A man who graced the honours he received, whose mind defied boundaries, Dr. Kota Shivarama Karanth was an educationist, freedom fighter, social worker and reformer, artist, author, playwright, painter, musician, poet, environmentalist and a patron of the arts.

Born in 1902 in the little village of Kota, Karnataka, young Karanth, influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and the Arya Samaj, left college in 1922 to dedicate his life to the freedom struggle and then to society.

His  experiment  with  education  resulted  in "Balavana" a nature school with a zoo at Puttur and a method of learning called "Oduva Aata" (Game of Reading). His prolific literary output, translated into Indian and European languages, included novels, plays, encyclopae dias, travelogues, art critiques and autobiographies. Two of his novels became subjects of movies, the film "Chomana Dudi" winning a national award. Supporting environmental movements, he educated the masses about environmental degradation.

His contribution to reviving Karnataka's vibrant folk art, Yakshagana, received national and in ternational recognition. The Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Sahitya Akademi confelTed Fellowships on him and he received the Jnanpith Award (1978) for his novel "Mookajjiya Kanasug alu". In 1975, he returned the Padma Bhushan conferred on him by the Government of India in protest against the imposition of emergency in the country.

A man who gave more to society than he demanded from it, a man with a social conscience, an observant eye, a critical mind and a sensitive spirit - Dr. K. Shivarama Karanth - whom the Department of Posts is honoured to commemorate.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India