Mangaluru University Kannada department former head and litterateur late S V Parameshwara Bhat’s Kannada transliteration of plays of various Sanskrit playwrights, is the greatest contribution to Kannada theatre, opined Kendra Sahitya Akademy Chairman and Jnanapith awardee Dr Chandrashekhara Kambara.

He was speaking after releasing the set of seven volumes of Bhat’s works, published by Kannada Book Authority-Bengaluru, during a programme organised by Prof S V Parameshwara Bhat Centenary Commemoration Committee, Mangaluru and St Aloysius College Kannada department at St Aloysius College Auditorium here, on Sunday.

“Bhat’s works gave a revival to Kannada classical theatre. The true flavour of Kannada in his transliterations of Sanskrit plays, added a new dimension to the theatre,” Kambara opined.

Kannada University, Hampi former vice chancellor Prof B A Vivek Rai recalled, “Way back in 1968, the classes of Kannada postgraduation of Mangalore University were held at St Aloysius College. Bhat was the first Head of Kannada department in 1968 and retired in 1974. Owing to his efforts, Kannada was included as an optional language in undergraduation courses in many colleges, under Mangalore University”.

Kannada Book Authority Chairperson Dr Vasundhara Bhupathi said that Bhat’s works had been brought out in seven volumes. Three volumes are devoted to his works of poetry, two volumes comprise prose and two volumes are devoted to ‘Kuvempu Darshana’, the reviews on the literature of Kuvempu.

Each volume runs into around 500 to 700 pages. The entire set of volumes will be available for sale at a discount of 15% in leading book stores and are available online on the website of Kannada Book Authority http://kannadapustakapradhikara.com. The set of volumes will be sold at 50% discount at the ongoing ‘Pustaka Mela’ at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru.

The editorial committee of the volume comprises Dr Satyanarayana Mallipattana, Dr Na Damodara Shetty, Dr A V Navada, Chandrakala Nandavara, Prof Shivaji Jois, Lakshmana Kodase and Dr R Narashimhamurthy.

Writer Dr Erya Lakshminarayana Alva was the chief guest. St Aloysius College Principal Fr Pravin Martis, Prof S V Parameshwara Bhat’s son S P Ramachandra, Ramachandra’s wife Usha Ramachandra and others were present.