Chandrashekhara Kambara

Chandrashekhara Kambara Biography

Chandrashekhara Kambara is a famous poet, playwright, folklorist and film director in Kannada language. He received Jnanpith award in the year 2010 for his contributions to Indian literature. He is the founder-vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi. He is proficient in using North Karnataka dialect of Kannada language in his poems and dramas and very often he is compared to D.R. Bendre. This style of writing was not common in Kannada literature before him. Apart from Jnanpith, he has received numerous literary prizes. Padma Shri by Government of India, Kendra sahitya academy award in 1991 for his work Sirisampige, Kalidas Samman, Kabir samman and Pampa Award are a few among those. He chooses folk and mythology while writing his plays and they are connected with social issues as well.  

Kambara was born on 2 January 1937 in Ghodageri, Karnataka. His brothers still reside in this remote village. From an early age he was interested in folk arts, local culture and ritual. He is known by the name Shivapur Kambar Master in his native district. He did his schooling in Gokak and struck in poverty he was not able to complete his education. Later Jagadguru Siddaram Swamiji of Savalagi Matha took care of his education. After his post-graduation, he did his PhD thesis on Uttara Karnatakada Janapad Rangbhumi. Later he worked as a professor in University of Chicago and Bangalore University. He also served as the chairman of National School of Drama Society, New Delhi from 1996 to 2000 and as the president of Karnataka Nataka Academy from 1980 to 1983.

Dr. Chandrashekhara Kambara has written 25 plays, 11 collection of poems, 5 novels, 16 research works and several scholarly write-ups based on folk theatre, literature and education. A few of his popular works include - Kadu Kudure, Nayi Kathe, Jokumaraswamy, Jayasidnayaka, Mahamayi and Harakeya Kuri. A few of his novels include - Anna Tangi, Karimaayi , G.K.Maastarara Pranaya Prasanga  and Shikhara Soorya.  His popular poetry collections are Ellide Shivapura, Helatena Kela, Takararinavaru and Saavirada Neralu.

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Updated: November 19, 2013