Chandrashekhara Kambara

Chandrashekhara Kambara is an Indian folklorist, poet, playwright, professor, and director. He was born in a small village in Ghodageri, Belagavi, Bombay Presidency, British India. Kambara has two brothers named Yallappa and Parasappa.

He was interested in creative arts since a young age and was an avid reader of Federico García Lorca, William Shakespeare, Kumara Vyasa, Gopalakrishna Adiga Gopalakrishna Adiga is a Kannada poet. He was call >> Read More... , W. B. Yeats, and Kuvempu. Kambara went to a local school in Gokak and Lingaraj College.

Initially, he had to stop his schooling for a while owing to financial issues but with the help of Jagadguru Siddaram Swamiji's aid, he completed his education. As a result, Kambara mentions and gives him credit in all his works. He has done a Ph.D. in Uttara Karnatakada Janapad Rangbhumi.

Kambara's first job was a teacher in University of Chicago and Bangalore University. For three years, he was Karnataka Nataka Academy's president. In 1996, Kambara became the chairman of National School of Drama Society.

He was the vice-chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi. Kambara personally looked after the institution's construction and architecture, the subjects and topics that students will study, and the placement of the teaching staff.

He has penned several poems, plays, and novels like Shikhar Soorya, Kadu Kudure, Jokumaraswamy, Takararinavaru, Singarevva Mattu Aramane, Bedara Huduga Mattu Gilli, and others. Translators and writers have translated several of his works in languages like Hindi, Marathi, English, Tamil, Rajasthani, and others. Filmmakers have adapted his projects for the small screen as well.

Kambara is the director of Kadu Kudare, Karimayi, and Sangeeta. He is the recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Jnanpith Award, Padma Shri, Joshua Sahitya Puraskaram, Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and much more.

He has researched a lot about Indian folklore and represented it at the American Oriental Centre, University of Chicago, Akita Japan, and much more. Kambara has also compiled a dictionary for Kannada Sahitya Parishad. All his life he stressed on the inclusion of Kannada language in primary school.

His working style is similar to that of D.R. Bendre. Most of his work has been rooted in Indian mythology and highlights folk culture. People in his native district call him Shivapur Kambar Master. To honor his immense contribution to the Kannada literature, the government of Karnataka decided to reprint all of his prolific work and make them available in local school libraries so that the younger generation can have easy access to them. He is married to Satyabhama and has four children with her.