Kannada critic Giraddi Govindaraj no more

Kannada critic Giraddi Govindraj died of massive cardiac arrest here on Friday. He was 79. He is survived by wife Saroja, two sons and two daughters.

Giraddi was alone at home when the end came. His wife had gone out to market around 6.30 pm. When she returned at 8 pm, she realised that Giraddi was not responding. He was immediately taken to a private nursing home where doctors declared him brought dead.

Giraddi’s mortal remains will be kept at his residence in Nirmal Nagar near Karnatak University till 11 am on Saturday for the people to pay their last respects. Later they will be taken to Abbigeri village in Ron taluk of Gadag district for final rites, family sources said.

Born in 1939 at Abbigeri in Ron taluk of the then Dharwad district (now in Gadag district) Giraddi Govindraj did his MA in English, Kannada and PhD from Karnatak University. He served as a professor at Karnatak College, Kalaburagi PG centre of Karnatak University and Karnatak University, Dharwad. He has penned several short stories, critical essays, profiles and edited several volumes.