Kannada writer Amaresh Nugadoni wins Akademi award

Kannada writer Amaresh Nugadoni, 66, has been conferred the Sahitya Akademi award for his short story collection, Dada Serisu Tande.

This is his fifth short story collection. Four of his stories have been adapted into films. He is known for capturing themes of drought and human suffering in the Kalyan Karnataka region and using the local dialect in his writings. The description of the arid landscapes of Kalyan Karnataka in his works, the mountains and the plains of various districts and the lives of the common people after the fall of the Vijayanagar empire are considered unique to Kannada literature. He is known for bringing out issues of caste and class discrimination, as well as social justice.

Prof. Nugadoni, who is recuperating in the hospital after procedure for a heart ailment, said he was very happy to be selected. He said it was an honour for the Kannada language.

Born Amaresh Halemane in Nugadoni village in Raichur district, he adopted the name of his village as his second name. He studied at various places in Raichur district and pursued his M.A. in Kannada from Gulbarga University in Kalaburagi.

Literary influences

The biggest literary influence in his life was to come in Raichur, where he met polyglot poet and Ghazal writer Shatarasa Hemberalu. The veteran writer goaded him to write and guided him in his literary pursuits.

He served as a lecturer in Akkalkot in Maharashtra, Bidar and Raichur, before joining the Hampi Kannada University. He retired as a professor in 2022.

Film adaptations

His short story Savari was made into the multiple award-winning film Kanasemba Kudureyaneri by Girish Kasaravalli. It was also screened in several film festivals outside India.

The story Neeru Tandavaru was brought to screen by Aasif Kshatriya, while Daivakke Modalu Sharanembevu was adapted by G. Rangaswami. The story Dhare Uridare was made into Vaghachi Pani by Natesh Hegde. Four of his stories have been staged as plays.

Among his best known works is Arivu published by the Hampi Kannada University in 1994. This is a short story collection written using minimal number of Kannada words, to enable the newly literate to develop a taste of literature.

Works on Hyderabad-Karnataka

A research work on the social realities of Hyderabad-Karnataka in Kannada literature is considered his major contribution to academics. Other research works include the volume on the Hyderabad Karnataka liberation movement in undivided Raichur district and the cultural history of the living heritage of the Tatva Pada folk art form.

He edited the 1,100 pages compendium on Hyderabad Karnataka, that was released at the Raichur Kannada Sahitya Sammelana. He edited it on condition that the volume would not contain advertisements or messages from celebrities.

His edited volumes on Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Harishchandra Kavya, Jaimini Bharata, Shoonya Sampadane, Gramayana, and Purandara Dasa are popular reference books among students. He has published personality profiles of Jedara Dasimayya , Sarvajnya, Dinakara Desai and Srikrishna Alanahalli. His books on medieval Kannada literature and research methodology are used as academic texts.

Among the awards he has won are the Karnataka Sahitya Academy award, Jayateertha Rajpurohit memorial award, Chaduranga award and Masti award for short stories.