He was straightforward, always stood his ground

Girish Karnad
In U R Ananthamurthy’s death, we have lost a genius. He had opened a new age in Kannada literature. His novel 'Samskara' brought a metaphysical element to Kannada literature.
‘Samskara’ was transformed into a film in 1970 by Pattabhi Ram Reddy. The character of Praneshacharya in the third part of 'Samskara' created ripples. I played the role of Praneshacharya in the Kannada film ‘Samskara’.
Ananthamurthy was not only an excellent writer but also a social activist who raised his voice on several social and political issues. He was very frank in expressing his opinions, be it the BJP’s policies, the anti-cow slaughter movement or medium of instruction at the school level. He never hesitated to express his views, and stood by them. I liked this quality and supported his views on several occasions.
He was a true representative of democratic tradition and was straightforward in voicing his views unmindful of criticism they might invite. A committed writer, Ananthamurthy earned admiration not only in India but also at the international level.
His stories can be compared to world-class literature. The fact that his works have been translated into several Indian and European languages and have been awarded important literary prizes proves this. His works dealt with the influences of socio-political and economic changes on traditional Hindu societies of India. His stories like 'Sooryana Kudure' and 'Mouni' created a sensation.
I call him a versatile writer because he wrote short stories, novels, plays, collections of poems, literary criticism and essays, and also edited ‘Rujuvaatu’, a literary journal.
Besides being a writer of world class, he was an able teacher and administrator. He deserved all the recognition and awards that came his way. He will remain immortal through his great contributions to the world of literature.
(The writer is a Jnanpith award-winning playwright)