Bengaluru, 6 November

Noted Kannada linguist, literary critic and scholar KV Narayana died in his sleep at his residence in Bengaluru on Thursday. He was 78.

He is survived by his wife, feminist writer HS Shrimati, and two children.

Narayana began his career as a science teacher before developing an interest in linguistics at a summer school in Mysuru in 1972. He later earned a master's degree in Kannada literature from Bangalore University and completed his doctorate under poet and scholar G.S. Shivarudrappa.

A recipient of the 2024 Sahitya Akademi Award for his work “Nudigala Alivu”, Narayana taught at Kannada University in Hampi, where he helped establish the institution and served as registrar and acting vice-chancellor. He also headed Kuvempu Bhasha Bharathi, introducing new publishing initiatives, including a translation of Constituent Assembly debates and a 10-volume series on Karnataka's socio-economic thought.

Narayana championed Kannada as a source of knowledge and philosophy, challenging Eurocentric approaches to understanding the language and its community. He argued that languages could survive only through the communities that spoke them.

He also developed the Karnataka Odu programme, a series of workshops exploring the state's culture and identity, and introduced the works of linguist Noam Chomsky to Kannada readers.

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed condolences, describing Narayana's death as an irreparable loss to Kannada literature and culture.

“His service as an awardee of the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi and Rajyotsava Award, and as the President of Kuvempu Bhasha Bharati, will always be remembered,” Shivakumar posted on his X handle.