M. K. Indira

M. K. Indira Biography

M. K. Indira was a noted novelist of Kannada language. Phaniyamma is her most noted work, which was later made to a Kannada feature film by Prema Karanth and it was the first Kannada movie to be made by a woman director. Indira started writing after 45 years old. Her novels, Tungabhadra, Sadananda, Navaratna and Phaniyamma won the Kannada Sahitya Akademi awards. Thejaswini Niranjana translated her novel Phaniyamma to English and she won Sahitya Akademi award for this translation.

Indira was born in year 1917 in Thirthahalli in the state of Karnataka. Narasimharajapura in Chikkamagalore district is her native place. She had only school education and got married in teens. She studied Kannada poetry and also had a good knowledge of Hindi literature. Thus she entered literal career at a late age of 45. Her first published novel was Tungabhadra released in 1963. Next published works were Sadananda (1965), Gejje Pooje (1966) and Navaratna (1967). But it was Phaniyamma, a novel based on the life of a child widow published in 1976 which brought her instant stardom. It was a real life story of a woman whom Indira knew from her childhood. This single novel, often regarded as a work on feminism placed her as an established woman writer of Kannada language in the contemporary times. She won Karnataka Sahitya Academy award also, for this work.

Apart from Phaniyamma, her novels - Gejje Pooje and Poorvapara have also been made to feature films. Her published works include Brahmachaari, Koopa, Jaala, Gunda, Jaathi Kettavalu, Sukhanta, Yaaru Hitavaru?, Hennina Aakankshe, Anubhavakunja, Taapadinda Tampige, Kalaadarshi, Shantidhaama, Navaratna, Ambarada Apsare, Nagabeku, Navajeevana, Pavaada, Kalpana Vilasa, Dashavatara, Suswagatha, Koochu Bhatta, Varnaleele, Hasivu, Bidige Chandrama Donku, To-Let, KathegaraHoo Bana, Musuku, Kavalu, Mohanamaale, Noorondu Baagilu and Tegginamane Seete. She died at the age of 77.

Published: N/A

Updated: January 21, 2014