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.
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