Indian author U.R. Ananthamurthy dies at 82
AFP
BANGALORE- Acclaimed Indian writer Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy, famed for his novels and poems, died Friday at the age of 82 from renal failure.
Ananthamurthy, who wrote in the southern regional language known as Kannada, died in hospital in the high-tech city of Bangalore after being put on life-support when his kidneys failed.
He "did not recover from renal failure", a Manipal Hospital spokesman told reporters.
Tributes poured in for the author whose works were celebrated for their insight into human psychology and questioning of cultural and religious norms.
The white-bearded socialist courted controversy last year when he vowed to leave India if firebrand Hindu hawk Narendra Modi became prime minister and later called him a "bully" in a newspaper interview.
Modi, who took charge as Indian premier after a landslide election victory in May, expressed his sorrow on Twitter over Ananthamurthy's death.
"U.R. Ananthamurthy's demise is a loss to Kannada literature. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace," Modi said.
Famed historian Ramchandra Guha offered a passionate farewell to Ananthamurthy, whom he remembered for "his sparkling intelligence, his wit, his generosity, and his interest in the young".
"U.R. Ananthamurthy had three simultaneous careers; as novelist, educationist, and controversialist: and he was influential in all," Guha posted on Twitter late Friday.
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Tributes poured in for the author whose works were celebrated for their insight into human psychology and questioning of cultural and religious norms.
The white-bearded socialist courted controversy last year when he vowed to leave India if firebrand Hindu hawk Narendra Modi became prime minister and later called him a "bully" in a newspaper interview.
Modi, who took charge as Indian premier after a landslide election victory in May, expressed his sorrow on Twitter over Ananthamurthy's death.
"U.R. Ananthamurthy's demise is a loss to Kannada literature. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace," Modi said.
Famed historian Ramchandra Guha offered a passionate farewell to Ananthamurthy, whom he remembered for "his sparkling intelligence, his wit, his generosity, and his interest in the young".
"U.R. Ananthamurthy had three simultaneous careers; as novelist, educationist, and controversialist: and he was influential in all," Guha posted on Twitter late Friday.
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