VENKATACHALA SHASTRY T.V., (b. 1933)

Togere Venkatasubbashasty Venkatachala Shastry, (ತೋಗೆರೆ ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಾಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀ ವೆಂಕಟಾಚಲಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀ) (tOgere venkaTasubbAshAstrI venkaTAcalashAstrI) is a scholar who belongs ton the traditional schoalrs with all the eqiupments needed for a study of classical literature at his disposal. He has rendered valuable service in varied fields such as grammar, prosody, textual criticism, lexicography, history of literature, literary criticism, biography and translation. He had his early education in Kanakapura a town in Ramanagara district. He secured B.A.(Hons) (1953) and M.A. (1954) degrees from the University of Mysore . A Ph.D. degree was awarded to him for his dissertation on ‘A Comaparative Study of Neminathapuranas in Kannada’(ಕನ್ನಡ ನೇಮಿನಾಥಪುರಾಣಗಳ ತೌಲನಿಕ ಅಧ್ಯಯನ) in 1972.

After short stints of lecturership in Kanakapura and Bangalore , T.V.V. joined the Womens’ College and Arts College in Hyderabad and served there for nine years. He joined the Institute of Kannada Studies in the Mysore University in 1968 as a lecturer and retired in 1994 as a professor of Kannada. He was a visiting professor in the Kannada University during 1997. He has occupied a number of honarary positions and accomplished many editorial tasks. He was the editor of ‘Kannada Adhyayana Samstheya Kannada Sahitya Charitre’ between 1972 and 1994. He was on the editorial board of the Kannada-Kannada Dictionary published by Kannada Sahitya Parishattu, Bangalore between 1976-1995.

Venkatachalashastry has published more than 130 books and a number of research papers. His writings are well known for their authenticity and erudition. He is very particular about the veracity of his sources and moves from one discipline to another in pursuit of his goals. His command over ancient Kannada, ancient Kannada litrature and the corollary subjects needed to understand the texts are remarkable. A list of some of his seminal works is given below.

Grammar:

1. ‘Darpana Vivarana’ (A thematic analysis of ‘Shabdamanidarpanam’ by Keshiraja. 2001, Mysore

2. ‘Kannada Prathama Vyakarana’ (A revised version of the text by Dr A.N.Narasimhaiah) 2008, Mysore

Prosody:

1. ‘Kannada Chandassu’ 1970, Mysore

2. ‘Kannada Chandahsvaroopa’ 1978, Mysore

3. ‘Kannada Chandomeemamse’ 2003, Mysore

Poetics:

1. ‘Kannada Chitrakavya’ 1987, Mysore

2. ‘Mahakavyalakshana’ 1969, Mysore

Lexicons :

1. ‘Gajashastra Shabdakosha’ 1994, Mysore

2. ’Shabdarthavihara’ 1979, Mysore

3. ‘Granthasampadanaa Paribhashaakosha’ 2004, Bangalore

Literary Criticism and Research:

1. ‘Kannada Neminathapuraanagala Taulanika Adhayayana’ 1973, Mysore

2. ’Pracheena Kannada Sahitya-kelavu notagalu’ 1981, Mysore

3. ‘Pampa ’ 1987, New Delhi

4. ‘Haleya Honnu’ 1991, Bangalore

5. “Shastreeya’ (Seven Volumes) 1999-2008, Bangalore

Textual Criticism:

1. ‘Keshirajavirachita Shabdamanidarpanam’ 1994, Bangalore

2. ‘Chandombudhi’ by Nagavarma 2007, Hampi

3. ‘Pampakavi Virachitam Adipuranam’ 1995, Bangalore

4. ‘Brahmashivana ‘Samayapareekshe’ 2008, Hampi

5. ‘A Descriptive Catalogue of the Kannada Manuscripts in the Osmania University Librarary. 1966, Hyderbad

6. ‘A Bibliography of Karnataka Studies’, vol. 1 1972, Mysore

7. ‘A Bibliography of Karnataka Studies’, vol. 2 1998

In addition to these books Vnkatachala Shastry has published many translations, essay collections, books dealing with modern literature. A more detailed list is available in ‘Sreemukha’ the felicitation volume presented to him.

Venkatachala Shastry has received many an award for his contributions to Kannada Studies. Pampa Prashasti, Sahitya Academy Bhasha Samman fro ancient and medieval literature,(2001) Rajyotsava Prashasti,(1988) Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award,(1997) Masti Prashasti (2008) are a few among them. ‘Sreemukha’ and ‘Kannada Meru’ are the felicitation volumes presented to him.

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