Veteran Kannada novelist Geetha Nagabhushan passes away

KALABURAGI: Veteran novelist Geetha Nagabhushan (78) died in Kalaburagi on Sunday late night after cardiac arrest at a private hospital. She was suffering from age-related ailments since recent years.


Born on March 25, 1942, in Savalagi village of the district, Nagabhushan brought up with MA, B Ed degrees amidst poverty and social resistance for girl child education. She started her career as lecturer at Nagareshwar College in Kalaburagi and had retired as principal. She had chaired the 76th Akhil Bharat Kannada Sahitya Sammelan held in Gadag in 2010. She was the first woman writer to get Nadoja award of Kannada University Hampi, and first Kannada woman writer to be honored Sahitya Akademi award for her novel 'Baduku' in 2004.

Being a writer, she always showcased feelings of women, Dalits and downtrodden communities and had believed in writing with simple words and way since her debut novel 'Taavareya Hoovu' in 1968. She vastly used 'Moghalai' dialect of Hyderabad-Karnataka region and brought an academic value to the same. Her literary contribution involves 27 novels, 50 small stories, 12 dramas, one edited and one research works. Her novel 'Hasimamsa Mattu Haddugalu' was made as feature film 'Hennina Koogu' in Kannada. She was also honored with awards of Bharateeya Bhasha Parishat of Kolkata, Karnataka Rajyotsav, Danachintamani Attimabbe and others.

Family sources said that the body will be kept for public Darshan till 12 noon at their residence in Swastik Nagar and last rites will be performed at their field Savalagi-Pattan cross in outskirts of Kalaburagi.