BANGALORE, Dec 9: Kota Shivarama Karanth achieved in a single lifetime what most can merely aspire to in ten life-spans. The variety, vastness and depth of Karanth's works are not only unusual but also incredibly amazing. It is difficult to identify Karanth with any one field, as he left his mark in fields as varied as literature, culture, science, art, environment, ecology, dance, drama, folklore and journalism.Karanth never identified himself with any one group or stream of thought. He was fiercely independent, and never hesitated to call a spade a spade. He returned the Padmabhushan in protest against the curtailment of human rights during the Emergency. To him, liberty and freedom of thought and action were more important.How will he be remembered? As a novelist, because he wrote about 50 novels including the Mookajjiya Kanasugalu which won him the Jnanpith Award? As a playwright, for he authored about 30 plays? As a cultural czar, because he was responsible for the rejuvenation of Yakshagana, one of the wonderful performing folk arts of coastal Karnataka? Because his work Yakshagana Bayalata won him the prestigious Kendriya Sahitya Academy award in 1958? As a science buff, because he wrote volumes on science, particularly for children? As a man with a passion for knowledge for he wrote an encylopaedia single-handed? Or as an environmentalist and crusading activist since he was always on the forefront of any movement to preserve the splendour of nature? It is difficult to say. Even in his 90s, Karanth was as sharp as he was seven decades ago, and at times more aggressive and rational. Karanth never bothered about the success or failure of his ventures and adventures. Eyebrows were raised when he decided to contest the Lok Sabha election from Karwar constituency. It was a principled decision, as he did not harbour any political ambitions. He entered the electoral fray on the ``save environment'' plank (at a time when there was a huge controversy over the Kaiga nuclear power plant in Uttara Kannada).Karanth was always ready to take up environmental issues, even if it meant going to the lofty portals of the Supreme Court. He was able to look ahead and visualise the dangers of unplanned development. When the green revolution concept was introduced in the early 60s in Dakshina Kannada, Karanth warned against the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Karanth's words proved prophetic. Three-and-a-half decades after launching the green revolution, the scientists are now advising farmers to return to bio-manure farming.Karanth was a phenomenal writer. He has to his credit about 400 books including 50 novels, 30 plays and stupendous works like Kala Prapancha and Vignana Prapancha. His half a dozen travelogues make delightful reading.Karanth is one of the most widely criticised, reviewed, analysed and admired writers. The first book on Karanth's literature, Karanthara Kadambarigalu (novels of Karanth) was published in 1948. For Karanth, life meant many things besides adventure. Like Nirad Chauduri, the `Kadala Theerada Bhargava' (Monarch of the Seashores) was expected to live a hundred years. The latest in the series is the over 700-page Karantha Manthana containing articles about various facets of Karnath's life and works. The Hampi Kannada University began its series on Kannada Sahitya: Ee Shatamanada Nota (Kannada literature: A look of the present century), with a comprehensive and representative volume about Karanth's life and works. Karanth wrote at least one novel a year. His widely read novels include Chomana Dudi, Bettada Jeeva, Marali Mannige and Mai Managala Suliyalli.
