Masti Venkatesh Iyengar

Masti Venkatesa Iyenger is a renowned Kannada writer who left a significant mark on the world of Kannada Literature. He was born on 6 June 1891 in Hongenahalli, Karnataka. He studied in difficult conditions in Hongenahalli, Malavalli, Mysore, and Madras and earned his M.A.  in English from Madras University. He later cleared the Indian Civil Services Exam and served the government as Assistant Commissioner for many years in Mysore.

In 1920, His first book, Some Short Stories, was published. He has contributed to Kannada Literature by writing in various genres such as novels, poetry, biography, drama, essays, and translation. All these were published in his newspaper Jeeva, a collection of poems, and poetry. He took responsibility for promoting Kannada Literature during a very difficult time when no incentive was given for it. Masti has published no. of short stories under the pen name Srinivasa. His short stories were translated into English and other Languages and dramatized and aired on television. His first notable book Kelavu Sanna Katelagu, has a collection of stories.

Masti has also published the biographies of famous people such as Rabindranath Tagore and  Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He has written 120 books in Kannada and 17 books in English Language. From 1944 to 1965, he served as the editor of the monthly journal Jivan. In 1985, He wrote his last work, Maatugara Ramanna.

He received various awards for his contribution to Kannada Literature. For a collection of stories, he received the Central Sahitya Academy Award. In 1983, he won the Janapith Award, the highest Indian Literary award, for the novel Chikkavira Rajendra, about Kovada Kings. He was honored with Rajasevasakta by Maharaja of Mysore. Since 1993, well-known Kannada writers have presented the award by his name Masti Venkatesha Iyengar Award.