earlier called Hyderabad Karnataka) despite the strong influence of Urdu during the Nizam’s pre-independence rule.
He was speaking after inaugurating a one-day literary workshop titled ‘Shantarasa Sahitya Loka’ at Gulbarga University, organized jointly by Gulbarga University’s Institute of Kannada Studies and Dr. Foundation. Besagarahalli Ramanna, Bengaluru.
Mr. Nugadoni said that although Shantarasa was born in poverty, his association with the Jangama community enriched him with traditional knowledge. At a time when ornamental writing dominated Kannada literature, Shantarasa founded the publishing house ‘Satya Snehi’ in Raichur, encouraged several writers and contributed significantly to the growth of Kannada prose and poetry. By translating works from Urdu into Kannada, he extended the reach and influence of Kannada literature, he said.
Highlighting the poet’s rebellious spirit, Mr. Nugadoni noted that Shantarasa openly protested the injustice done to the region and drew inspiration from Basavanna’s vachanas. “Shantarasa, a secular thinker and a witness of his time, remains largely unknown to readers in South Karnataka. There is a need to convey his literary legacy to a wider audience,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, HT Potte, Director, Institute of Kannada Studies, expressed concern that despite the state government setting up 27 literary foundations across Karnataka to promote Kannada language and literature, there is none in the Kalyana region of Karnataka. “This is a country that witnessed Vachana literature, Sasa literature and the Dalit movement and gave Karnataka its earliest available literary texts. Yet not a single foundation has been set up here,” he said, urging the government to establish literary foundations in the region in the names of prominent poets and writers.
The program was presided over by HR Sujatha, Foundation President Dr. Besagarahalli Ramanna. Senior theater personality HS Basavaprabhu and foundation secretary Rajendra Prasad were present.
In the workshop, K. Ravindranath of Hosapete spoke on “Research and Editing of Books” by Shantaras and critic Shreeshaila Nagaral on the writer’s “Prose Literature” in the first part. In the second session, critic Shailaja Bagewadi spoke on “Women’s World in Literature”, Mahantesh Navalakal on “Poetic Traditions” and translator Suryakant Sujyatha on “Translated Literature”.
Published – 20 Dec 2025 20:05 IST
