Bengaluru: India lost a multi-faceted legend on June 10, when Girish Raghunath Karnad, a legendary actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright, Rhodes Scholar and socio-political activist. He died in his Bengaluru residence at the age of 81 due to age-related symptoms at 8.30 AM.
He is survived by his wife, Dr Saraswathy Ganapathy and their two children. His son Raghu Karnad is a writer and journalist.
Born on May 19, 1938 in Matheran, Maharashtra, Karnad grew up in Siri and Dharwad in Karnataka. It was when he was in Sirsi that he developed a love for theatre as he was exposed to travelling theatre groups.
Karnad earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and statistics from Karnatak Arts College, Dharwad (Karnataka University), after which he went to England and studied philosophy, politics and economics at Magdalen in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He then earned his Master of Arts degree in philosophy, political science and economics.
Between 1963 and 1970, Karnad worked with the Oxford University Press, Chennai, after which he resigned to become a full-time writer. He composed plays that dealt with contemporary issues using history and mythology and was well known for his plays such as “Tughlaq” (1964) and “Hayavadana”(1971). Many of his plays were also translated into the English langague and other Indian languages and directed by accomplished theatre legends like Ebrahim Alkazi, Alyque Padamsee and Satyadev Dubey.
For television audiences, Karnad may be best remembered as Swami’s father in the much-loved “Malgudi Days” or as the presenter of Doordarshan’s science show “Turning Point”, while for Hindi movie audiences, his roles in “Manthan”, “Nishant”, “Pukar”, “Iqbal”, “Dor” and “Ek Tha Tiger” left an impact.
In the year 1998, he was conferred with the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour in India. He was the seventh recipient of the Jnanpith in Karnataka and 34th across the country for rich contribution to Indian literature.
He was also honoured with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, apart from four National Film Awards and a Sahitya Akademi honour.
Karnad was also a political activist and an outspoken critic of religious fundamentalism. Perhaps his out-of-the-box thinking came from his father, Dr Raghunath Karnad, who married a widow with a son in a time when the people were prejudiced against widow remarriage. He was a voice that championed the freedom of expression and used his stature to stand and fight for what he believed in come what may.
Tributes pour in
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, former Prime Minister and Janata Dal-Secular supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D.V. Sadananda Gowda have mourned Karnad’s death and offered their condolences to his family members and relatives.
“Girish Karnad will be remembered for his versatile acting across all mediums. He also spoke passionately on causes dear to him. His works will continue being popular in the years to come. Saddened by his demise. May his soul rest in peace,” tweeted PM Modi.
Mourning Karnad’s death, President Kovind tweeted, “Sad to hear of the passing of Girish Karnad, writer, actor and doyen of Indian theatre. Our cultural world is poorer today. My condolences to his family and to the many who followed his work.”
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy also took to Twitter to express his grief writing, “Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Jnanpith laureate writer and iconic actor/film maker, Sri #GirishKarnad. His outstanding contribution to literature, theatre and films will always be remembered. In his death, we lost a cultural ambassador. May his soul rest in peace.”
The Bengali film fraternity also mourned his Karnad’s death.
“Playwright, actor, scholar, an inspiring personality with brilliant intellect wit and humour, my earliest remembrance of Girish Karnad being an eternal favourite – Swami’s father in Malgudi Days. Farewell to an institution – you seldom come across such profound people nowadays,” tweeted National award-winning director Atanu Ghosh of ‘Mayurakshi’ fame.
Actor Parambrata Chatterjee seen alongside Vidya Balan in ‘Kahani’ lamented the demise of an alternative voice amidst mainstream cinema.
“We grew up with your films and plays! Will always remember you as an alternative, progressive voice amidst the mainstream din. #RIPGirishKarnad,” he wrote.
Leaders from across political parties in Maharashtra on Monday paid warm tributes to the acclaimed actor.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said “the country has lost a towering, multi-faceted artiste” in the passing of Girish Karnad.
Describing Jnanpith winner and multi-lingual scholar Karnad, Fadnavis said he was astute in literature, theatre and films besides being an intellectual personality straddling different fields.
“In Girish Karnad’s demise, we have lost a sensitive artiste with a deep understanding of social issues in the country,” said Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray said Karnad’s greatest contribution was to “weave together history and mythology and create an incredible momentum to highlight issues of contemporary India”.
“He never wavered from taking a firm stand on any issue. Such accomplished and gifted artistes come rare and his presence will be deeply missed,” Thackeray said.
Terming him as “truly one of his kind,” State Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde said Karnad’s demise will be an unparalleled loss to Indian literature, theatre and film fraternity, and his legacy proudly reflects what he believed in with utmost integrity and impeccable honesty.
With inputs from IANS
