Dravidian literature has been known to give to our society a bouquet of noted authors and poets who have brought with them not only the objective beauty of their work but also a subjective social relevance in the form of their art.
Amongst all the Dravidian languages, Kannada has the biggest influence on South Indian literature. Kannada writers share the honor of winning the highest number of Jnanpith awards together with their Hindi brethren.
The Early Life of Hiremath
Panchakshari Hiremath was born at Bisarahalli in Koppal District of Karnataka in 1933. He stayed and worked in Karnataka. He was a professor at the Karnataka University and Karnatak College, Dharwad. He is not only a famous writer but also a revered poet, an essayist, a translator, a critic and an editor, who is renowned for his oratory skills and short stories.
Hiremath is known for actively involving himself in the Indian freedom struggle. He is known for opposing the division of states as per their languages and for advocating the integration of people through the translation of literature of one language into another.
The Work and Achievements of Hiremath
Panchakshari Hiremath is most known for his poetry and for making a mark as a noted critic and a translator.
He has written 16 individual works in poetry, 10 stories, eight novels, 13 critiques and essays, five biographies, two historical works, one on religion and philosophy, one travelogue, three literary letters, seven pieces of children’s literature, six dramas and various other literary works, making him one of the most prolific Kannada littérateurs.
Hiremath has won many awards. His most noted achievement is the Sahitya Academy Award conferred upon him, for the translation of Qurratul Ain Hyder’s Urdu collection of short stories, ‘Patjhar Ki Awaz’ to Kannada.
He has also other awards to his credit like the Goenka Hindi Sahitya Saraswati Sammana award, the Gorur Foundation Trust Award for Poetry, the Karnataka State Sahitya Academy Award etc.
Hiremath’s Legacy
Dr. Panchakshira Hiremath’s legacy lies in his views towards language and his use of it. The reason that Hiremath is well known is because he sees the importance of translated work as a tool of integration.
Hiremath has written in three different languages, namely Kannada, Hindi, and Urdu and his work is translated into many languages including Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, Marathi, Nepali, English, Spanish, French, and German.