Mangaluru, Feb 19: Renowned novelist, playwright and poet Kudlu Thimmappa Gatti passed away on Monday. He was 85.
Popularly known as K T Gatti in Kannada literary world, Thimmappa was born in Kodlu village of in Kasargod district in the south Indian state of Kerala on July 22, 1938. He had relocated to Mangaluru recently.
A voracious reader from his school days, Gatti started his career as a lecturer in Udupi. Then he travelled to UK in order to obtain diploma in English from Trinity College and Oxford college of Preceptors.
He also worked as a professor in Ethiopia. After his return, he quit teaching and took up farming in Ujire, 'Vanasiri'.
Gatti's first novel in Kannada language, 'Shabdhagalu', was published in 1976. 'Shabdhagalu', before being published as a novel, appeared as a serial in the weekly Kannada magazine, 'Sudha'. K T Gatti's 14 novels had been published as serials in 'Sudha', which is a unique record itself.
K T Gatti had published more than 50 novels, essays, two poems including one in English and over 50 plays. As many as 30 plays among them, translated to different languages, were written for children and broadcast in Akashavani.
He had also served as President of tenth Dakshina Kannada Sahitya Sammelan and second President of Kasargod Kannada Sahitya Sammelan.
Gatti's literary contributions earned him widespread recognition, including prestigious honours such as the Kendra Sahitya Academy award and Rajyotsava award.
Comments
Add new comment