Book on Ta Ra Su released

Navya writers overshadowed progressive writers, says critic

 Noted critic Prof L S Sheshagiri Rao, on Sunday, said Kannada writers of the progressive (pragathisheela) genre had to face tough times because of the writers of the modern (navya) genre.

Speaking after releasing a book on life and writings of novelist Ta Ra Subbarao in Bangalore, Sheshagiri Rao said, many writers of the Navya genre were English educated and had the backing of the student community.

Whereas Ta Ra Subbarao, A Na Krirshnarao, Basavaraj Kattimani and many in the ‘pragathisheela’ genre neither had sound academic background nor supporting students, he said.

Even the critics were in support of navya and were of the opinion that what the pragathisheela writers wrote was not worth commenting, he added.

Going down memory lane, Sheshagiri Rao, recalled the contributions of Ta Ra Subbaro, A Na Krishnarao Kattimani, Niranjana to the Kannada literature.

He was emotionally charged when he said that these writers did not get due recognition by the critics.

The critic broke down when he said he was a good friend to all of them and now he was left alone.

Sheshagiri Rao released the book Ta Ra Su, Baduku Baraha, edited by writer Sham Mam Krishnaraya on the occasion.