Introduction

Women writers in Kannada literature have written a number of literary works that highlight the status of women in society. They try to draw out the social norms that confine women to derogatory positions in the family and society and attempt to educate the people on the various adversities faced by women. Some of the most well-known women writers in Kannada literature are discussed below.

Early Women Writers of Kannada Literature

There were women writers among Virashaivite saints of the tenth and eleventh centuries. Apart from Akka Mahadevi, a writer like Sule Sarikavva expressed what she felt while working as a prostitute to make a living. The women writers of recent times have been able to link themselves to this tradition of Virasaivite poetry. Women`s writings have also led to a new interest in the writings of some of the ignored aspects of Virasaivite poetry.

Akka Mahadevi

Akka Mahadevi was an early poet of Kannada literature and a prominent figure within the Lingayat movement of Hinduism that emerged in the 12th century. She made a lasting contribution to Kannada literary and spiritual traditions through her 430 vachanas, spontaneous mystical poems as well as two short prose works, Mantrogopya and Yogangatrividh.

The honorific title “Akka,” meaning elder sister or mother, was bestowed upon her by revered saints such as Basavanna, Siddharama, and Allamaprabhu. Akka Mahadevi is widely regarded as one of the most significant female figures in Kannada literature and in the cultural history of Karnataka. In her devotional philosophy, she envisioned Lord Shiva, whom she addressed as Chenna Mallikarjuna, as her divine husband, embodying the madhura bhava or madhurya mode of devotion, a deeply personal and passionate expression of spiritual love.

Sule Sarikavva

Sule Sarikavva is remembered as a significant refuge for outcast communities within the Vachana Samaj. As the epithet in her name indicates, she was once a prostitute. However, under the transformative influence of Basavanna and the Vachana movement, she renounced her former life. Through her association with the Sharanas, she embraced a new spiritual path and began composing vachanas in Kannada.

Her verses are marked by striking self-confidence, boldness, unwavering courage, and a strong sense of moral commitment. Writing with clarity and fearlessness, she asserted her spiritual identity in a society that marginalized her. Sule Sarikavva signed her compositions with the name “Nirlajjeshwara,” a powerful declaration that underscored her rejection of shame and her affirmation of inner strength and devotion.

Modern Women Writers of Kannada Literature

Modern women writers in Kannada literature have played a transformative role in reshaping the literary landscape, bringing forward powerful voices that confront social oppression, gender inequality, and the layered realities of women’s lives. Their writing is marked by a deep engagement with lived experience, social critique, and emotional complexity.

Among the most prominent and award-winning figures are Vaidehi, Sarah Abubaker, Triveni, Rajalakshmi, M. K. Indira, Vina Shanteshwar, and Vijaya Dabbe. These writers are widely recognized for their psychological depth, nuanced character portrayals, and progressive feminist perspectives, which have significantly expanded the thematic and aesthetic boundaries of modern Kannada literature.

All the characters in Triveni’s and Rajalakshmi’s fiction are housewives, dependent on their husbands for income. Vina`s and Vaidehi`s characters who show freedom of choice have independent sources of income. The difference also indicates the change that has taken place in the status of middle-class women in the last 20 years. Many of the contradictions in women`s position still need to be addressed.

Triveni

Triveni (1928-63) wrote novels chiefly about the emotional repressions of middle-class women. This suppression becomes necessary for the women to gain respectability in a middle-class family. But it leads to various psychological problems, as in the case of Kaveri in ‘Sarapanjara’ or Malathi in ‘Hannele Ciguridaga.’ Kaveri suppresses her love for one person and marries another approved of by her parents. This ultimately leads her to madness. Malathi, a widow, decides to suppress her feelings for a man in order to please her orthodox father. Triveni suggests that no change in the condition of women is possible until men recognize their problems. She is the first Kannada writer to recognize the specificity of women’s psychologies.

Rajalakshmi N. Rao

Rajalakshmi N. Rao’s ‘Sangama’ (1954), a collection of short stories, is also about the emotional repression of women. Her ‘Ilia Ilia’ is a story about a middle-class woman who dons the mask of a faithful wife in order to gain respectability. She now represents the class against which her former lover, a communist, rebelled. She cannot admit that she is still secretly in love with him, because she cannot break off from the society in which she now lives. The only thing left for her is to suppress her feelings and lead a double life. Parvathi, the heroine of ‘Phedra,’ another story, also resorts to daydreaming in order to give expression to her feelings. She also cannot break off from the society and live a separate life.

N. V. Bhagyalakshmi

N. V. Bhagyalakshmi’s Berala Sandiya Baduku (1976), a collection of poems, is about the suppressed feelings of unmarried women. This was the first collection of poems that unhesitatingly told Kannada readers that unmarried Indian women suppress their feelings in order to make themselves acceptable to men in the marriage market. This collection of poems started a new trend in Kannada poetry because Bhagyalakshmi had created a new idiom to express women’s feelings.

Vaidehi

Janaki Srinivasa Murthy, popularly known by her pen name Vaidehi, is a prominent Indian feminist writer and a leading voice in modern Kannada fiction. Regarded as one of the most successful women writers in the language, she has received several prestigious national and state-level literary honors. In 2009, she was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for her short story collection Krauncha Pakshigalu.

Her novel Asprushyaru (1992) offers fresh insights into the practice of untouchability, portraying the lived conditions of marginalized communities while emphasizing the need to dismantle oppressive systems that sustain discriminatory practices. Rather than relying on simplistic representations, the novel presents a nuanced and layered exploration of caste consciousness. In addition to her novels, Vaidehi’s short story collections such as ‘Mara Gida Balli’ (1979), ‘Gola’ (1986), and ‘Hagga Kate’ (1992) have gained wide popularity among Kannada readers.

Tejaswini Niranjana

Tejaswini Niranjana is an Indian professor, cultural theorist, translator, and author whose work has made a significant impact on cultural studies, gender studies, translation studies, and ethnomusicology, particularly in relation to diverse forms of Indian music. She is the daughter of noted Kannada playwright and novelist Niranjana and writer Anupama Niranjana, and her partner is Indian author and cultural theorist Ashish Rajadhyaksha.

In 2021, Tejaswini Niranjana received the American Literary Translators Association Prize for Prose Fiction Translation for No Presents Please, her English translation of short stories by Jayant Kaikini, which are centered on the city of Mumbai. She is also a recipient of the 2018 Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship awarded by the Research Grants Council, Hong Kong. Earlier in her career, she was honored with the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Translation in 1994, further recognizing her contributions to literary translation and scholarship.

S. Usha

S. Usha was born on 5 April 1954 in Mysore. She currently serves as a Kannada lecturer at Hoysaleshwar College in Arasikere, located in the Hassan district. Widely recognized for her literary contributions, she is particularly known for her poetry collection ‘This Ground Song,’ which has earned considerable popularity among Kannada readers. In addition to poetry, S. Usha has made her mark through works such as ‘Kasuti’ and her autobiography ‘Togalu Bomb,’ both of which reflect her distinctive literary voice. In recognition of her contributions to Kannada literature, she has been honored with the Vardhamana Award and the Rajya Sahitya Akademi Award.

Pratibha Nandakumar

Pratibha Nandakumar is an Indian poet, journalist, feminist, columnist, and activist who writes in both Kannada and English. She is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern women’s poetry in Kannada literature, known for articulating bold feminist perspectives and contemporary social realities through her work. In 1998, she received the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry for her acclaimed work ‘Kavadeyaata.’ Her other notable poetry collections include ‘Coffee House,’ ‘Aha! Purushakaram,’ and ‘Cowboys Mattu Kama Purana.’ In addition to poetry, she has written short fiction, including ‘Akramana’ (1997), and an autobiography titled ‘Anudinada Antharagange,’ which offers an introspective account of her personal and literary journey.

Vina Shanteshwar

Veena Shanteshwar was born on 22 February 1945 in Dharwad. She played a significant role in academia as the founder and vice-principal of Basaveshwara College, Durgakote. As a writer, Veena Shanteshwar has authored five collections of short stories. Her first collection, ‘Mullu,’ marked the beginning of her literary career. Among her later works, ‘Kavalu’ received the Rajya Sahitya Akademi Award, while ‘Hasivu’ was honored with the Mallika Award of the Kannada Sahitya Parishatti. Another notable short story collection by her is ‘Maala Daari.’

In addition to short fiction, she has written three novels, including ‘Gandasaru,’ which won the prestigious Prajavani Award. One of her short stories, ‘Veena’s Guest,’ was adapted for the film ‘Kathasangama,’ directed by the renowned filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal. Beyond creative writing, Veena Shanteshwar has published numerous philosophical works and critical reviews. She has also made important contributions as a translator, rendering works from English, Marathi, and Hindi into Kannada. 

The women characters that Vina portray are freer emotionally than earlier. Vina`s "Higondu Kathe" portrays an unwed mother who feels that giving birth to a child is the right of every woman. Vina’s protagonist is a female character who feel that her life do not have to be determined by the requirements of men. The connection of this freedom to economic factors is also significant.

Sarah Abubaker

Sara Abubaker was a Kannada short story writer and novelist widely recognized for articulating women’s sensibility in her fiction. After years of closely observing and engaging with social issues, she began her literary career after the age of forty, much like M. K. Indira. Her first novel “On the Shore of Chandragiri,” was serialized in Lankesh magazine and quickly drew widespread attention. The novel’s realistic portrayal of everyday life and its powerful depiction of women subjected to religious constraints resonated deeply with readers, earning critical and popular acclaim. Encouraged by this response, Sara Aboobacker went on to write several notable novels, including Sahana (1985), Ceasefire (1988), and Shipwrecked Boat (1997), among others, further establishing her as an important voice in modern Kannada literature.

M. K. Indira

M. K. Indira, also known as Mandagadde Krishnarao Indira, was a well-known Indian novelist who wrote in the Kannada language. She began her literary career relatively late, starting to write novels at the age of forty-five, yet went on to leave a lasting mark on Kannada literature.

Among her most celebrated works is ‘Phaniyamma,’ a novel that received several prestigious awards and brought her widespread recognition. Some of her novels were also adapted into films, reflecting their strong narrative appeal and social relevance. Her first published novel, Tungabhadra, appeared in 1963, followed by ‘Sadananda’ (1965), ‘Gejje Pooje’ (1966), and ‘Navaratna’ (1967), establishing her as a significant voice in modern Kannada fiction.

Vijaya Dabbe

Vijaya Dabbe is widely regarded as one of the earliest feminist pioneer writers in Kannada literature. She was born on 1 June 1951 in Dabbe village, Belur taluk, in the Hassan district. Over the course of her literary career, she has published more than twelve books and authored over sixty articles, establishing herself as a significant feminist voice in Kannada writing.

Her first book, ‘Kavan Sankalpa,’ received the Udayommukha Vardhamana Award, marking an important beginning to her literary journey. Her poetry collection ‘Itigithika’ was awarded third prize in 1996 by the Matoshree Ratnamma Heggade Endowment Fund of the Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha, Dharwad.

Vijaya Dabbe has also contributed to Kannada scholarship as a professor at the Institute of Kannada Studies, Manasa Gangotri, University of Mysore, and has served as the editor of a literary magazine involved in publishing books. Her notable poetry collections include ‘There Will Be’ (1975), ‘Water Is a Metal’ (1985), and ‘The Question That Stood Still’ (1995), all of which reflect her sustained engagement with feminist thought and social critique.

Vishalakshi Dakshinamurthy

Vishalakshi Dakshinamurthy is an Indian novelist who writes in the Kannada language. She is best known for her novel ‘Vyapthi–Prapthi’, which was later adapted into the acclaimed film ‘Jeevana Chaitra,’ bringing her work to a wider audience beyond literary circles. In recognition of her contribution to Kannada literature, she was honored with the Bhuvaneshwari Award by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat in 2008.

Banu Mushtaq

Banu Mushtaq is an Indian Kannada-language writer, activist, and lawyer from Karnataka. She gained international recognition for ‘Heart Lamp,’ a selection of her short stories translated by Deepa Bhasthi, which won the International Booker Prize in 2025. Over the course of her literary career, Banu Mushtaq has published six collections of short stories, a novel, a collection of essays, and a poetry collection. Her writings have reached a wide readership through translations into Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and English. One of her notable short stories, ‘Karinaagaragalu,’ was adapted into the 2003 Kannada film Hasina, directed by Girish Kasaravalli, further extending the cultural impact of her work beyond literature. 

Kamala Hampana

Kamala Hampana was an Indian writer who wrote extensively in the Kannada language. Born in Devanahalli, Karnataka, she worked as a scholar and professor of ancient texts and pursued in-depth studies across multiple genres of Kannada literature, with a particular focus on Jainism. Her principal areas of scholarship included ancient Kannada literature, Jainology, and textual criticism.

Alongside her academic pursuits, Kamala Hampana was actively involved in the Dalit movement and the women’s movement in Karnataka, reflecting her strong commitment to social justice and equality. Over her prolific career, she published more than fifty books spanning a wide range of literary forms, including literary criticism, poetry, fiction, and biography. Among her important publications are the short story collections ‘Nekkitu Haalina Battalu,’ ‘Rekke Muriditthu,’ ‘Chandana,’and ‘Bavane.’ In addition, she authored numerous children’s books, produced several translations, and contributed extensively to research-oriented works.

Kodagina Gowramma

Kodagina Gowramma was an Indian writer who wrote in the Kannada language and lived in the Kodagu region. A committed feminist and an active supporter of the Indian Freedom Movement, her writing reflected progressive social ideals and a strong engagement with questions of justice and women’s agency.

Her short stories such as “Aparaadhi Yaaru” (Who Is the Criminal?), “Vaaniya Samasye,” ‘Aahuthi,’ and ‘Manuvina Raani’ were noted for their modern outlook and reformist spirit. Among these, ‘Manuvina Raani’ brought her particular acclaim and established her reputation as a significant literary voice. A collection of her best-known stories was published from Madikeri under the title ‘Gowramma Kathegalu.’ Another volume, ‘Mareyalagada Kathegalu,’ was later released with a preface by Vaidehi.

Nirmala Govindarajan

Nirmala Govindarajan is an Indian novelist and journalist whose writings consistently engages with issues of trafficking, exploitation, and child labour. Her fiction is known for its lyrical prose and its use of allegory, metaphor, and stream-of-consciousness techniques to explore vulnerable lives and suppressed voices.

She published her debut novel, ‘Community Catalyst,’ in 2016. The work was inspired by the real-life experiences of Bharat Lal Meena, former Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka. This was followed by ‘Hunger’s Daughters’ (2018), a novel shaped by her experiences documenting life in India’s rural heartland. Poetic in tone, the novel portrays the lives of young girls from unmapped forest hamlets in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Karnataka, and reflects on themes of freedom, identity, and independence.

Her novel ‘Taboo’ (2019) draws inspiration from the lives of underage girls who are kidnapped and trafficked. Centered on the enigmatic figure of the ‘Lady with the Slender Hands,” the narrative traces a journey across people, illicit trades, and regions as the protagonist seeks to reclaim her identity and assert her freedom. The novel speaks powerfully about female agency and self-definition. ‘Taboo’ was shortlisted for the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize and longlisted for both the Atta Galatta Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize in 2020 and the fiction category of the JK Paper Author Awards.

Jayadevitai Ligade

Jayadevitai Ligade was an Indian poet and social activist who wrote in both Kannada and Marathi. She played a pioneering role in Kannada literary history by serving as the president of the 48th session of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, held in Mandya in 1974, becoming the first woman to preside over the conference.

Actively engaged in linguistic and regional activism, Jayadevitai Ligade campaigned for the unification of Sholapur with Karnataka, arguing on the basis of the city’s Kannada-speaking majority. Her literary contributions include several books on ‘Sharana Sahitya’ in both Kannada and Marathi, notably ‘Siddarama Purana’ and ‘Sri Siddarameshwara.’ She also extended financial support toward the publication of Sharana Sahitya texts. In addition to her literary work, she served as the president of the Veerashaiva Women’s Council and was a member of the Sahitya Akademi. In recognition of her contributions to literature and public life, she received the State Sahitya Academy Award and the Devaraja Bahaddur Award.

Sudha Murty

Sudha Murty is an Indian educator, author, and philanthropist, widely respected for her contributions to social welfare and literature. She serves as the Founder-Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, a non-profit charitable trust through which she has led numerous initiatives in education, healthcare, rural development, and social empowerment.

In recognition of her extensive social work, Sudha Murty was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2006. She was later honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2023, one of the country’s highest civilian awards. Alongside her philanthropic work, she is celebrated for her literary contributions in both Kannada and English. Her novel ‘Dollar Bahu,’ originally written in Kannada and later translated into English, was adapted into a popular television serial by Zee TV in 2001. One of her stories, ‘Runa,’ was adapted into the Marathi film ‘Pitruroon,’ directed by Nitish Bharadwaj. Sudha Murty also appeared in the film and acted in the Kannada movie ‘Prarthana.’ Among her well-known Kannada works are ‘Computer Lokadalli’ (2000), ‘Hakkiya Teradalli’ (2003), ‘Guttondu Heluve’ (2006), ‘Athirikthe’ (2007), and ‘Yerilitada Daariyalli’ (2017), along with many others.

Geetha Nagabhushan

Geetha Nagabhushan was an Indian writer, novelist, and academic known for her significant contributions to Kannada literature. In 2004, she made history by becoming the first woman writer in Kannada to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel Baduku. While she is best known for her novels, Geetha Nagabhushan also wrote short stories, research-based works, and essays, demonstrating a wide literary range. Her notable novels include ‘Thaavareya Hoovu,’ ‘Chandanada Chiguru,’ ‘Mahaamane, Aaghaatha,’ ‘Mohvaa,’ ‘Chitrada Haadu,’ ‘Baki,’ among many others, all of which reflect her sustained engagement with social, psychological, and cultural themes in contemporary Kannada writing.

Kavery Nambisan

Kavery Nambisan is an Indian surgeon and novelist whose medical career has strongly shaped the themes and realism of her fiction. She began her writing journey under her first married name, Kavery Bhatt, contributing stories to children’s magazines, including the now-defunct Target. She also wrote for popular publications such as ‘Femina’ and ‘Eve’s Weekly.’

Her first book, published as Kavery Bhatt, ‘The Truth (Almost) About Bharat,’ follows a rebellious medical student who abandons college and sets out on a cross-country motorcycle journey. Her second novel, ‘The Scent of Pepper’ (1996), is set in her birthplace of Kodagu and traces the life and culture of the region through a family’s experiences from the colonial period to Indian independence.

‘Mango-Coloured Fish’ (1998) explores the inner life of a woman trapped in an arranged marriage devoid of love, while ‘On Wings of Butterflies’ (2002) is set against the backdrop of the women’s movement in post-independence India, focusing on a group of women entering politics. Drawing directly from her professional life, ‘The Hills of Angheri’ (2005) traces the medical career of a young woman and reflects the ethical and emotional challenges of the profession.

Her sixth novel, ‘The Story That Must Not Be Told,’ received international recognition, being shortlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature in 2012 and the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2008. Her seventh and most recent novel, ‘A Town Like Ours’ (2014), is narrated by a sex worker living in a small town and examines themes of identity, marginalization, and industrialization through the intersecting lives of its characters.

Anupama Niranjana

Anupama Niranjana was an Indian doctor and a distinguished writer of modern Kannada fiction and non-fiction. Her writing consistently articulated a woman’s point of view, positioning her among a pioneering group of Kannada women writers that included Triveni and M. K. Indira. One of her most notable novels, ‘Runamuktalu,’ was adapted into a feature film by the acclaimed filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal, extending the reach and impact of her work beyond literature. In recognition of her contributions and legacy, an award was instituted in her name to honor women writers in Kannada.

Anupama Niranjana’s major works include ‘Anantha Geetha,’ ‘Shwetambari,’ ‘Sneha Pallavi,’ ‘Runamuktalu,’ ‘Kanmani,’ ‘Odalu,’ ‘Nenapu: Sihi-Kahi,’ ‘Kallola,’ and ‘Aala.’ Her literary achievements were acknowledged with several prestigious honors, including the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award, the Soviet Land Nehru Award, and the Kannada Rajyotsava Award.

Nuggehalli Pankaja

Nuggehalli Pankaja is an Indian writer and poet who writes in both Kannada and English and is regarded as one of the notable literary voices in Kannada literature. Her body of work spans multiple genres, including novels, short stories, and plays, reflecting her versatility and sustained engagement with contemporary themes. In recognition of her contributions to poetry, she was conferred the Excellence in World Poetry Award by the International Academy for English Poetry. Several of her novels have also been adapted into Kannada films, extending the reach of her literary work to a wider audience.

Her short story collections include ‘Ardha Chandra’, ‘Ippattu Varshagala Hinde,’ ‘Mother Tree,’ and ‘Educating the Maid Servant.’ Among her major novels are ‘Kaveriya Arthrava,’ ‘Ushanishi,’ ‘Malayamaruta,’ ‘Mugilaminchu,’ ‘Tere Sariyutu,’ ‘Mohinigondu Haadu,’ and several others, which together establish her as a significant and enduring presence in modern Kannada writing.

Aryamba Pattabhi

Aryamba Pattabhi is an Indian novelist and writer who works in the Kannada language. She is the younger sister of Triveni, a well-known Kannada novelist, and the niece of B. M. Srikantaiah, a celebrated poet, writer, and translator in Kannada literature.

Several of Aryamba Pattabhi’s novels have been adapted into feature films, most notably ‘Kappu Bilupu’ (1969), which was directed by the renowned filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal. Her major novels include ‘Honganasu’ (1961), ‘Marali Gudige’ (1966), ‘Baduku’ (1968), ‘Parampare’ (1976), ‘Asangatha’ (1980), ‘Kunike’ (1982), ‘Basavi’ (2000), and ‘Arohana’ (2018), among many others. In addition to her novels, she has also written numerous children’s books and collections of short stories, further contributing to the richness and diversity of modern Kannada literature.

Gudibande Poornima

Gudibande Poornima is a distinguished Kannada poet, writer, and novelist from Karnataka. Born in Shravanabelagola in Hassan district, she has pursued an extensive academic career in languages and philosophy. She holds a master’s degree in Kannada literature from Bangalore University, a master’s degree in Prakrit, and a doctorate in Jainalogy from the University of Mysore. Over the years, Poornima has played an active role in Karnataka’s literary institutions. She served as the president of the district Kannada Sahitya Parishat during 1982–83 and later presided over the Chikkaballapura District Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, held at Shidlaghatta in 2013. Her leadership in these forums reflects her deep engagement with the promotion and development of Kannada literature.

A prolific writer, Gudibande Poornima has published more than sixty books in Kannada across a wide range of literary forms, including novels, poetry collections, articles, research works, and biographies. In addition to her books, she has contributed over one hundred research papers and articles to various Kannada magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals, establishing herself as both a creative and critical voice in the literary landscape.

Her contributions have been widely recognised, earning her several prestigious honours such as the Sahitya Akademi Award, Shri Gomateshwara Vidyapeetha Award, Mallika Award, and Sharada Seva Shree, among others. In recognition of her influence and legacy, the Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha, an organisation of women writers, has instituted an annual award in her name. The “Gudibande Poornima Awards for Poets” are presented each year to prominent Kannada women poets.

Mamta Sagar

Mamta Sagar is an Indian poet, academic, and activist who writes in the Kannada language. Her work engages deeply with questions of identity politics, feminism, and the complexities of linguistic and cultural diversity. Alongside her literary practice, she is involved in teaching and scholarship, serving as a professor of academic and creative writing at the Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology. Sagar has made significant contributions as a translator, rendering poetry, prose, and critical writings between Kannada and English.

Her own poems have been widely translated into several languages and have found a place in academic curricula, including textbooks prescribed by Jain University, Bengaluru, and the University of Kerala. Several of her poems have also been adapted into musical compositions, with settings by musicians such as Vasu Dixit, Bindumalini, and Sunitha Ananthaswamy. Through her writing, teaching, and collaborative work across art forms, Mamta Sagar has established herself as a prominent voice in contemporary Kannada literature.

Jayalakshmi Seethapura

Dr. T. Jayalakshmi, widely known by her pen name Dr. Jayalakshmi Seethapura, was one of the eminent folklorists of modern India who wrote extensively in the Kannada language. She served as a professor of folklore at the University of Mysore and later retired from academic service, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the field of folk studies. Over the course of her career, Dr. Jayalakshmi played an active role in the cultural life of Karnataka. She served as a judge for hundreds of state- and national-level cultural competitions, contributing her expertise to the evaluation and promotion of folk traditions. Her scholarly and literary works on folklore were widely read and well received by audiences across Karnataka.

A prolific writer, she authored more than thirty books on folklore. Some of her notable works include ‘Namma Suttina Janapada Kathanageethegalu,’ published by the Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy, and ‘Hakki Haaryave Gidadaga,’ ‘Jaanapada Hatti,’ and ‘Kalyanavenni Janarella,’ published by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat. In recognition of her significant contributions to the study and preservation of folk culture, Dr. Jayalakshmi Seethapura was honoured with the Karnataka Janapada Academy Award in 2016.

T. Sunandamma

T. Sunandamma was an Indian writer and humorist who made a distinctive contribution to Kannada literature. She was widely recognized for her sharp wit and literary versatility and was a recipient of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award. Sunandamma’s engagement with writing began at a very young age. While still a child, she started writing poetry for the children’s magazine ‘Makkala Pustaka.’ By the age of twenty-five, her articles began appearing in the newly launched humour magazine ‘Koravanji,’ where her writing quickly drew critical acclaim and established her reputation as a leading humourist.

In addition to print literature, she also wrote radio plays for All India Radio. Several of her literary works were later adapted for the stage by other playwrights and directors. ‘All’s Well,’ an English adaptation of a Kannada play by Sundar based on her short story ‘Aadaddella Olithe…?,’ was directed by Pramod Shiggaon. Another notable adaptation, ‘Heegadre Hege?,’ written by K. Y. Narayana Swamy and directed by Pramod Shiggaon, was performed in Bengaluru in October 2011.

‘Sunandamma’ achieved a historic milestone in 1995 when she became the first writer to receive the Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award, conferred by the Government of Karnataka. Her selected works include ‘Jambhada Cheela,’ ‘Bannada Chitte,’ ‘Ruuddi Gaadi,’ ‘Nanna Attegiri,’ ‘Samaya Sindu,’ among many others.