Prof. LS Seshagiri Rao

 

 

Professor L.S. Seshagiri Rao, an important figure in the field of Kannada literature, has been a witness to the growth of Kannada Literature from the Navodaya period onwards. He taught us English literature at Government College, Kolar for 3 years. Affectionately called by his students as LSs, he showed us a model of how language could be taught by using simple words avoiding glamour and fanfare. I still remember him quoting FR Leavis, ‘Shakespeare crated tragedy by dropping a handkerchief’’. In a career spanning over 5 decades, his books have educated generations about not only some of the best works in Kannada but also in English literature. Lakhs of students in Karnataka, including me would have referred to the English-Kannada dictionary put together by Prof. LSS Rao. History of English Literature in Kannada and English Drama are some among his Works. His translation of Bhagavadgita in Kannada is popularly read. Prof. LSS was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award. 

He was a simple man, brimming with scholarship and curiosity and was ever happy to guide youngsters in fields of translation, editing of books and paly witing both in Kannada and English. he taught English at Govt. Colleges, Kolar, Madikeri, later at Bangalore University, where he retired from service.  He was first Chairman of Book Authority, Karnataka. had he lived now, he would have turned 100. 

Vidyalankara Prof. SK Ramachandra Rao (4th Sep. 1925- 2nd Feb. 2006)

 

It was during summer of 1998 I met Prof. Rao, to seek his blessings and guidance to bring out monthly Magazine, Sugunamala in  English from Puttige Matha, Udupi, while a Kannada Edition was already available since 1985. Sri Sugunendra Tirtharu of Puttige Matha, Udupi directed me to meet Prof. SKR for guidance. He received me with a smile in his Jayanagar home in the afternoon. He put me at ease and heard about what exactly I need. He was attentively listening to me on what I plan for this as its Editor.

After taking a brief from me, he pulled out a part of an inland letter, artistically tore it and began scribbling in his neat and small writing. Prof. Rao has very neatly jotted down all points to guide and help me out to bring out a Religio-cultural Magazine with limited readership, yet come out with interesting reading material. He could easily decipher requirements of such a magazine, not very scholarly, yet getting articles from experts in related fields like Madhva Philosophy, Vedic lore, Puranas in simple, yet highly readable in English language, which he said ‘Challenging’ task. In fact, he politely said: he has no time to speak in detail on this, due to his prior commitments on an ensuing Kosha Project, which he showed me.

I knew he had already published a book, ಪೂರ್ಣಪ್ರಜ್ಞ ದರ್ಶನ on the content of Madhva thought, with inputs on origin and historical background of Udupi Mathas, which had stroked a controversy.  We never spoke about it either. After thanking him, I came out quite satisfied.

Prof. Saligrama Krishna Rao Ramachandra Rao was born in 1925 at Hanasoge, near Mysore  had his education in Nanjanagudu and  Mysore, with specialisation in Psychology and Philosophy, he knew Sanskrit already through his father and other Gurus. He began his career as researcher with Indian Institute of Science, later worked with NIMHANS, prestigious institution for study of Psychology, even medical aspects and treatment thereon, where he taught and trained researchers. Later, he was with Bangalore University before he began contributing to National and International Journals on Indian Psychology, Yoga and incidentally books on various topics related to Indian thought, Chinese and Japanese counterparts, made Aanand Coomaraswamy accessible to local readers in India. I cherish  enlightening memories of meeting this great scholar.