B.C Sharma

B.C. Ramachandran Sharma predominantly worked in Kannada literature as a playwright, writer, translator, and poet. He was born on 28th November 1925 at Nagamangala, Mysore. He obtained his alma mater from Mysore University in psychology and education. He earned his Ph.D. for his thesis on Indian children’s IQ. He started his career with “Hridaya Geethe” in 1952, followed by “Yelusuthina Kote” in 1953. As a flourishing writer of his time, he published several works, some of which are Bhuvi Needida Spoorthi in 1956, Hesaragathe in 1969, Brahamana Huduga in 1978, Mathu Matha in 1984, and Dehalige Banda Hosa Varsha in 1988. As a short story writer, he reshaped and added a new flavor to Kannada short story writing with his works Mandara Kusuma, Yelaneya Jeeva, Belagaithu, and Kathegarana Kathe.

Sharma rose to fame in the 1960s as a playwright with his plays Balasanje, Nilakagada, Seragina Kenda, Vaitharini, and Neralu. He translated one hundred 20th-century English poems from thirty-nine poets and compiled them into “Ee Shatamanada Nuru English Kavanagalu” in Kannada. His wife, Padma, supported his journey as a translator and helped him translate Kannada literary works like the novels of Kuvempu and Masthi into English. His most famous collection of poems, “ Saptapadi Story soon >> Read More... ,” was published in 1996 and earned him his first Sahitya Akademi Award in 1998. He was recognized for his contributions to Indian literature with the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award in 1985, Shivaram Karanth Award in 1996, and Rajyotsava Award in 1997. The literary legend from Karnataka took his last breath on 18th April 2005 in Bangalore.